BROKEN RECORD Plays Overtime Theatre, 8/27-9/18

Opening August 27 at the Overtime Theater, Broken Record is the world premiere production of a new play by award-winning playwright James Venhaus.

Expanded from James Venhaus' ten-minute short Inside the Loop that was written for TheatreASAP in 2007, this new, full-length production tells the story of one couple...in reverse. If you could go back and play your entire failed relationship over again, would you? Should you? Would it make a difference? Ben and Cynthia's relationship is replayed from its bitter end back to its sweet beginning.

Broken Record will be directed by experienced actress and director Catherine Babbitt. Overtime technical director Rigel Nunez will provide the scenic design. The play will feature the actors Christie Beckham (Cynthia), Tyler Keyes (Ben), and Robert Jerdee (Richard).

Another Venhaus play, The Happy Couple, had its world-premiere staging at the Overtime Theater in March 2010. It received critical and audience acclaim, and the show sold out most of its performances. Beckham and Keyes also were part of that production.

Broken Record is different because it essentially existed only as a short piece before the playwright, director and cast began pre-production work. James Venhaus explains the process of expanding the original idea into a full-length production:

"After this play debuted at 2007's TheatreASAP, I knew there was a lot more to the story than could be told in ten minutes. And, I'm so lucky to be surrounded by such a strong creative team. Catherine, Tyler, Christie and I have met several times this summer to brainstorm ideas about the play, the characters and production. After each meeting, I'd write new scenes, and send them to the team via e-mail. Then they would send feedback to me, and I'd go back and write more. I created three new drafts of the play before rehearsals started. It's been an exhilarating process, and I feel that developing the play with the cast and director has provided me with a unique opportunity to create a much stronger play than I could have made on my own."

The creative team of Broken Record is writing about their experiences in creating the play in an online blog. The blog can be found at http://jamesvenhaus.net/wordpress/.

Location: The Overtime Theater, in the Blue Star Complex, 1414 S. Alamo, #103, San Antonio, TX 78210.

Show Dates and Times: August 27 - September 18, 2010. Showtimes are 8 pm Thursdays-Saturdays, with one 3 pm Sunday matinee (September 12). No show on Friday, September 3.

Ticket Prices: $12 general admission, and $9 for teachers, students, seniors 65+, active military, and SATCO members. Thursdays are "Cheap Date Night," when the ticket price is "pay what you can."

Information & Reservations: www.theovertimetheater.net, info@theovertimetheater.net, and (210) 557-7562.

In business since 2007, the Overtime Theater is dedicated to providing innovative and accessible entertainment at an affordable price. The shows are all new, original works, or unconventional adaptations of old classics. The Overtime Theater specializes in world premieres of works never before seen on stage!

In just three years, the Overtime has produced over 30 new shows, including three original musicals: Sheer Bloody Lunacy!, Pirates Vs. Ninjas, and The Brain That Wouldn't Die: A New Musical. Other notable productions have included The Good Samaritan, Poet Faustus, Sob! Choke...LOVE!, Action Philosophers, and most recently, the world premieres of The Hard Bargain, The Happy Couple, The Life & Death of the Amazing Captain Piledriver, and The Last Broadcast of Bailey & Long. The Overtime Theater also collaborates with local visual artists, giving them a prominent local space in which to display their works in the Blue Star Complex.

The Overtime Theater has now moved to non-profit status pending approval by the IRS. This decision has been made to extend the Overtime's mission of "art for the people" to the greater community, including through planned, low-cost workshops in acting, playwriting, comedy improv skills, and art by working professionals.

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