Audacity Theatre Lab to Premiere THE GREAT DICTATOR at FIT 2017

Audacity Theatre Lab has announced the World-Premiere of Jaymes Gregory's new stage adaptation of the original 1940 Charlie Chaplin satire The Great Dictator at the 2017 Festival of Independent Theatres, running July 14- August 5th.

The Great Dictator will be adapted and directed by Jaymes Gregory. The play is set in the fictional country of "Tomania" which has fallen to the tyrant dictator Hynkel and his party, the double cross. A group of Jewish citizens led by a barber who is identical to the ruthless dictator, rebel and seek out peace.

Featuring a four-person cast made up of Steph Garrett, Chad Cline, Leslie Patrick and Robert Shores the show will be staged to have each character represent antipodal traits using mask, mime, and an expressionist setting. Costumes by Jamie Little Puente. Stage management by Victoria Irvine. Jaymes Gregory designs and directs his own adaptation.

As for bringing to the stage this cinema classic, Gregory cited the current political and social landscape as part of the impetus for tackling the adaptation.

"As I was working on the adaptation, I quickly realized I couldn't do a piece in the time we live called The Great Dictator and not fill it with at least some topical material," Gregory said. "I couldn't ignore current politics, but the piece offered so much to explore. It hits on perspectives of human kindness, equality, crime, nationalism and on and on."

"It has become a great outlet for not only myself, but the cast," said Gregory. "I think we all are looking for a vehicle through which to say something. This project ended up being that for myself, the cast, and, hopefully, will be for the audience as well."

The Great Dictator is playing as part of the 19th Annual Festival of Independent Theatres at the Bath House Cultural Center, 521 E. Lawther Drive, Dallas TX 75218. Performances are July 21 at 8:00 pm, July 22 at 5:00 pm, July 27 at 8:00 pm, July 29 at 5:00 pm, August 4 at 8:00 pm, and August 5 at 2:00 pm. Tickets available at www.festivalofindependenttheatres.com/tickets.html . For more information, visit the Audacity Theatre Lab website at: www.AudacityTheatreLab.com.

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