2nd Story Theatre Presents THE UNDERPANTS 4/30-5/30

2nd Story Theatre wraps up its 2009-2010 Season with Steven Martin's "The Underpants", directed by Ed Shea, from April 30 - May 30. It may be bad taste to drop your knickers in public but in Steve Martin's case, it's hilarious. This superb comedy is racy, witty, and indescribably funny.

It's a wild and crazy play! Carl Sternheim's 1910 German comedy is re-worked and re-invigorated by comic genius Steve Martin into a laugh-out-loud farce. Theo's wife Louise can't keep her underpants up. The panties fall to the floor at the most inopportune time, risking scandal and titillating the most unexpected characters. A brilliantly risqué-romp, this marvelous satire mixes incisive social commentary with off-the-wall humor for a night of unforgettable fun. "The Underpants" premièred off-Broadway in 2002 at the Classic Stage Company.

Preview performances are Friday April 30 and Saturday May 1 at 8:00pm; preview ticket price is $10. Regular performances run May 6 - May 30, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday at 8:00pm, Sunday at 3:00pm; regular ticket price is $25. 2nd Story Theatre is located at 28 Market St., Warren, RI. For tickets, visit the Box Office, call 401-247-4200 or email boxoffice@2ndStoryTheatre.com. The Café at 2nd Story is open on all performances dates for dining. Call the Box Office for reservations. Visit the website at www.2ndStoryTheatre.com for more information. 2nd Story Theatre is a fully accessible venue.

Steve Martin AND "THE UNDERPANTS"

Born in Waco, Texas in 1945, Steve Martin began his career as a magician at California's Disneyland, where he also began to master the banjo, juggling and creating balloon animals. After a brief stint studying theatre, he dropped out of college and began performing solo. He landed work as a writer for the Smothers Brothers Comedy Show, which launched a highly-successful career in comedy. Boasting an Emmy (1969), a Grammy (1978), Mark Twain Prize for American Humor (2005), Disney Legend Award (2005), and the Kennedy Center Honors (2007), Steve Martin is a prolific stage writer, screen writer, musician, actor, and performer.

TALKIN' IT UP: Sunday May 9

Discussion Sunday: Put your thinking cap on

Two humanities discussions on the production's theatrical aspects and the humanities themes roused by the play. Pre-show discussion begins at 2pm; post-show discussion begins immediately following the performance. 

Ed-ification [sq] Week: Post-play, post-mortem, post-haste. Thursday May 20; Friday May 21; Saturday May 22; Sunday May 23

Brief, spirited, informal discussions about the play's theatrical journey from page to stage led by director Ed Shea. Post-show discussion follows each performance for this week only.

ShrinkRap: Put the playwright on the couch. Friday May 28.

Examine the play and playwright from the psychological perspective with Dr. Rendueles Villalba. Discussion immediately follows the performance.

THE CAFÉ AT 2nd STORY

Located on the first floor of 2nd Story Theatre, the Café is a full service bar and restaurant, open to the public on performance dates, Thursday - Sunday evenings. The Café offers a deliciously light menu of soups, salads, and panini, at a deliciously light price. A convenient way to start the evening, the Café will ensure arriving at the performance by curtain time - just a short trip one flight up. Then back downstairs to conclude the evening with late-night cocktails and desserts. The Café is also open for dining during the performance, beginning at 8:00pm. Reservations required for pre-show dining. Call 401-247-4200 to reserve a table.

ABOUT 2nd STORY THEATRE

2nd Story Theatre is a professional, non-union company with a unique aesthetic and the highest artistic standards for excellence in the performance of great plays in its relaxed 130 seat black box theatre. Founded in Newport, Rhode Island in 1978 by Pat Hegnauer and Ed Shea, the theatre found a permanent home in the historic district of Warren, RI in 2001 under the artistic direction of Ed Shea. 2nd Story Theatre offers acting classes through its studio arm, the Actorsworkshop. 2nd Story Theatre is partially funded by the Rhode Island State Council for the Arts.

 

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