Maryland Ensemble Theatre Presents AMERICAN BUFFALO, 10/27-11/20

Maryland Ensemble Theatre (MET) is proud to present the modern American masterpiece, American Buffalo, by Pulitzer Prize winning playwright, David Mamet. A hilarious, banter-fueled heist comedy and a heartbreaking portrait of criminal desperation, American Buffalo revolves around three men in a Chicago junk shop as they plan a heist of a rare coin collection. Directed by Peter Wray, American Buffalo runs from October 27 to November 20 every Thursday through Sunday on the MET stage. There will be one preview performance ($5 cash tickets at the door - no reservations) on Thursday, October 27 at 8pm. The Press Opening on Sunday (10/30) at 7pm will be preceded by a reception at 6pm catered by The Greene Turtle. Tickets to American Buffalo may be purchased online at marylandensemble.org, by phone at (301) 694-4744 or in person at the MET box office.

American Buffalo tells the story of Don Dubrow, a junk shop owner from Chicago, who after discovering that he sold a rare buffalo nickel to a collector for a quarter of its true value he then conspires with his young gofer Bob and his shady friend and "associate" Teach to steal the collector's coins. In the pursuit of their distorted vision of the
American Dream their greed betrays their ideals and nothing goes according to plan.

American Buffalo, which won both the Drama Critics Circle Award for the best American play and the Obie Award was made into a film in 1996 starring Dustin Hoffman. Author David Mamet has written over thirty plays including Glengarry Glen Ross (Pulitzer Prize) and numerous films including The Untouchables. Mamet who was called, "the finest American playwright of his generation" by The Sunday Times, is known for his trademark rapid-fire dialogue and for use of "colorful" language that could make a sailor blush.

Maryland Ensemble Theatre's production features a knock-out cast lead by MET Artistic Director Tad Janes as Don the proprietor of Don's Resale Shop. Jeff Keilholtz who blew away audiences and the press last year in MET's production of Boeing Boeing and as Renfield in Dracula returns to play the street "smart" Walter Cole known in the play by his nickname Teach. The three man ensemble is rounded out by Clayton Myers who plays Don's young lackey Bob. Peter Wray, an associate artist for MET, directs the talented ensemble. Wray's previous directing credits for MET include Dead Man's Cell Phone, Macbeth, Almost, Maine, and Jekyll and Hyde. He received his MFA in directing at Penn State and is currently an associate professor of Theater at Towson University.

The creative team includes Ira Domser (set design), Sherry Shaner (costume design), Tom Majarov (sound design), Rona Mensah & Gené Fouché (props designers) and Devin Gaither (stage manager).

For over a decade, Maryland Ensemble Theatre has been producing thought-provoking theatre, fun family entertainment, artist residency programs for public schools, challenging classes and the side-splitting Comedy Pigs. The MET is an artistic leader in the region and at the forefront of the creation of Frederick's Theater District.

 

To post a comment, you must register and login.