[NEohioPAL] SHOW OPENING on NOV. 1: THE SERVANT OF TWO MASTERS at ASHLAND UNIVERSITY THEATRE

Tricia Applegate tapplega at ashland.edu
Fri Oct 25 13:04:38 PDT 2013


Ashland University Theatre presents

THE SERVANT OF TWO MASTERS

by Carlo Goldoni, adapted by Constance Congdon

directed by Scott Hudson

*Nov 1, 2, 8, 9 at 7:30 p.m.*

*Nov. 3 at 2 p.m. | Hugo Young Theatre*

Inside the Season Pre-Show Talk: Nov. 8 at 6:45 p.m.

School Matinee: Nov. 8 at 9 a.m. | $2 per person, reserve seats at
419.289.5950 or tapplega at ashland.edu


Ashland University Department of Theatre continues their 2013-2014 season
"Exploring World and Self” with Carlo Goldoni's physical comedy masterpiece
*The Servant of Two Masters** *as adapted by Constance Congdon. Directed by
newly appointed Assistant Professor of Theatre Scott Hudson, evening
performances begin at 7:30 PM in Hugo Young Theatre on November 1, 2, 8 and
9, along with a 2:00 PM matinee on Sunday, November 3.


Mr. Hudson holds B.F.A. in theatre from Florida State University and an
M.F.A. in acting from Rutgers University. He is a member of New York City’s
LAByrinth Theatre Company and collaborates on new works. His recent acting
roles have included originating the role of Gail in Stephen Adly Guirgis’s *Our
Lady of 121st Street *directed by Philip Seymour Hoffman, performing at New
York’s Playwright’s Horizons in Julio Cho’s* BFE* and at The Public in
LAByrinth’s production of *Dutch Heart of Man*.  As a director, his recent
credits include a new short play by John Patrick Shanley at the New Ohio
Theatre in New York City, and Bob Glaudini’s new play,* Boiling Point*. As
a playwright, Scott's play *Sweet Storm* was produced off-Broadway and won
Broadway producer Daryl Roth’s Creative Spirit Award. Scott also coaches
actors in film, TV and stage including Tony nominated Elizabeth Rodrigues,
and for ABC’s soap All My Children.

As the director of AU's production of *The Servant of Two Masters*,
director Hudson explains that this play "tells the story of a hungry
servant, a disguised lover and the havoc their arrival brings to a small
group of locals.  Building upon the Commedia dell'arte tradition, the play
remains a classic romantic comedy at heart; a predecessor to vaudeville,
the screwball comedy and the modern slapstick.  Commedia dell'arte first
appeared in the 16th century as an improvisational form of theatre
performed by professional troupes of actors.  Each actor played the same
role in each production, aiming to perfect his depiction of a stock
character who was immediately recognizable to the audience through his
costume, standardized movements, and comic mask.  Whether it’s the young
lovers swept up in fantasy, the mature lovers whose passions get the best
of them, the miserly and pompous old men or the scheming servants, we
recognize these characters as ancestors of the comedic personalities of
modern cinema and theatre."

The comedic character of the chronically hungry and wily servant
Truffaldino is played by Deric Dove, sophomore musical theatre and music
education major (Newark).  Mayhem erupts when he hatches a zany scheme to
double his wages and his meals by serving two masters at once including
Beatrice portrayed by senior musical theatre major Katie Mounts (Ashland)
and Florindo played by senior theatre major Benjamin Isaiah Black (Akron).
 While Beatrice and Florindo are romantically involved, the other romances
in the play include Truffaldino with the maidservant Smeraldina who is
played by senior theatre major Kelli Lennox (Gahanna); and Clarice is with
Silvio as portrayed by musical theatre majors freshman Logan Anne Baker
(Reynoldsburg) and senior Christian Neely (Amherst), respectively. Other
cast members include senior theatre major Mason Adams (Amherst) as
Pantalone, senior hospitality management major Brandon Lee Wurgess
(Fremont) as Dottore, senior musical theatre major Kelsey Bowens
(Willoughby) as Brighella, and sophomore theatre major Natalyn Baisden
(Wooster) and junior theatre major De'Andre Peterson (Garfield Heights) as
the servants.

The production's set and lighting are designed by Assistant Professor of
Theatre and Resident Scenic Designer Jason Coale while Assistant Professor
of Theatre and Resident Costume Designer Sarah Russell designed the
costumes with assistant designer, senior theatre major Kim Lennox
(Gahanna). Technical Director J. Michael Desper is the sound designer with
Dusten Welch as the fight choreographer. Senior musical theatre major Jacob
Poiner (Wellington) and freshman theatre major Zachary Manthey (Munroe
Falls) are the show's stage manager and assistant stage manager,
respectively, while freshman music and psychology major Abbie Brady
(Ashtabula) is the dramaturge.
New for the 2013-2014 theatre season is "Inside the Season" pre-show talks
which are offered before the second Friday performance of each production.
The "Inside the Season" pre-show talk for *The Servant of Two Masters *will
be held Friday, November 8, 6:45 p.m.  Patrons will have an opportunity to
meet the new director Scott Hudson who will lead the pre-show talk.  He
will give audience members the inside story as they learn more about the
production and its creators with an emphasis on the actors' process using
Commedia dell'arte to develop their characters.

Tickets for the performances are: $10 for adults; $9 for senior citizens,
students, University faculty/staff; $8 for groups of 10 or more; and $2 for
Ashland University students.

To purchase tickets, call the Ashland University Box Office at 419-289-5125,
Monday through Friday, 12:00 PM to 6:00 PM; or purchase online 24/7 at
www.ashland.edu/tickets. For more information about the department of
theatre, visit www.ashland.edu/theatre, find us on Facebook at
www.facebook.com/AshlandUniversityTheatre or contact Tricia Applegate,
coordinator of performing arts publicity and events, at419-289-5950 or
tapplega at ashland.edu.
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