Monthly Archives: February 2019

“Philosophus” at Plaza

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Check out these great pictures of my play “Philosophus,” which closes today at Plaza Theatre of Wharton, TX!

I am honored that my play has been given a special one-weekend run by Plaza Theatre as part of a new play competition sponsored by Texas Nonproft Theatres.

This is the first instance where Plaza Theatre has been involved in producing such a new work and they have done a wonderful job with the material – set, costumes, and acting combined.

Here I am with the marvelous cast after opening night, as well as some other production stills:

Plaza Theatre Cast of PhilosophusFrom left to right: Darin Kielke as Freytag, yours truly, Juan Monroy as Collini/Dorn, Sky Fuller as Mademoiselle Denis, Allison Folmar as Frau Schmidt, and Ken Dimmick as Voltaire

Many, many thanks to

  • Trace Morris for the wonderful directing
  • Gregory Magyar and Henri-Ann Norman for the beautiful costumes
  • Dennis Yslas and Texas Nonprofit Theatres for their trust in the show
  • Alicia Lane Hutton and Rebel Belle Publishing for publishing the script

Onward and upward!

WONDERFUL show at Plaza

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Yesterday evening, I had the great pleasure of attending the opening night performance of my historical farce “Philosophus” at the Plaza Theatre of Wharton, TX.

“Philosophus” was one of three winning plays in the TNT Pops! New Play Contest sponsored by Texas Nonprofit Theatres and, as such, was selected to be produced by one of their member theaters.

Plaza Theatre and Texas Nonprofit Theatres were very kind to host me so I could attend opening night of the show. I arrived in Wharton (a wonderful, quant town of Victorian houses) in the early afternoon on Friday and explored around a bit. I was then taken out to dinner by a member of the board at Plaza Theatre and subsequently attended an opening night reception at the theater itself.

Plaza Theatre in Wharton, TX

Plaza Theatre Marquee

Despite being a small town of ~6,000 people, Wharton has a wonderfully vibrant theater community. Everyone with whom I met was associated with Plaza Theatre in multiple ways – as actors, directors, stage managers, and so forth – and they all evinced a great passion for the theater. The theater itself is a gorgeous space – three stories and all – and is lit up like a multicolored lighthouse at night. The building used to be an old movie theater and now houses a 199-seat main stage space, which is put to good use doing everything from dramas to comedies to musicals.

As for the show itself, it was marvelous, with a very impressive set of actors. I was especially impressed by Juan Monroy, jumping and leaping around the stage in the role of Collini and Dorn, and Episcopal minister Kenneth Dimmic, enunciating his way to pomposity as Voltaire. I was also pleased to meet Fred White of Texas Nonprofit Theaters, who recognized me during the opening of the play and presented me with a bound copy of “Philosophus.” (As part of “Philosophus” winning the TNT Pops! New Play Contest, it has been published by Rebel Belle Publishing.)

Be sure to see the show before it closes!

“Philosophus” at Plaza Theatre

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Tomorrow, my historical farce “Philosophus” opens for a weekend slate of three performances at Plaza Theatre of Wharton, TX!

“Philosophus” was one of three plays chosen as winners in the Texas Nonprofit Theatre Association’s biannual TNT POPS! New Play Contest.

This Facebook announcement from Plaza Theatre says it all…

THIS WEEKEND ONLY: The Plaza Theatre is proud to present a special production of an award-winning new play, Philosophus, this weekend, February 22-24, 2019.

The Texas Nonprofit Theaters organization conducts a playwriting competition every two years called TNT POPS. Out of 100 scripts submitted from playwrights all over the United States, three were selected as TNT POPS winners.

As a member of TNT, the Plaza Theatre was selected to perform one of the winning plays, Colin Speer Crowley’s Philosophus.

Tickets & showtimes here: http://www.whartonplazatheatre.org/…/9dff0f5345448a8ff7a86b…

The playwright will be in attendance at the opening performance on Friday, February 22, 2019 at 7:30 pm. Tickets are $12 for adults, $10 for students, seniors or groups of 10 or more. Other performances are Saturday, February 23 at 7:30 pm and Sunday, February 24 at 2:30 pm. Tickets are available online at whartonplazatheatre.org or at the door before the show.

The show is recommended for mature audiences.

Plaza Executive Director Gregory Magyar explains, “With our own connection to renowned American Dramatist Horton Foote, The Plaza Theatre hopes to carry the torch of supporting new American plays and their development, as they lay the foundation for the Theatre to continue thriving in the American Arts landscape.”

Philosophus at Plaza TheatrePhilosophus Poster at Plaza Theatre

Photos of “Philosophus”

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I wanted to share these magnificent photos of my historical farce “Philosophus” from Best Medicine Repertory Theater’s wonderful production in Gaithersburg, MD!

The show is about to begin its third weekend (after that, one more to go!) and has received three positive reviews, as well as being highlighted as one of the top five shows in its premiere week.

An especial nod goes to John Morogiello for the set and Betsy Kemmerer for the costumes!

Another rave for “Philosophus”

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So happy to share a great review of “Philosophus” by Debbie Minter Jackson of DC Theatre Scene!

Philosophus review. Best Medicine Rep finds a farce to remedy our times

“Farce is not as easy to pull off as it looks.  Add mounds of glorious text inspired by the freedom spouting French philosopher Francois-Marie Arouet, a.k.a Voltaire, and you’ve got quite a mix on your hands. Specifically, you’ve got Philosophus as presented by Best Medicine Rep.

As they’ve demonstrated in previous engagingly worded scripts, Best Medicine Rep knows its way around gorgeously structured sentences.  Now they’ve added a baron and “insidious persecution…at the vile hands of despotism and tyranny” of a world renown philosopher in a goofy run, hide and chase situation set in 1753 in Frankfurt, Germany.  The escapades involve Voltaire’s flight from the court of Frederick II, King of Prussia, the city-states before the formation of Germany.  Tucked away in one of his several bags is a potentially embarrassing collection of poems.  Let the games begin.

…

Premiering just last year, Philosophus has already won a slew of awards, and is making its metro area debut. For the show to find a home at Best Medicine is a testament to the company’s pizzazz to recognize and secure such an up and coming work in its first Actor’s Equity production.  A thinking-person’s farce, Philosophus is a perfect fit for the area and a fun way to start the year.”

…a thinking-person’s farce… what a great tagline.

You can read the full review here!

Another review for “Philosophus”

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DCMetroCenterArts has published a good review of “Philosophus”!

Review: ‘Philosophus’ at Best Medicine Rep

The critic, Jennifer Georgia, dub deep, researching Voltaire a bit and appreciating the historical authenticity of the story:

“One of the remarkable things about Crowley’s play is how much of the farce is true. In 1753, Voltaire was journeying back to France (if he was fleeing persecution, it was a very slow flight) from the court of his former patron Frederick the Great of Prussia. He arrived in Frankfurt and was detained by Frederick’s agents, who were under orders to retrieve a document the king had given to Voltaire. His niece Marie arrived and was held with him, and had to fend off the unwanted advances of a guard. She and Voltaire were finally released after his luggage was ransacked and the offending item found.

In Philosophus this incident provides the fodder for High Farce. It supplies stock characters as old as the Commedia dell’Arte or even the Roman comic Plautus: the Cunning Thinker, the Stupid Servant, the Pompous Officer, the Lusty Soldier, the Buxom Maid, and the Greedy Harridan. These are all set upon each other in the broadest kind of comedy. It has chase scenes, mistaken identities, lost luggage, an overbearing old woman, an ogle-worthy young one, and duels with both wits and pistols. For those familiar with British comedy, it resembles Benny Hill meets the Enlightenment, or Carry On Philosopher.”

…

“Philosophus is a rib-tickling farce… Overall, it is a very entertaining evening at the theater.”

“Philosophus” cast and… me

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Cast of Philosophus - Plus CSC

From left to right:

  • Stan Levin, the wonderful director
  • John Morogiello, the wonderful (ARTISTIC) Director of Best Medicine Rep and a deliciously tyrannical Baron Franz von Freytag
  • Terence Aselford, a magnificently pompous Voltaire
  • Rebecca A. Herron, a marvelously greedy Frau Schmidt
  • Yours truly
  • Khaleshia Thorpe-Price, a subtly sensual mademoiselle Denis
  • Terry Heffernan, a gloriously active Collini and Dorn

First review of “Philosophus”

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The first positive review for my historical farce “Philosophus” has been published by MD Theatre Guide by Susan Brall!

Screen Shot 2019-02-04 at 10.15.54 PM

According to Ms Brall: The script is a cross between Mel Brooks (“Young Frankenstein”) and the Marx Brothers (“Duck’s Soup”).  If you love the ridiculous and lots of double entendres, you will have a good time at this production. 

…and yep, that about sums it up!

Check out the full review here!