[NEohioPAL]The Comedy ANTON IN SHOW BUSINESS at Oberlin's Hall Auditorium Oct. 10-12

Tue Oct 7 10:50:32 PDT 2003

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THEATER PERFORMANCE THIS WEEKEND AT OBERLIN COLLEGE...

JANE MARTIN'S COMIC SMASH
ANTON IN SHOW BUSINESS
SKEWERS THE JOYS, PAINS AND ABSURDITIES OF "PUTTING ON A PLAY" OCTOBER 
10-12 AT OBERLIN COLLEGE'S HALL AUDITORIUM

Oberlin College Central Ticket Service: 440-775-8169

OBERLIN, OH - "Is theater culturally important enough to be the subject of 
a play?" Jane Martin's uproarious ANTON IN SHOW BUSINESS asks this crucial 
question of its audience and performers. Winner of the 2001 American 
Critics' Steinberg New Play Award, ANTON IN SHOW BUSINESS draws 
theatergoers into the action onstage, demolishing the fourth wall and 
shining the spotlight on theater's relevance in contemporary life. 
According to VARIETY, Martin's comedy is "a smart, acerbic 
crowd-pleaser...simultaneously a love letter and a poison pen letter to the =

American theatre." The first production of Oberlin College's 2003-04 
theater season, ANTON IN SHOW BUSINESS will be directed by Paul Moser, 
associate professor of theater, featuring a cast of student performers.

Synopsis
"The American theatre's in a shitload of trouble. That's why the stage is 
bare, and it's a cast of six, one non-union. I'm T-Anne, the stage manager, =

but I'm also in the play. Like a lot of plays you've seen at the end of the =

20th century, we all have to play a lot of parts to make the whole thing 
economically viable...(Crash.)..." and so begins ANTON IN SHOW BUSINESS, a 
satirical, self-conscious, and persuasively respectful examination of the 
power and significance of theater.  Three actresses - a na=EFve small-town 
teacher, a cynical veteran of off-off-Broadway, and a self-absorbed TV 
sexpot - travel to a tiny regional theater in Texas to perform Chekhov's 
THE THREE SISTERS. The actresses' idealism to create art collides with the 
reality of the precarious state of American regional theater, calling into 
question the role of the dramatic arts in contemporary America.

Production Notes
"Jane Martin's play-within-a-play is quirky, and surprising with a Thornton =

Wilder-ish sense of intimacy," explains director Moser. "An exciting 
challenge for the student actors, Anton has an all-female cast of 7 
performing 15 different characters ranging from eccentric directors and 
inept producers to fickle sponsors. The theatricality of the play is 
extremely funny, racy and quick-witted," adds Moser.

Location and Ticket Information
ANTON IN SHOW BUSINESS will be performed at Oberlin College's Hall 
Auditorium Friday and Saturday, October 10 and 11 at 8 PM; and Sunday, 
October 12, at 2 PM. Hall Auditorium is wheel chair accessible, parking is 
free, and hearing enhancement is available. The performances are sponsored 
by the Oberlin College Theater and Dance Program www.oberlin.edu/thedance.

Tickets are $4 for all students, $6 for Oberlin College ID, Senior 
Citizens, and educators, and $8 for the general public.
ALL TICKETS ARE $3 MORE WHEN PURCHASED AT THE DOOR.
Tickets may be purchased from Central Ticket Service at 775-8169.  CTS is 
located in the lobby of Hall Auditorium, and is open from noon to 5 PM, 
Monday through Friday, and Saturday, October 11.

Performers and Production Team
The ensemble of Oberlin College student performers includes: Diona 
Reasonover '06 as T-Anne/Airport Announcer/Andwyneth/Don Blount/Gate 
Manager; Whitney Laucks '05 as Lisabette; Gabriela Trigo-McIntyre '07 as 
Casey; Olivia Briggs '05 as Holly; Lisa Dickinson '06 as Joby; Hallie 
Gnatovich '04 as Kate/Ben/Jackey; and Jill Donnelly '04 as 
Ralph/Wik=E9witch/Joe Bob.

In addition to director Moser, the Oberlin College production team of 
professional staff and students includes: Michael Louis Grube, managing 
director; Damen Mroczek, scenic designer; Chris Flaharty, costume designer; =

Jen Groseth, lighting/sound designer; JoEllen Cuthbertson, costume shop 
manager; and Meredith Webb '06, stage manager.

Who's Who
Jane Martin (playwright), apparently from Kentucky, came to the attention 
of American theater audiences with Talking With..., a collection of 
monologues that premiered at the 1981 Humana Festival of New American Plays =

at the Actors' Theatre of Louisville. Martin's collected works include 
Vital Signs and What Mama Don't Know. Her full-length plays include 
Cementville, the Pulitzer nominated Keely and Du, which won the 1994 
American Theatre Critics Association New Play Award, Criminal Hearts, and 
Middle Aged White Guys. There is some question as to the identity of this 
mysterious writer, however.  She has been referred to as "America's best 
known, unknown playwright".  The name Jane Martin is widely believed to be 
a pseudonym.  She has never made any public appearances or spoken about any =

of her works.  Nor has she ever given an interview.  No biographical 
details are known about her.  No photographs of Ms. Martin have ever been 
published.

Jon Jory, Artistic Director of the Actors' Theatre of Louisville is the 
spokesperson for the playwright and some believe the playwright behind the 
pen name. This is, however, something that Jory has repeatedly denied.  In 
an interview published on July 13, 1994 in the Seattle Weekly, Jory 
reportedly said, "that Martin feels she could not write plays if people 
knew who she was, regardless of her identity or gender."  Jory proffers 
that: "The point in the end is the plays themselves . . . "  [From 
www.fishbowltheatre.com]

Paul Moser (director) is the Chair of the Theater and Dance Program and 
associate professor of theater at Oberlin College. Moser studied at Brown 
University and the Yale School of Drama. Professionally he has directed at 
Indiana Repertory Theater, Portland Stage Company, Cincinnati Playhouse in 
the Park, The New Harmony Theater Company, and Theater Virginia.  He has 
written two works for the stage, The Problem with Dinosaurs (1992) and 
Sanctuary (1995).  He joined the Oberlin faculty in 1990 and has since 
directed such diverse productions as The Cherry Orchard, Tartuffe, Picnic, 
and All's Well That Ends Well, The Cradle Will Rock, The Wager, Light Up 
the Sky, and The Merchant of Venice.  Moser founded Oberlin's Black River 
Theater Company (BRT) - which brings free professional theater productions 
to Lorain County during the summer, Past BRT productions include A 
Midsummer Night's Dream, As You Like It, and Twelfth Night performed in the =

College's Hall Auditorium.

Media contact: Alice Iseminger, 775-8171.  For more information, visit 
www.oberlin.edu/~events.

http://www.oberlin.edu/thedance

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<fontfamily><param>Verdana</param><flushleft>THEATER PERFORMANCE THIS =
WEEKEND AT OBERLIN COLLEGE...

JANE MARTIN'S COMIC SMASH

<bigger><bold>ANTON IN SHOW BUSINESS</bold></bigger>

SKEWERS THE JOYS, PAINS AND ABSURDITIES OF "PUTTING ON A PLAY" OCTOBER =
10-12 AT OBERLIN COLLEGE'S HALL AUDITORIUM

<bold>Oberlin College Central Ticket Service: 440-775-8169</bold>

OBERLIN, OH - "Is theater culturally important enough to be the subject of =
a play?" Jane Martin's uproarious ANTON IN SHOW BUSINESS asks this crucial =
question of its audience and performers. Winner of the 2001 American =
Critics' Steinberg New Play Award, ANTON IN SHOW BUSINESS draws =
theatergoers into the action onstage, demolishing the fourth wall and =
shining the spotlight on theater's relevance in contemporary life. =
According to VARIETY, Martin's comedy is "a smart, acerbic =
crowd-pleaser...simultaneously a love letter and a poison pen letter to the =
American theatre." The first production of Oberlin College's 2003-04 =
theater season, ANTON IN SHOW BUSINESS will be directed by Paul Moser, =
associate professor of theater, featuring a cast of student performers.

<bold>Synopsis</bold>

"The American theatre's in a shitload of trouble. That's why the stage is =
bare, and it's a cast of six, one non-union. I'm T-Anne, the stage manager, =
but I'm also in the play. Like a lot of plays you've seen at the end of the =
20th century, we all have to play a lot of parts to make the whole thing =
economically viable...(Crash.)..." and so begins ANTON IN SHOW BUSINESS, a =
satirical, self-conscious, and persuasively respectful examination of the =
power and significance of theater.  Three actresses - a na=EFve small-town =
teacher, a cynical veteran of off-off-Broadway, and a self-absorbed TV =
sexpot - travel to a tiny regional theater in Texas to perform Chekhov's =
THE THREE SISTERS. The actresses' idealism to create art collides with the =
reality of the precarious state of American regional theater, calling into =
question the role of the dramatic arts in contemporary America.

<bold>Production Notes</bold>

"Jane Martin's play-within-a-play is quirky, and surprising with a Thornton =
Wilder-ish sense of intimacy," explains director Moser. "An exciting =
challenge for the student actors, Anton has an all-female cast of 7 =
performing 15 different characters ranging from eccentric directors and =
inept producers to fickle sponsors. The theatricality of the play is =
extremely funny, racy and quick-witted," adds Moser.

<bold>Location and Ticket Information</bold>

ANTON IN SHOW BUSINESS will be performed at Oberlin College's Hall =
Auditorium Friday and Saturday, October 10 and 11 at 8 PM; and Sunday, =
October 12, at 2 PM. Hall Auditorium is wheel chair accessible, parking is =
free, and hearing enhancement is available. The performances are sponsored =
by the Oberlin College Theater and Dance Program www.oberlin.edu/thedance.

<bold>Tickets</bold> are $4 for all students, $6 for Oberlin College ID, =
Senior Citizens, and educators, and $8 for the general public.

ALL TICKETS ARE $3 MORE WHEN PURCHASED AT THE DOOR.

Tickets may be purchased from Central Ticket Service at 775-8169.  CTS is =
located in the lobby of Hall Auditorium, and is open from noon to 5 PM, =
Monday through Friday, and Saturday, October 11.

<bold>Performers and Production Team</bold>

The ensemble of Oberlin College student performers includes: Diona =
Reasonover '06 as T-Anne/Airport Announcer/Andwyneth/Don Blount/Gate =
Manager; Whitney Laucks '05 as Lisabette; Gabriela Trigo-McIntyre '07 as =
Casey; Olivia Briggs '05 as Holly; Lisa Dickinson '06 as Joby; Hallie =
Gnatovich '04 as Kate/Ben/Jackey; and Jill Donnelly '04 as =
Ralph/Wik=E9witch/Joe Bob.

In addition<bold> </bold>to director Moser, the Oberlin College production =
team of professional staff and students includes: Michael Louis Grube, =
managing director; Damen Mroczek, scenic designer; Chris Flaharty, costume =
designer; Jen Groseth, lighting/sound designer; JoEllen Cuthbertson, =
costume shop manager; and Meredith Webb '06, stage manager.

<bold>Who's Who</bold>

Jane Martin (playwright), apparently from Kentucky, came to the attention =
of American theater audiences with Talking With..., a collection of =
monologues that premiered at the 1981 Humana Festival of New American Plays =
at the Actors' Theatre of Louisville. Martin's collected works include =
Vital Signs and What Mama Don't Know. Her full-length plays include =
Cementville, the Pulitzer nominated Keely and Du, which won the 1994 =
American Theatre Critics Association New Play Award, Criminal Hearts, and =
Middle Aged White Guys. There is some question as to the identity of this =
mysterious writer, however.  She has been referred to as "America's best =
known, unknown playwright".  The name Jane Martin is widely believed to be =
a pseudonym.  She has never made any public appearances or spoken about any =
of her works.  Nor has she ever given an interview.  No biographical =
details are known about her.  No photographs of Ms. Martin have ever been =
published.

<bold>Jon Jory</bold>, Artistic Director of the Actors' Theatre of =
Louisville is the spokesperson for the playwright and some believe the =
playwright behind the pen name. This is, however, something that Jory has =
repeatedly denied.  In an interview published on July 13, 1994 in the =
Seattle Weekly, Jory reportedly said, "that Martin feels she could not =
write plays if people knew who she was, regardless of her identity or =
gender."  Jory proffers that: "The point in the end is the plays themselves =
. . . "  [From www.fishbowltheatre.com]

<bold>Paul Moser</bold> (director) is the Chair of the Theater and Dance =
Program and associate professor of theater at Oberlin College. Moser =
studied at Brown University and the Yale School of Drama. Professionally he =
has directed at Indiana Repertory Theater, Portland Stage Company, =
Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park, The New Harmony Theater Company, and =
Theater Virginia.  He has written two works for the stage, The Problem with =
Dinosaurs (1992) and Sanctuary (1995).  He joined the Oberlin faculty in =
1990 and has since directed such diverse productions as The Cherry Orchard, =
Tartuffe, Picnic, and All's Well That Ends Well, The Cradle Will Rock, The =
Wager, Light Up the Sky, and The Merchant of Venice.  Moser founded =
Oberlin's Black River Theater Company (BRT) - which brings free =
professional theater productions to Lorain County during the summer, Past =
BRT productions include A Midsummer Night's Dream, As You Like It, and =
Twelfth Night performed in the College's Hall Auditorium.

<bold>Media contact:</bold> Alice Iseminger, 775-8171.  For more =
information, visit www.oberlin.edu/~events.

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