If you know your old movies, you probably know about the old studio system. A studio would put actors under contract for a period of time during which the actor was obligated to appear in a certain number of films.
One outcome of the system was that audiences saw many familiar faces on-screen from movie to movie. True to its roots in black-and-white film history, Pegasus Theatre has inadvertently mimicked this effect in the cast of the upcoming play, "Another Murder, Another Show!"
Of the 12 roles in the script, 11 are being played by veterans of the Living Black & White(TM) series, with newcomer Jarratt Calvert playing the role of George Chandler and newcomer Chris Edwards understudying the role of Dayton Lummis. (The full cast listing is at the bottom of this announcement.) This is unusual, according to Artistic Director Kurt Kleinmann. More typically, three or four roles will go to newcomers to the LBW series.
Says Kleinmann, "It just depends on who auditions and what the director's vision is. The director (Michael Serrecchia) had free rein to cast the show as he saw fit. Often we find that actors who excel in contemporary roles aren't adept at the acting style of the 30s and 40s. Their auditions reflect their talent but sometimes lack the necessary rhythm or texture of an actor of that period. Actors who have performed in one of our LBW shows generally know the style, and it shows in their audition."
There is another factor at play, says Kleinmann. "These shows require the actors to wear an unusually large amount of stage make-up, and we've heard that some actors are put off by that. We see that in the number of new people who audition for the LBW series versus our other shows."
What advice does Kleinmann have for someone wanting to get cast in one of the LBW shows? "Watch old detective movies and study the acting style! Great examples are 'The Thin Man', the Sherlock Holmes films starring Basil Rathbone, and the Charlie Chan series. We love having a good mix of veterans and newcomers. Make it easy for the director to choose you!"THE CAST OF "ANOTHER MURDER, ANOTHER SHOW!"
- Ben Bryant (Nigel Grouse)
- Jarratt Calvert (George Chandler)
- Chad Cline (Lt Foster)
- Blake Hametner (the voice of Eddie Wilson)
- Art Kedzierski (Leon Belasco)
- Kurt Kleinmann (Harry Hunsacker)
- Chris Messersmith (Jimmy Conlin)
- Alexandra Moore (Gloria Stuart)
- Scott Nixon (Dayton Lummis)
- Leslie Patrick (Mary Gordon)
- Sheila Rose (Florence Rice)
- Ben Schroth (Rolfe Sedan).
Understudies are Scott Nixon (Harry Hunsacker) and Chris Edwards (Dayton Lummis), who will perform during the Saturday afternoon matinees.
"Another Murder, Another Show!" by Kurt Kleinmann previews at the Eisemann Center in Richardson on December 29-30. There is a special New Year's Eve celebration, after which the show opens on January 2 and runs through January 25. Tickets can be purchased through the Eisemann Center by calling (972) 744-4650. For more information, visit www.pegasustheatre.org.
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