Village Players Theater Presents Q&A With ALIVE AND DEAD IN INDIANA Director 5/21-22

Village Players Theater presents the world premiere of Alive and Dead in Indiana, an adaptation of short stories written by nationally acclaimed writer, and Fort Wayne native, Michael Martone. Adapted and directed by Doug Long. Michael Martone will be in attendance this Friday and Saturday's performance and will conduct a Q&A promptly after the show. Tickets are available at the box office by calling 866-764-1010 or online at village-players.org, Adults: $20.00, Senior (65 and older): $15.00, Student (with ID): $15.00. The shows continues to run May 20th-May 30th 2010.

Alive and Dead in Indiana, takes a mythological and often very funny look at the influential and, at times indecent, Indiana natives who called it home. This show celebrates the history and heritage of the Hoosier state, with some imagined stories of real people, including the "King of Cool" - James Dean, Vice President - Dan Quayle, sultan of secret spices - Colonel Sanders, and the first student of sex - Alfred Kinsey. Alive and Dead in Indiana is a chamber theater production. Doug Long describes "chamber theatre as a style of adaptation that retains the narrator, who is always the most crucial speaker in prose fiction. I teach that, along with other performance studies classes, at DePaul University." Although this production will be the world premiere of the piece in full, Long has directed two of the pieces from the show at the Directors Festivals at Baliwick Repertory, in Chicago. He also has had two readings of it at VPT.

Long first came across Martone's stories several years ago, "I bought his anthology Fort Wayne is Seventh on Hitler's List (1993) for my wife, who is also from Fort Wayne. From that anthology come several of our stories: Pieces (written by Martone as a monologue by Colonel Sanders of KFC fame); On Hoosier Hysteria (one of many Martone stories written as a monologue by former Vice President Dan Quayle); Alfred Kinsey, Alone After An Interview, Dreams of Indiana (a monologue by the famous sex researcher); and the first one I adapted, Everybody Watching and The Time Passing Like That (written as a monologue by James Dean's high school drama teacher)."

Michael Martone has several books of short fiction, essays and edited many anthologies. He is a professor at the creative writing program at the University of Alabama. Some titles include: Racing in Place: Collages, Fragments, Postcards, Ruins(2008); Double Wide, Collected Fiction of Michael Martone (2007); Michael Martone: Fictions (2005); Pensées: The Thoughts of Dan Quayle (1994); and Alive and Dead in Indiana (1984). Martone will be in attendance opening weekend of Alive and Dead in Indiana.

While each story stands on its own, Long has shaped the script so that each of these stories flow in and out of each other seamlessly. His cast is up for the challenge and is able to switch characters throughout the show, shifting from slapstick to dramatic. Long added "I'm having a blast bringing this to life, and can't wait to share it with an audience."

All performances will be found at the Village Players Performing Arts Center, 1010 Madison St., Oak Park. The theater is near the Harlem exit of I-290 and is also accessible by the CTA Green and Blue lines. Plenty of parking is available on the street. The theatre is handicapped accessible but please do call ahead to arrange for special seating. To make a reservation, please call the box office at 866-764-1010, view our website at www.village-players.org, or visit the theater (the box office is open Tuesday through Friday from 12:00pm to 6:00pm).

About Village Players:
Village Players Theater, a non-profit organization founded in 1961, promotes the arts through theatrical productions and educational programs that encourage cultural understanding and embrace diversity in the Village of Oak Park and the surrounding communities. Village Players Theater is proud to be a vibrant part of Oak Park's cultural history, promoting a creative spirit that comes alive in its productions and educational programs. Each production features some of Chicagoland's most promising and talented professional performers and designers. Village Players Theatre is a member of the League of Chicago Theatre, the Illinois Theatre Association, and the West Suburban Theatre Connection.

 

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