TheatreWorks New Milford Presents Eric Bogosian's TALK RADIO, 2/25 thru 3/19

On Friday, February 25th, TheatreWorks New Milford is proud to invite you to the debut show of our 44th Season with the darkly comic, terse, and off-beat play, Talk Radio, by Eric Bogosian.

"Talk Radio is an intense, funny, and cynical character study with Barry Champlain, a 1980s shock-jock, at its center," said director Susan Abrams. "The beauty of this play is that while Barry berates his late-night callers with reckless abandon, we can still sympathize with his flaws. He is anything but evil incarnate, and it's to the credit of Bogosian that we see why Barry has attracted such a strong and devoted following. I'm so proud we were able to mount such a bold and edgy piece in New Milford, because it's not something you'll have the pleasure of seeing often and everywhere."

"When people hear the term 'talk radio' today, they equate it with the conservative talk radio genre...and that's not what this show is about," said TheatreWorks' President Glenn R. Couture. "This funny, moving, and off-beat production harkens back to a time in the 80s when folks would call up their DJ for some late night, no-holds-barred chit-chat. And guys like Barry Champlain, portrayed brilliantly by Bob , were virtual stars in their own right. That "shock radio" entertainment translates so well to the stage in this production that audiences will be blown out of their seats with laughter, tension, sadness, and fear...it's an all-out attack on the senses."

Besides Lussier, Talk Radio features some of the region's finest actors: Laura Gilbert (West Cornwall), Marilyn Hart (Brookfield), James Hipp, Jacky Saulnier, and Tom Libonate (all Danbury), Maxwell Alexander, Alex Echevarria, and Beth Bonnabeau (all New Milford).

Talk Radio made its world premiere at The Public Theater/New York Shakespeare Festival on May 12, 1987, and made its Broadway debut at The Longacre Theatre on March 11, 2007 - earning two Tony Award nominations. The play was adapted into a critically-acclaimed film by director Oliver Stone in 1988. New York Newsday called the play "A compelling work that draws you straight into the heart of its fringe world. It makes the call in show a metaphor for America's lost souls."

Recommended for Mature Audiences

Fund Development Efforts Bearing Fruit at TheatreWorks

We're having wonderful results from our fund-raising efforts, thanks to our growing list of supporters!

TheatreWorks was recently awarded another grant from the Connecticut Community Foundation: to sponsor our 2011 "Pay What You Want Night" outreach program. Our partnership with CCF just keeps on growing...and giving. Did you know that for 40 years, TheatreWorks has offered an affordable night of theatre during every production to anyone who wants to see a show? Imagine, Broadway-quality theatre right here in New Milford, and you can name your own ticket price! This important community outreach is part of our mission: ensuring full access to the joy of live theatre. Many thanks to CCF for their support of this program.

Our Annual Fund continues to grow each year, and we're still hoping to reach our goal of $20,000! To join in on the success, just click here to make a donation or send in your appeal card. Every donation matters. To keep our ticket prices and tuition affordable, and to maintain our charming but aging building, we need your help.

Thanks to a grant from The Ellen Knowles Harcourt Foundation, we will be painting the exterior of the theatre this spring or summer - assuming the snow really WILL melt at some point! And we received the second installment of a 3-year General Operating Support grant from the Connecticut Commission on Culture & Tourism to underwrite our promotional mailing costs for the full year.

Watch upcoming newsletters for details on 2011 fund-raising events: March 30th at 59 Bank Street and August 6th for our 2nd Annual Cocktails & Cabaret!

If you'd like to help or if you have any questions, please contact Jan King, our Fund Development Coordinator, at jking@theatreworks.us.

Current Production

February 25 - March 19
Fridays & Saturdays 8:00 PM
Sunday 2:00 PM
$20.00 Reserved Seating

Recommended
for Mature Audiences

Support Live Theatre

Help us keep live theatre ALIVE in NW Connecticut. Won't you please contribute to TheatreWorks New Milford Annual Fund? Your gift will be gratefully acknowledged in our playbill and online. TheatreWorks is a federally recognized 501(c)(3) non-profit organization and donations are tax-deductible to the full extent of law. Thank you for giving.

TheatreWorks New Milford

5 Brookside Ave. / PO Box 836
New Milford, CT 06776
(860) 350-6863

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