Photo Flash: Deep Dish Theater Presents IS HE DEAD?

"The text is delightfully clever," said Williams, who was originally drawn to the play because it examines the value of art and by extension, the value of artists. "I think this is a topic worth investigating. But most importantly, the play is uproariously funny."

Written in 1898, but published for the first time in 2003, Mark Twain's Is He Dead Yet? fictionalizes renowned French Artist Jean-Francois Millet as an impoverished painter who can't sell a single piece of his own work. In fact, his paintings would probably be worth more if he were dead than alive....

This Deep Dish production features a talented cast, including John Boni, Kit FitzSimons, Thom Gradisher, Lormarev Jones, Jon Karnofsky, Tracey Phillips, Steven Roten, Ros Schwartz, C. Delton Streeter, Sharleen Thomas, and Joyce Weiser. The design staff includes Paul Stiller (set), Doug Wood (lights), Sue Sweezy (costumes), Devra Thomas (properties), and David Klionsky (sound). Lauren Tannenbaum.

Performances are Wednesdays and Thursdays at 7:30 p.m., Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m., and Sunday matinees at 2 p.m. Tickets are $19 adults, $17 seniors, and $12 for students regularly, with a $2 discount for adults and seniors at the Wednesday and Thursday shows. Wednesday, October 27 is "Cheap Dish Night" - all tickets are $9 (no reservations accepted). Tickets are available at the Deep Dish box office in University Mall, Wednesday to Saturday from 3 to 6 p.m.; by dialing (919) 968-1515; or by purchasing online at www.deepdishtheater.org.