THE LITTLE DOG LAUGHED Next Up in REPaloud Play-Reading Series

Douglas Carter Beane's The Little Dog Laughed is the next offering in Tennessee Repertory Theatre's REPaloud series, set for January 15 and 16, at 7:30 p.m. each evening at the W.O. Smith Community School.

Nominated for the Tony Award for Best Play in 2007, The Little Dog Laughed follows the adventures of Mitchell Green, a movie star who could hit big if it weren't for one problem: His agent, Diane, can't seem to keep him in the closet. Trying to help him navigate Hollywood's choppy waters, Diane is doing all she can to keep Mitchell away from the cute rent boy who's caught his eye and the rent boy's girlfriend...will there be a happy ending as the final credits roll?

Martha Wilkinson, one of Nashville's most popular actresses, will take on the role of Diane, which won Julie White the Tony Award for her performance on Broadway. Wilkinson is joined in the reading by her husband, David Compton, as well as Marin Miller and Patrick Waller. Lauren Shouse, Tennessee Rep's artistic associate, will direct.

"Regional theatres around the country have embraced this scathing comedy over the past couple of years," said Rene D. Copeland, producing artistic director for Tennessee Rep. "It's funny, smart and timely - and since it centers on the love life of a movie star, we are, as a culture, completely unable to resist it. Add to that the complication of our movie star needings to stay in the closet for the sake of his career, at least according to his witty, sarcastic, pushy agent and you have a story that mocks our obsession both with fame and with other people's sexual preferences.

"Our REPaloud series provides us the opportunity to share this sharp and sassy play with the Nashville community, and with such a tremendous cast, the reading will be a fabulous way to experience the play."

For more information on Tennessee Repertory Theatre and its REPaloud series, visit the company's website at www.tennesseerep.org.

Photo: Mary Rose Conlin and Martha Wilkinson by Jeffrey Ellis

To post a comment, you must register and login.