Saint Sebastian Players: 'Moon Over Buffalo' Opens Oct 17

SAINT SEBASTIAN PLAYERS OPEN SEASON WITH THEATRICAL FARCE

Ken Ludwig's Moon Over Buffalo Runs Oct. 17–Nov. 9

The Saint Sebastian Players (SSP) open their 2008–09 season with Moon Over Buffalo by Ken Ludwig, author of Lend Me A Tenor. The production runs October 17–November 9 at St. Bonaventure, 1625 W. Diversey Pkwy. in Chicago.

In Moon Over Buffalo, George and Charlotte Hay, fading stars of the 1950s, are playing Private Lives and Cyrano de Bergerac in rep in Buffalo, New York with five actors. On the brink of a disastrous split-up caused by George's dalliance with a young ingénue, they receive word that they might just have one last shot at stardom: famed film director Frank Capra is coming to town to see their matinee, and if he likes what he sees, he might cast them in his movie remake of The Scarlet Pimpernel. Unfortunately for George and Charlotte, everything that could go wrong does go wrong, abetted by a visit from their daughter's clueless fiancé and hilarious uncertainty about which play they're actually performing, caused by Charlotte's deaf, old stage-manager mother who hates every bone in George's body.

Making his SSP directing debut for Moon Over Buffalo is Tony Soto, who directed The Rocky Horror Show, Hiding Behind Comets and The Actor's Nightmare at Columbia College Chicago. The cast features SSP company member Lee Adam as George, along with Michael Borgmann, Patricia Casey, Luke Daigle, Jenny Franz, Samantha McDonald, Britni Tozzi and Matt Trudeau. SSP member Jonathan "Rocky" Hagloch is technical director/set designer, Susan Nordine is costume designer, Matt Davis is fight choreographer, Darcy McGill is assistant director, Emily Cooke is stage manager and SSP member Jim Masini is producer.

SSP's 2008–09 season continues with the annual Monologue Matchup Competition fundraiser October 27 and mainstage productions of Steve Martin's Picasso at the Lapin Agile, directed by SSP member Steven Walanka, February 13–March 8, 2009 and Tom Stoppard's The Real Thing, directed by SSP member John Oster, April 24–May 17, 2009.

Moon Over Buffalo runs October 17–November 9, Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m. at St. Bonaventure, 1625 W. Diversey Pkwy., at Marshfield just west of Ashland, in Chicago. Free parking is available in two lots. Full-priced single tickets are $15, $10 for students with valid IDs and $7 for seniors and children younger than 12. Full-priced subscriptions are $30; subscriptions for seniors and children younger than 12 are $15. Group rates also are available.

All programming is subject to change. For information, call 773-404-7922 or visit saintsebastianplayers.org. Tickets are also on sale at ticketweb.com.

SAINT SEBASTIAN PLAYERS HOST 16TH MONOLOGUE MATCHUP COMPETITION

 
The Saint Sebastian Players (SSP) are inviting Chicago-area actors to compete in-and Chicago theatergoers to observe-the 16th Annual Monologue Matchup Competition. A fund-raiser for SSP, the event takes place Monday, October 27 at 7 p.m. at St. Bonaventure, 1625 W. Diversey (at Marshfield) in Chicago.

Each actor participating in the Monologue Matchup will perform a two-minute monologue for a group of distinguished judges, including* representatives from Child's Play Touring Theatre, Goodman Theatre, Next Theatre, Promethean Theatre Ensemble, Raven Theatre, Remy Bumppo Theatre Company and SSP; freelance director Phillip Edward Van Lear; casting director David Murphy; and more. After viewing all the participants, the judges will select a group of finalists, who each will perform a second two-minute monologue. Judges will select several winners from the finalists, each receiving one of several prize packages.

For those who attend only to watch, the competition provides an unusual behind-the-scenes look at the audition process. Audience members also will select a "People's Choice" winner.

To participate in the Monologue Matchup, actors must call SSP at 773-404-7922 ext. 3 to make reservations for the limited number of spaces; registration is by phone only. The fee to participate, which includes the opportunity to observe the other competitors, is $15. The fee for audience members is $12; no reservations are necessary.

The Monologue Matchup Competition takes place Monday, October 27, at 7 p.m. at St. Bonaventure, 1625 W. Diversey (enter on Marshfield), Chicago. For information, call 773-404-7922 or visit saintsebastianplayers.org.

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