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David’s Real Pit BBQ
By Richard Dresser
Directed bt Mary Hausch
April14 - May 9
This quirky comedy teams up two of the most mismatched men to coach for a Little League team. Don is an affable, beer swilling ex-jock, a win-at-all-cost veteran whose philosophy is “Winning is fun; losing stinks.” Don instructs his team to “have fun” and then reminds them that having fun translates into winning. He is a relic from the masculine rights of passage pre-dating political correctness. He expects his assistant coach to chug beer, his wife to cook the team snacks, his son to pitch a no hitter, and his team to win even if this means pushing the envelope of honesty. He spends his days dreaming about sex, money, and revenge fantasies…in other words, he is the average American male. His son is the team’s star pitcher and every dad’s dream.
Every year Don gets help from an assistant coach. This year the man filling those shoes is Michael, a wide-eyed new comer who wears a suit, packs a cell phone, and drinks Starbuck’s cappuccinos. Michael believes that “the fun is in the playing, not winning or losing.” He wants to give every kid a chance to play the position he has dreamed of, to know that he is a winner even if the team loses. His son can’t hit the ball or field, is nearly blind without his glasses, and can’t remember Don’s tips from one game to the next. Don and Michael disagree on everything especially as they coax their struggling young team closer and closer to the playoffs.
“Dresser’s play puts these two disparate souls in comic and sometimes touching conflict... Don and Michael are essentially, Oscar and Felix from the Odd Couple, set down in an everyman’s little league field.” –windycitymediagroup.com
What makes Dresser’s play exceptional is his use of humor to propel Don and Michael’s journey to mutual understanding. “Every time something serious Don or Michael says threatens to take the play into a touching emotional space, it is immediately defused with a brilliantly funny punch line. It isn’t unusual for a play to switch from comedy to drama and back again, but Dresser’s script is uncommonly good at switching back to comedy so quickly and effectively.” -talkingbroadway.com
“The work’s invigorating yin-and-yang structure- and the subsequent truth it reveals about each man’s expectations in life- speak to the questions that loom larger than who gets to play shortstop… The play, more than anything, seems to be about a plea for honesty (toward ourselves, our relationships, our goals) and the liberating fulfillment that comes from not trying too hard to make impossible situations work….And on a less literal level, the play’s competing teams are really trying to avoid striking out in life.” –chicagotheatre.com
The end of the play is definitely a surprise with Dresser throwing us a curve ball; he keeps us laughing while scoring his final home run!
Buy your tickets ONLINE at http://thehipp.org
GREAT NEWS! You can now buy your tickets on the internet, not only for plays, but also for our cinema presentations as well. Just log on, choose the show you want to see, the section in which you wish to sit, the number of seats your need and the computer shows you the best available seats. A few clicks later, and you’re done. You’ll get an instant e-mail confirmation and receipt.
And that’s not all. While you’re online, your can edit your personal information in our database, make donations, e-mail us with questions, browse through informational pages on all our plays and films and add yourself to our mailing lists. Even better, we often offer discounts (up to 50% off!) that are available only to online customers.
So jump on the internet, go to the Hipp website, http://thehipp.org, click the “BUY TICKETS ONLINE” button, and begin the adventure. If you have any questions or problems call us at (352) 373-5968, or e-mail us at hipp@thehipp.org. We’ll be happy to help.
One City One Story Revisits a Classic and Inaugurates a World
Premiere
In March, Gainesville was treated to the 3rd annual One City One Story project. This year’s project, which centered on the sci-fi classic The War of the Worlds by H.G. Wells, was met with tremendous enthusiasm by the Gainesville community. Creative events surrounding the citywide readings of the novel included live performances from the Orson Welles’ radio adaptation at local venues. Audiences at recreation centers, bookstores and libraries enjoyed recalling the famous alien invasion as actors took on the roles of journalists, scientists and townspeople of Grover’s Mill, New Jersey. On March 7, radio listeners heard the original Orson Welles radio broadcast on classic 89.1 fm/Nature Coast 90 and throughout the month, readers shared their thoughts of the novel that prompted the radio broadcast in Shelley Fraser Mickle’s Gainesville Sun column, “Novel Conversations”. Young readers also had the chance to explore The War of the Worlds through the Classics Illustrated comic book edition and through an art workshop on comic illustration at the headquarters branch of the Alachua County Library District. Thanks to all who participated, One City One Story was another huge success.
Each year, at the heart of One City One Story, is one of the most popular forms of storytelling: live theatre performances at the Hippodrome. This year, audiences were treated to a fully-staged adaptation of The War of the Worlds on the Hippodrome’s mainstage by Artistic Director Lauren Caldwell and her team of professional actors and designers. Inspired by the novel, world history and the philosophy of H.G. Wells, Lauren Caldwell and her artistic team crafted this world premiere adaptation into a unique “collage”, unlike any other form of storytelling that ever graced the stage. This premiere was an exhilarating event that maintained the theatre’s mission to “inspire and challenge artists and audiences” and “awaken new ideas”. To view a slide show of the arhtistic process of this unique collaboration, visit ttp://thehipp.org/perspect.html.
Classes explore the theatrical process in a great professional environment. For more information log onto our website at http://thehipp.org/classes.html or call Marcia Brown at 373-5968. Class space is limited so sign up today and give your child the most memorable vacation ever!
(ages 7-15)
In this week-long theatre arts camp, young artists rotate through a series of workshops including acting, dance, audition techniques; lighting, costume, and set design. The classes are taught by experienced theatre artists and include workshops with the theatre’s award winning artistic staff. Spring Break-A-Leg wraps-up with a talent show for family and friends.
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(ages 7-12) A great summer experience for young actors In this eight hour a day, four week theatre arts camp, young artists rotate through a series of workshops including acting, dance, audition techniques; lighting, costume, and set design; acting for video and television production. The classes are taught by experienced theatre artists and include workshops with the theatre’s award winning artistic staff. The camp wraps up with performances on the Hippodrome stage where young actors share their talents with family and friends. |
(ages 13-17) A great summer experience for older actors This eight hour a day, four week summer camp takes older actors into the professional theatre process. Students learn all aspects of play production including marketing, props, lighting, set and costume design. Workshops include acting, dance, and audition techniques as well as acting for video and television production. The classes are taught by experienced theatre artists and include workshops with the theatre’s award winning artistic staff. The grand finale is a crowd pleasing performance for family and friends on the Hippodrome stage. |
Class space is limited so sign up today and let us make this your best vacation ever!
The 2004 Florida Teen Playwright Festival
The winners have been selected for the 2004 Florida Teen Playwright Festival. They are “THUMPER”by Nicki Johnston from Jacksonville, Allen D. Nease High School in St. Augustine, Fl, “THE OUTER DIALOGUE” by Jessica Lynn Eisenberg from Lakeland, University of Central Florida, Orlando, Fl, and “THE INTRIGUES OF A DEAD MIND” by Nicola Cowap from Jacksonville, Paxon School for the Advanced Studies in Jacksonville, Fl. The directors are Master of Fine Arts students Justin Giallo, Amsalan Doraisingam and J. Salmoe Martinez from the University of Florida Department of Theatre and Dance. They will work with the theatre’s artistic team and to produce these original plays written by some of Florida’s most talented teens. This year we have included talkbacks for the playwrights, directors, designers, actors, with the audience on all April 24 performances. The talkback will give you the opportunity to talk to the playwrights and the artists about the plays and the writing and rehearsal process. We will be presenting all three winning plays in rep each day of the Festival.
The Florida Teen Playwright Festival was created in 1992 to inspire young artists throughout the state to write plays. Since that time, the festival has expanded to include three full-scale productions. The Festival is the result of a year-long initiative that provides teachers with the tools to introduce the art of playwriting, encourage self- expression, self-discovery, awareness and appreciation of playwriting. Students discover the art of play development; cultivate their unique creative abilities; and develop their artistic voices. Festival winners see their work come to life on stage.
This year’s Festival will include a mentoring program in partnership with the University of Florida involving undergraduate and graduate students. We estimate that the Florida Teen Playwright Festival will impact over 10,000 Florida students and teachers this year
Subscription Renewal Information!
It’s Subscription Renewal Time!
We would like to thank our subscribers. Your support this season has been more important than ever. With your invaluable investment in the Hippodrome, we’ve been able to continue to produce world-class theatre and to maintain our financial footing despite the staggering decreases in state funding. In appreciation, we are working to make next season’s subscriber benefits better than ever! You won’t want to miss any of our 32nd season offerings, so be on the lookout for your subscription renewal letter!
Group Rates
Join us for the homerun comedy Rounding Third at a savings of up to 30%? With our generous group discounts, you’ll hit one out of the park by bringing a group of ten or more. This laugh-out-loud smash hit by Richard Dresser will have your group in stitches from beginning to end. Why not bring the whole team and have a private social in our Art Gallery before the show? This unique space and sensational show will make your evening at the Hippodrome a grand slam to remember. For more information, call Gordon at 373-5968.
