THE SCENE

by Theresa Rebeck
(Nominee for the Steinberg Prize as The American
Theater Critics Association’s Best Play 2006)

June 6-28, 2008

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ABOUT THE PLAY

This fierce, edgy, bitter comedy will have you thinking twice before you actually decide to do something. Have you ever done something despite your better judgment? Maybe chosen to be a follower instead of leader, which causes you not to follow your heart. Well, if the answer is YES, then you will understand Charlie, the provocative and complex protagonist in this shrewd comedy. Clea’s ready to make it. Charlie’s trying to retake it. Lewis wants to change it. And Stella is simply over it. It’s the American Pop Culture ‘scene’ in all it’s boozing, schmoozing, and using glory.
 

MEET THE PLAYWRIGHT - Theresa Rebeck

Past New York productions include The Water's Edge, Spike Heels, Loose Knit and The Family of Mann at Second Stage; Bad Dates and The Butterfly Collection at Playwrights Horizons; and View of the Dome at New York Theatre Workshop. Omnium Gatherum (co-written with Alexandra Gersten-Vassilaros, and finalist for the Pulitzer Prize) was featured at the Humana Festival 2003, and had a commercial run at the Variety Arts. Her play The Scene, produced at the Humana Festival in March of 2006, will be seen at Second Stage as part of the 2006-2007 season. Her work has been widely produced both regionally and internationally. She is currently working on commissions from Playwrights' Horizons, Denver Theatre Center, and Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park.

In television, Ms. Rebeck has written for Dream On, Brooklyn Bridge, L.A. Law, Maximum Bob, First Wave, Third Watch, and NYPD Blue, where she also worked as a producer. Produced features include Harriet the Spy, Gossip, and the independent feature Sunday on the Rocks. Awards include the Mystery Writers of America's Edgar Award, the Writer's Guild of America award for Episodic Drama, the Hispanic Images Imagen Award, and the Peabody, all for her work on NYPD Blue. She has been a finalist for the Susan Smith Blackburn prize twice, won the National Theatre Conference Award (for The Family of Mann), and was awarded the William Inge New Voices Playwriting Award in 2003.

Ms. Rebeck holds a PhD. from Brandeis University in Victorian Melodrama. She and her husband Jess Lynn have two children, Cooper and Cleo.

MEET THE DIRECTOR

ANN MARIE COSTA directed Edward Albee’s THE GOAT OR WHO IS SYLVIA for Actor’s Theatre of Charlotte, winner of the Best Drama production from the Metrolina Theatre Association. Other professional directing credits include: INTIMATE APPAREL (ATC), BEAUTY QUEEN OF LEENANE and SISTER CALLING MY NAME at the Charlotte Repertory Theatre (CRT), KEEP ON THE SUNNY SIDE (Blowing Rock Stage Company) SEASCAPES (Mill Mountain Theatre, Roanoke, VA.) MRS. KLEIN (Victory Gardens, Chicago), A COUPLA WHITE CHICKS (Theatre Project Co., St. Louis), A HOLLYWOOD REVUE (Theatre Factory, St. Louis). 

At Davidson College she has directed numerous plays including the award-winning productions of SHE LOVES ME, ANGELS IN AMERICA: PART I, and CABARET. Ms. Costa is professor of theatre at Davidson College and chair of the Department of Theatre.

MEET THE CAST

Dave Blamy (Lewis) is extremely honored and grateful for the chance to work for the first time with ATC.  Since moving to Charlotte in 2005, Dave has worked with several local companies, including BareBones (ORSON’S SHADOW, WOMEN WHO STEAL), CAST (OMNIUM GATHERUM and THE LATE HENRY MOSS), and most recently with Theatre Charlotte (THE DIARY OF ANNE FRANK and THE HEIDI CHRONICLES). 

In addition to his stage credits, Dave can currently be seen in several regional and national commercials, as well as the upcoming feature film “Mandie and the Secret Tunnel.”  Dave would like to thank ATC and Ann Marie for this opportunity, his family for their patience and understanding, and to you, the audience, for supporting live theatre!

Kelsey Formost (Clea) is thrilled to be making her ATC debut as Clea! She is currently a rising senior at Davidson College and a candidate for Graduation with Honors, pursuing a BA in Theatre. At Davison College Kelsey has performed as Hyacinthe in SCAPIN, Reno Sweeney in ANYTHING GOES (MTA Nomination: Best Actress; Davidson College Turner Award: Best Actress), and Juliet in the Royal Shakespeare Company’s Davidson Production FOR EVERY PASSION SOMETHING both at Davidson and at the Fringe Festival in Edinburgh, Scotland. Other favorite roles include Stella in A STREETCAR NAMED DESIRE, Eponine in LES MISERABLES, Peter Pan in PETER PAN, and Mascarille in Moliere’s LES PRECIEUSE RIDICULUES with the Villa Rossa Players in Florence, Italy. Film credits include Sam in CRIB NOTES, and “the Girl from the Bar” in the foreign short PERDIDO Y ENCONTRADO. Kelsey is a recent graduate of the New York Film Academy, Paris: Film Acting program, and also of SpringboardNYC, an actor training program sponsored by the American Theatre Wing, creators of the TONY awards, in New York City. She would like to thank ATC (and especially Ann Marie) for this wonderful opportunity and her parents for their unwavering love and support. http://www.kelseyformost.com.

Allison Lamb (Stella) recently moved to Charlotte from Washington, DC, and she's very excited to have the opportunity to work at ATC with such a wonderful group of people. Although she was born in Wilson, NC, Allison was raised in Texas. After graduating with a BFA in Performance from Baylor University, she fled the Lonestar State as fast as possible to pursue an acting career in NYC. During her five year stint in New York Allison went on a national tour with TheatreWorks USA, performed at Town Hall, Chelsea Studios, and met her husband while performing at The Looking Glass Theatre Company. Regionally, Allison has worked with The Human Race Theatre Company in Dayton, Ohio, Cincinnati Public Theatre, Cumberland Theatre, The Baltimore Shakespeare Festival, The DC Fringe Festival, and many others. Voiceover work includes Federated Department Stores, IRS, Brightline Compliance. Television credits include “Sex and the City” and CourtTV. Thanks to Patrick and Munchie for lots of love and patience!

Brian Robinson (Charlie) returns to the ATC stage after appearances in the acclaimed productions of THE LITTLE DOG LAUGHED (Mitchell) and THE PILLOWMAN (Tupolski) earlier this season and TAKE ME OUT (Kippy) in 2004. A Charlottean, Brian has worked throughout the city with such companies as Charlotte Rep (FALSETTOS, A FEW GOOD MEN, PICASSO AT THE LAPIN AGILE, LEND ME A TENOR, A MAN FOR ALL SEASONS, BAREFOOT IN THE PARK, I LOVE YOU YOU’RE PERFECT NOW CHANGE), Charlotte Shakespeare (THE MERCHANT OF VENICE, TWELFTH NIGHT, A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM), Children’s Theatre of Charlotte (PRINCE BRAT AND THE WHIPPING BOY, THE MEMBER OF THE WEDDING), Central Piedmont Summer Theatre (MY FAIR LADY, YOU CAN’T TAKE IT WITH YOU). Throughout NC, he has worked with Flat Rock Playhouse, PlayMakers Repertory Company, NC Shakespeare Festival, Temple Theatre and Raleigh Ensemble Players. He works extensively on camera as well, having appeared in national spots for Coke, Subway, and Tylenol, in addition to regional spots for Food Lion, Time Warner Cable, and Hunter Fans. He filmed a role in the soon-to-be-released feature GOSPEL HILL, starring Angela Bassett and Danny Glover. A native Tennessean, he holds degrees from the University of Virginia (BA, History) and the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill (MFA, Acting).

PERFORMANCE CALENDAR