Fascination and Fun Flourish in Theater at Monmouth's WHAT'S NEXT FEST

Theater at Monmouth closes its 48th Summer Repertory Season August 20th, but don't fret, TAM's not done just yet. Right when the curtain falls, TAM is back at it again with the "What's Next Fest", making old things new and new things classic. Join TAM for their debut week-long celebration of Theatre after a summer of astonishing acts by the 2017 Summer Company.

The content of the "What's Next Fest" is a culmination of top-notch creators and performers jam-packed into 4 nights of fun you won't want to miss. From veteran company member Mark S. Cartier splendidly reveling in the 50th anniversary of the Beatles' risky Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band, to a staged reading of "Play On!" playwright Lillian Groag's contemporary interpretation of Shakespeare's surprisingly modern epic Troilus and Cressida, the week is destined to have something for everyone.

Embark on this journey with Theater at Monmouth August 22nd, and be sure to bring family and friends along for the ride. Single Event Tickets can be purchased for $20 as well as a $65 "What's Next Fest!" Flex Pass that is redeemable for one ticket to every event.

Event Calendar:

Tuesday, August 22 @ 7:30 p.m.
It was 50 Years Ago Today: The Making of Sgt. Pepper
To celebrate the 50th anniversary of the landmark album Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band, Mark S. Cartier takes an in-depth look at the Beatles' risky decision to become a full-time studio band, a move that was unprecedented at the time. The risk paid off, however, as the group created a psychedelic masterpiece which is still regarded as the most influential album in recording history. Songs include Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds, With a Little Help from My Friends, When I'm 64 and the magnum opus A Day in the Life. A splendid time is guaranteed for all.

Wednesday, August 23 @ 7:30 p.m.
Staged Reading of Callie Kimball's Lucrece and the Two Janes
Jane and Other Jane live in a nursing home for dying Roman gods. They bicker over their differing versions of an event that changed the course of history, the rape and suicide of Lucretia. They can only settle their disagreement by opening the archive and replaying once again what led up to the night.

Thursday, August 24 @ 7:30 p.m.
Capital City Improv: A Night to Remember
Dennis Price's improvisational comedy troupe uses audience suggestions to create a completely zany and spontaneous evening of fun. Based in Augusta, Maine, Capital City Improv has been making people laugh for years with their quick-witted, lighting-fast, short-form laugh fests. The Capital City Improv team brings a charm and hilarity that you won't want to miss.

Friday, August 25 @ 7:30 p.m.
Staged Reading of Lillian Groag's "Play On!" translation of Shakespeare's Troilus & Cressida
Both warriors and lovers play hard to get in this surprisingly modern epic about the hot blood, hot thoughts and hot deeds of the ancient Greeks. In the 7th year of the Trojan War, Troilus, a young prince, pines for the affections of Cressida, a bright young woman who knows how to play it cool. Meanwhile, the heroes of The Iliad-Hector, Paris, and the kings they serve-debate whether to return the dangerously beautiful captive Helen or continue to fight without end. Nations and lovers alike do battle in this funny, piercing drama about romance and revenge in a world at war.

About Play On!: Oregon Shakespeare Festival commissioned 36 playwrights and dramaturgs to translate 39 plays attributed to Shakespeare into contemporary modern English. By seeking out a diverse set of playwrights (more than half writers of color and more than half women), they hope to bring fresh voices and perspectives to the rigorous work of translation. Each playwright was asked to put the same pressure and rigor of language as Shakespeare did, keeping in mind meter, rhythm, metaphor, image, rhyme, rhetoric, and emotional content. The goal, to have 39 unique side-by-side companion translations of Shakespeare's plays that are both performable and extremely useful reference texts for both classrooms and productions.

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