THE LITTLE DOG LAUGHED Plays Silver Spring Stage, Now thru 6/8

Silver Spring Stage presents The Little Dog Laughed by Douglas Carter Beane, directed by Eric Scerbo and produced by Lennie Magida, an irresistible comedy on the adventures of a budding movie star who could hit it really big depending on how he and his agent handle his secret. The Little Dog Laughed will perform weekends tonight, May 17 to June 8.

Silver Spring Stage is located in the Woodmoor Shopping Center, lower level (next to the CVS) at Colesville Road and University Boulevard. Ticket prices are $20 for adults and $18 for seniors and students. Performances are Friday and Saturday at 8:00 PM and Sundays May 26 and June 2 at 2:00 PM. Tickets can be purchased at www.ssstage.org. Information is also available by calling (301) 593-6036.

Premiering in 2006, The Little Dog Laughed earned Douglas Carter Beane, author of hits Xanadu and the current Rodgers and Hammerstein's Cinderella, his first Tony Award nomination for Best Play. Beane originally conceived of The Little Dog Laughed as a story of a young gay man looking for love who meets a closeted politician. On the advice of writer Armistead Maupin, he made the politician a movie actor. His own experience trying to write a screenplay of his play As Bees in Honey Drown (previously presented by Silver Spring Stage) turned his pen's target to Hollywood hypocrisy and created the brilliantly acidic and hilarious agent character.

He said, "The gay Hollywood theme is certainly a fun aspect of it, but for me the play is also about America, which claims to be about freedom and individuality, and how it requires neither." With its scathing humor, Beane creates universal characters faced with tough choices. "All of them (the characters) are struggling with what they want out of life and what they'll settle for...I was reading a William Saroyan play and there was a line in it...'they had the truth, but they were looking for something else.' And I think that's really what these characters are about. They know exactly who they are and what they need to be happy and they all are gonna take something a little different..."

The Little Dog Laughed is an irresistible comedy will keep you on the edge of your seats to see what choices and what else will be revealed.

The Little Dog Laughed introduces audiences first to the brash Diane (Leta Hall), the consummate Hollywood agent who possesses both contempt for the game and a no-holds-barred belief in them. Her client is the charming, attractive and talented young and coming actor Mitchell (Eric Jones), who though outwardly presents himself as the All-American straight actor, is secretly gay. Under the influence, he calls for a young hustler Alex (Robert Kittler). A budding relationship ensues. Both Mitchell and Alex say they're straight. Alex even has a girlfriend Ellen (Dana Medford). Diane snags a star-making role for Mitchell in the film version of a gay-themed play. Mitchell now has to choose between Alex and Hollywood. The Little Dog Laughed will keep audiences laughing right to the end.

The production team includes Katherine Offutt (Stage Manager), Valerie Mikels (Assistant Stage Manager), Joy Wyne (Set Design), Bob Scott (Lighting Design), Kevin Garrett (Sound Design), Mark Hamberger (Costume Design), and Joy Wyne and Nancy Davis (Props and Set Dressing).

Silver Spring Stage concludes its 2012-2013 season with Red Herring by Michael Hollinger (Jun 28-Jul 27).

Silver Spring Stage has provided quality, affordable theatre for over 40 years. We are an all-volunteer, non- profit organization and appreciate any contribution to enable us to offer excellent and entertaining productions. Thank you for your interest and support of Silver Spring Stage. All programs at Silver Spring Stage are made possible in part by a grant from the Maryland State Arts Council.

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