Theatre Exile Presents 'AMERICAN BUFFALO' at Plays & Players 4/9 - 5/3

Theatre Exile's final production of their 12th season is the classic, American Buffalo by Pulitzer Prize-winning, David Mamet. Directed by Associate Artistic Director and 2008 F. Otto Haas Award winner, Matt Pfeiffer. The show runs April 9 - May 3 at Plays and Players Theatre. American Buffalo is recommended for mature audiences.

American Buffalo pries apart the American Dream to see what has fallen between the cracks. The audience is immersed in a dusty pawn shop, crammed full of bits and pieces of forgotten artifacts from times long past. Lording over the memorabilia is Don, who has enlisted his ex-junkie protégé Bobby, and long-time associate and veteran grifter, Teach, to help him steal a valuable buffalo head nickel. The heist acts as a catalyst to bring into question the hustlers' loyalties as well as their status in their imagined crime world. But in a world where enterprise is equivalent to scam, is success even possible?

American Buffalo won the New York Drama Critics' Circle Award in 1977, but has become more relevant than ever before. In a world where multi-million dollar investment schemes seem to be daily headlines, American Buffalo illuminates the very business ethics that have pulled today's economy into recession. After the unprecedented success with Glengarry Glen Ross, Exile wanted to dig deeper into the world of Mamet. Exile's production of American Buffalo explores the consequences of the morally vacant ambitions of average men pursuing the illusive American Dream at all costs.

CAST
Once again, Exile has gathered some of the best talent in Philadelphia for this production. American Buffalo will feature Exile's own Joe Canuso as Don. Joe returns to the stage after directing this season's runaway hit Blackbird, and performing in last season's Barrymore-nominated Bug. Long-time Exile friend and Philadelphia favorite Pete Pryor returns to Exile as Teach, after performing in Exile's Hearts & Soles and Rounding Third. Pete is the co-founder of 1812 Productions, for whom he just finished directing The Karma Cookie, the recipient of two individual artist fellowships from The Independence Foundation, and two Barrymore awards for his acting work in the Philadelphia region. Exile's favorite up-and-coming actor, Robert DaPonte, returns to Exile as Bobby, after starring in dark play or stories for boys and appearing in the Barrymore-nominated ensemble of Mr. Marmalade. His most recent credits include Mumpuppet Theatre, Wondering Rom and his portrayal of the eccentric Professor in the Fringe Festival hit The Giant Squid.
DESIGNERS
Theatre Exile's Resident Designer, Matt Saunders, returns to Exile after his design of Blackbird received rave reviews. This 2007 F. Otto Haas Award winner's design for and performance in last season's Bug earned him a Barrymore nomination for Leading Actor and Outstanding Set. His many designs appeared more than 60 professional productions. Christopher Colucci, a 2008 Barrymore Award winner, returns to Exile after sound designing this season's Blackbird and dark play, along with productions all over the Philadelphia region. Thom Weaver joins Exile as lighting designer for the first time after designing in the Philadelphia region well as The Williamstown Theatre Festival, The Pittsburg Public Theatre and The Yale Repertory Theatre, to name a few. Alison Roberts returns to Exile as costume designer, after working on Exile's dark play, Bug, Glengarry Glen Ross and many productions at The Arden Theatre Company, where she works as the costume shop manager. Amanda Hatch and Avista Custom Theatrical Services will be designing props after working on last season's Bug and Roosters.

DIRECTOR
Matt Pfeiffer was the recipient of this year's 2008 F. Otto Haas Emerging Philadelphia Theatre Artist award. He has been nominated for 3 Barrymore Awards for Outstanding Direction two of which include Exile's Bug and Glengarry Glen Ross. He assistant directed Exile's The Philly Fan and directed Rounding Third. He was also nominated for Leading Actor (Red Light Winter) and appeared in Exile's Burkie and Mr. Marmalade. Matt has also worked with The Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival, Brat Productions, Walnut Street Theatre, Arden Theatre Company, Delaware Theatre Company, 1812 Productions, The Oralndo Shakespeare Theatre, and The Lantern Theatre for whom he directed the world premiere of The Foocy, for which he received a Barrymore nomination for Outstanding Direction.

PLAYWRIGHT
Chicago native David Mamet's credits include a wide range of plays, films, novels, directing, poetry and even cartooning projects. American Buffalo was his fifth play, and received the New York Drama Critics Award in 1977, and the Outer Critics Circle John Gassner Award for Distiguished Playwriting in 1978. He is a founding member of the Atlantic Theater Company. He is best known for hits like Sexual Perversity in Chicago (1974), the Tony Award-nominated Speed-The-Plow (1988), Oleanna (1992), and the Tony Award nominated and Pulitzer Prize-winning Glengarry Glen Ross (1984). His film and television work has been widely recognized, including Oscar nominations for the films Wag the Dog and The Verdict, he is also the creator/producer of the television show The Unit.

 

 

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