Second Thought Theatre Announces Cast and Creative Team for BOOTH, 5/21-6/14

Second Thought Theatre Co-Artistic Director Steven Walters announced today the complete cast and creative team for BOOTH, the brand new play by Walters with story and research assistance from Erik Archilla about the man behind one of the most tragic assassinations in American history. BOOTH, which Walters will also direct, beings with previews on Wednesday, May 21 and runs through Saturday, June 14. All performances of BOOTH will take place at Bryant Hall on the Kalita Humphreys Theater campus, 3636 Turtle Creek Blvd. Tickets to BOOTH are on sale now at 2TT.co and by calling (866) 811-4111.

"I am incredibly excited to bring a fully realized production of BOOTH to the Second Thought stage this summer and am grateful for the support Second Thought, Erik and I received from TACA to continue development on this play," said Walters. "BOOTH gives us the opportunity to explore the degree to which we as Americans are willing to sacrifice our liberty in the name of preserving our freedom. Given our country's current political climate, I can't think of a better time than now to ask this question and have this conversation."

A gripping historical tragedy, BOOTH tells the story of the "American Judas." The events leading up to Lincoln's assassination and the epic search to bring his assassin to justice are told intertwined in ways that bring new light to the conspiracy and new depth to the man everyone knows the name of, but few know very much about: John Wilkes Booth.

Montgomery Sutton, returning to STT after last summer's Gruesome Playground Injuries, stars as John Wilkes Booth and Stan Denman joins him as Edwin Stanton, President Lincoln's Secretary of War. Other members of the cast include Emily Scott Banks as Mrs. Surratt, Andrews Cope as Eckert, R Bruce Elliott as Senator Hale, Ian Ferguson as Arnold, Ted Gwara as O'Laughlin, Mikaela Krantz as Lucy, Frank Mosley as Atzerodt and Edwin, Aaron Roberts as Wells, Travis Stuebing as Surratt, Austin Terrell as Mudd, Brandon Sterrett as Payne and Drew Wall as Herold.

In true STT fashion, Bryant Hall will provide audiences with another unique configuration for the dramatic world of BOOTH. Set designer Aaron Jackson has created a war-torn structure that serves as both the playing and seating space. Jennifer Ables provides costume design, Aaron Johansen lighting design and Jeffrey Colangelo will provide fight direction. STT associate artist Alex Organ will serve as the production's music director.

Walters and Archilla began work on the play more than a decade ago as part of a class assignment at Baylor University. Several years after the pair graduated, they continued their research and began rewrites. In June 2013, TACA awarded them $40,000 from the Donna Wilhelm Family New Works Fund to continue development of the project and stage a production. At the time, the play was titled This Present Tyranny. Since last June, Walters and Archilla held a three-day workshop with theatre students at Baylor University with assistance from Baylor Theatre Chair Stan Denman. Last winter, STT hosted the first public reading of the play.

BOOTH opens with previews on Wednesday, May 21 at 7:30pm. Opening and press night is Friday, May 23, at 8:00pm. The PWYC performances of BOOTH will take place Wednesday, May 21; Thursday, May 22; Monday, May 26; Monday, June 2 and Monday, June 9 at 7:30pm. PWYC tickets are available at the box office the day of the performance only and are subject to availability. Tickets to the PWYC performance can be reserved at the regular ticket price online at 2TT.co. BOOTH runs through June 16. Tickets for BOOTH are on sale now and are available online at 2TT.co or by phone at (866) 811-4111.

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