The Pasadena Playhouse announced today that it will present Val Kilmer in CITIZEN TWAIN for a five-show limited engagement. Val Kilmer, famous for his portrayals of iconic characters such as Jim Morrison (The Doors), Doc Holliday (Tombstone) and Batman (Batman Forever), inhabits the spirit of yet another legendary figure: Mark Twain. Kilmer continues to develop CITIZEN TWAIN, a solo show about the man considered to be the world's greatest storyteller, with this five performance extension at The Playhouse, August 21 - 24, 2013. The production continues through Sunday, July 28 at the Kirk Douglas Theatre.
"
Val Kilmer is a creative force of nature," said Executive Director,
Elizabeth Doran. "There is something magical about his utter embodiment of the characters he portrays. In this case he melds into
Mark Twain, and the result is sheer delight. It is a startling work of wonder that blurs the distinctions of
Samuel Clemens,
Mark Twain and
Val Kilmer, inviting the audience to muse upon the otherworldly possibilities of the soul. The
Pasadena Playhouse is proud to present this lovingly crafted and masterfully executed work of theater artistry."
This theatrical presentation uniquely explores Clemens' journey to acceptance, forgiveness, and enlightenment through the scope of his writings, and the self-reflection and engagement inspired by his relationship with Mary Baker Eddy. Eddy's writings, late in Clemens' life, served as a catalyst to his aspirations and seeking of his best self.
This play, as written by Kilmer, illuminates the depth of
Mark Twain's fiction and regards it as a striving for divine truth, an entirely overlooked dimension of his yearning. Kilmer's hilarious, raucous portrayal of Twain, positions the character as a reluctant, recalcitrant, and downright defiant prophet whose undeniable skills as a story-teller and wordsmith compels the Almighty to call upon Twain to deliver a Sermon on Love, to help us through our daily challenges.
Kilmer's Twain aggressively attempts to escape the responsibility of the Almighty's calling, only to find himself thwarted at every turn by divine interventions that range from slapstick to sublime. Not even
Mark Twain, it seems, can avoid his eternal fate.
Kilmer already workshopped the piece at various venues including the current
Kirk Douglas Theatre engagement in Culver City, the Valley Performing Arts Center in Northridge, CA and the Wyly Theatre in Dallas, among others.
"It's a unique experiment," explains Kilmer. "We're developing CITIZEN TWAIN without the benefit of a home theater, which is a challenge, so we're going to where the audiences are.
Mark Twain traveled the world sharing his love of America and humanity, and part of discovering Twain is to do that with this show."
Exploring the famed author's wry humor - from politics to death, love, money, watermelons, God, racism and cats - Kilmer channels the wit and wisdom of the man considered to be the world's greatest storyteller and the first stand-up comedian. Twain was a raconteur, and Kilmer presents his show in the style of a conversation.
"
Mark Twain was the first person who talked the way we do," Kilmer says. "CITIZEN TWAIN is a lively exchange with the audience, so my performance is fluid and somewhat free-form. That's part of the fun. It's a comedy and a character study."
Kilmer's fascination with
Mark Twain began while doing research for a possible film project. Famous for his fierce commitment to fully explore and inhabit every character he plays, Kilmer soon realized that "the only way to understand Twain is when he's on his feet and talking." He began experimenting last year, offering workshop performances around the L.A. area including at the Actors' Gang, Disney Concert Hall, United States Veterans Artists' Alliance Hall, the Masonic Lodge at Hollywood Forever Cemetery and Shakespeare Center L.A.
Every performance of CITIZEN TWAIN concludes with an audience talkback while the actor has his extensive make-up removed in full view, and select tickets are also available which include a backstage meet and greet with the actor.
"It's an exciting performance with many layers," says filmmaker Leo Scott, who is creating a documentary about the evolution of CITIZEN TWAIN. "I'm fascinated by Val's process. The film is about how an actor goes about creating a role, completely transforming himself, and the extreme dedication that requires."
Val Kilmer graduated from Julliard, where, when he was 17, he was the youngest actor ever accepted to the Drama Division. Ranked as one of the "Top 100 Movie Stars of All Time," Val burst onto the Hollywood scene at age 24 as rock star Nick Rivers in the Zucker-Abrahams-Zucker spy spoof, Top Secret. He starred in the cult classic Real Genius, then rocketed to international stardom playing the "Iceman" in Top Gun opposite
Tom Cruise; rock legend
Jim Morrison in
Oliver Stone's The Doors; and Doc Holliday in Tombstone.
Other memorable roles include the title role in Batman Forever and Simon Templar in The Saint. He headlined
Michael Mann's classic crime drama Heat with legends
Robert De Niro and
Al Pacino, transformed into
Elvis Presley for Tony Scott's True Romance and co-starred with
Marlon Brando in The Island of Dr. Moreau.
Recent work includes
David Mamet's Spartan as a career military officer; Ric Roman Waugh's Felon, with Stephen Dorff; the action thriller Déjà Vu; Kiss, Kiss Bang, Bang, written and directed by
Shane Black and co-starring
Robert Downey, Jr.; Millennium's Bad Lieutenant, directed by Werner Herzog; Streets of Blood, with
Sharon Stone and Curtis "
50 Cent" Jackson; and
Francis Ford Coppola's Twixt.
An accomplished stage actor, he made his Broadway debut in the 1983 production of Slab Boys with
Sean Penn and
Kevin Bacon. He appeared in
Joseph Papp's Delacorte Theatre productions of Henry IV: Part One; As You Like It; Hamlet (in the title role); and 'Tis Pity She's A Whore. He starred in the
Max Azria produced musical The Ten Commandments as Moses at the Kodak Theater in Los Angeles. In 2005, he starred on London's West End in Andrew Rattenbury's stage adaptation of The Postman Always Rings Twice.
Concludes the actor, "Twain represented Americans in our entirety. He was friends with presidents, and with former slaves. All of us are celebrated in his life and his work."
This production contains the following: Profanity, stage smoke and fog, the sound of gunfire, and mature content.
CITIZEN TWAIN continues at the
Kirk Douglas Theatre through Sunday, July 28. For tickets and information, and updates about additional venues, visit
www.valkilmer.com. Tickets are also on sale by phone at 213-972-4488 and in person at the
Center Theatre Group box office (at the
Ahmanson Theatre at the Music Center in downtown Los Angeles) or at the
Kirk Douglas Theatre box office two hours prior to performances.
CITIZEN TWAIN will play August 21 - 24, 2013, at The
Pasadena Playhouse. Single ticket prices are $30.00 - $75.00. A Meet and Greet with
Val Kilmer following all performances is available for an additional $25.00 per person. The
Pasadena Playhouse is located at 39 South El Molino Avenue, Pasadena, CA 91101. The performance schedule is Wednesday, Thursday and Friday at 8:00 p.m.; Saturday at 4:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m.
Tickets are available online at
www.PasadenaPlayhouse.org, by calling The
Pasadena Playhouse at 626-356-7529 or by visiting The
Pasadena Playhouse Box Office, Tuesday - Sunday from 12:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m. during non-performance dates. On performance dates the Box Office is open Tuesday - Saturday from 12:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. and 12:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. on Sunday. Group Sales (8 or more people) are available by calling 626-921-1161. For more information, visit
www.PasadenaPlayhouse.org.
