Tom Dudzick's DON'T TALK TO THE ACTORS Comes To Circle Theatre

The third play in Circle Theatre's 35th anniversary season is Tom Dudzick's backstage comedy, DON'T TALK TO THE ACTORS. A budding playwright's dreams are swept away into a theatrical nightmare when his play is optioned for Broadway. Mr. Dudzick's semi-autobiographical tale is bound to be another fan favorite at Circle, like his previous productions Over the Tavern (2005); The Last Mass at St. Casimir's (2007); Hail Mary! (2009); and Miracle on South Division Street (2013).

Tom Dudzick said: "My association with Rose Pearson and Circle Theatre has been the most fun I've had with my plays without actually attending the theatre! It's incredibly rewarding to hear, year after year, that so many people are getting such enjoyment from something I created halfway across the country. It's a unique and delightful working relationship. And I finally got to meet Director Harry Parker in person. And where, of all places, but in New York City's Westway Diner, which you'll hear mentioned several times in the play. With his lovely wife we had a lot of laughs, and I so appreciated his weird dedication to getting all of my plays onto the Circle stage!"

Circle's production is directed by Harry Parker and features Jerry Downey (Louis Shaw), Bob Hess (Curt Logan), Ben Phillips (Mike Policzek), Curtis Raymond Shideler (Jerry Przpezniak), Meg Shideler (Arlene Wyniarski) and Wendy Welch (Beatrice Pomeroy). Circle Theatre's production team members include Megan Beddingfield (Stage Manager), Clare Floyd DeVries (Set Design), John Leach (Lighting Design), David H.M. Lambert (Sound Design), Sarah Tonemah (Costume Design) and Kyle Montgomery (Props Design).

Don't Talk to the Actors is produced by special arrangement with Playscripts, Inc. (www.playscripts.com)

Tom Dudzick (Playwright) is one of the few playwrights who makes a living at it. His first play, a Christmas tale called Greetings! opened at New York's John Houseman Theatre and starred Darren McGavin and Greg Edelman. It is now a holiday favorite across the country and has had well over one hundred productions. His next play, Over the Tavern, the first in a semi-autobiographical trilogy, has over two hundred productions under its belt, with many box office records broken throughout the U.S. The Irish adaptation, Over the Pub, also broke the box office record at Cork Arts Theatre in Ireland. Tom has written eight plays to date, most published by Playscripts, Inc. He was recently honored with a memorial plaque embedded in front of his boyhood home in Buffalo. And an even greater honor - he was once a question on Jeopardy!

Harry Parker (Director) is a Professor and Chair of the Department of Theatre at TCU. He has directed more than 100 professional and university plays and musicals, including productions at the Kennedy Center (Washington D.C.), Stages Repertory Theatre (Houston), American Heartland Theatre (Kansas City), and Lyric Theatre of Oklahoma and CityRep (both Oklahoma City). In Dallas-Fort Worth, his professional directing credits include Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike at Stage West, Hunting and Gathering for Amphibian Stage Productions, Company and Permanent Collection for Jubilee Theatre, Ellis Island: The Dream of America for the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra at Bass Performance Hall, and fourteen shows at Circle Theatre including Over the Tavern, The Whipping Man, Hope and Gravity, and My Name is Asher Lev. At TCU, his directing credits include Oklahoma!, You Can't Take It With You, Little Women, Everyman and No, No, Nanette. Originally from Oklahoma City, Harry received his BFA in Theatre from TCU, and an MA and Ph.D. from the University of Kansas. He is a two-time winner of the Kennedy Center Medallion of Excellence, and was named Tarrant County Theatre Educator of the Year in 2009. He has served as the National Chair of the Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival and served on the Board of Directors for Circle Theatre and the Live Theatre League of Tarrant County. Harry is also the Founding Managing Director for the award-winning Trinity Shakespeare Festival at TCU. In 2013, he was named the winner of the TCU Chancellor's Award for Distinguished Achievement as a Creative Teacher and Scholar. Before joining TCU, he previously served for 11 years as the Director of Theatre at Emporia State University in Kansas. He is a proud associate member of the professional union, The Stage Directors and Choreographers Society.

What: Don't Talk to the Actors

Where: Circle Theatre

230 W. 4th Street

Fort Worth, TX 76102

Sundance Square Entertainment District

When: June 16 - July 16, 2016

Shows: Previews:

Thursday, June 16, 7:30 pm ($15)

Friday, June 17, 8:00 pm ($20)

Saturday, June 18, 3:00 pm ($15)

Opening Night

Saturday, June 18, 8:00 pm ($38)

School Night

Friday, June 24, 8:00 pm ($5 students - $10 faculty & staff)

Regular Shows

Thursday at 7:30 pm ($25 - $33)

Fridays at 8:00 pm ($30 - $38)

Saturdays at 3:00 pm ($25 - $33)

Saturdays at 8:00 pm ($30 - $38)

Make reservations online at http://www.circletheatre.com, by calling 817.877.3040, or at the Circle Theatre Box Office, 230 West Fourth Street between Houston and Throckmorton, in downtown Fort Worth. Senior, Student, Military, KERA, Press Pass, S.T.A.G.E., and Group discounts are available. Half-price tickets for students are sold 30 minutes before show time, subject to availability. Complimentary valet parking is available for all performances. Patrons with special needs should contact our box office.

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