season0708
Poe & All That Jazz
Written & directed by Peter Coy
October 25 - November 4
Featuring Jon Cobb as Poe and jazz vocalist Patti Finn, as the women in his life,
with pianist Bob Bennetta, and bassist Jim Ryan.
An intriguing glimpse into the tortured psyche of a brilliantly creative man and the women who inspired him. Come hear the poetry and stories of Edgar Allan Poe, the music of Johnny Mercer and others, and have a Bloody Elmira while you're at it!
Performances will be held at
7:30pm Thu. - Sat., Oct. 25, 26, 27
2:00pm on Sun., Oct. 28
7:30pm Tue. - Fri., Oct. 30, 31, Nov. 1, 2
2:00pm on Sat. & Sun., Nov. 3 & 4
There will be a Champagne Reception following the Opening Night performance, Thursday October 25.
Halloween Special - Come in costume for a free Halloween potion!
All tickets $10. For reservations call 434 361 1999.
Who was Edgar Allan Poe and who was Lenore, the rare and radiant maiden about whom croaked the raven "you will clasp her nevermore"? Who could his Lenore have been? And who was Annabelle Lee, the child who danced with him in their kingdom by the sea? What visions haunted Poe as he sat in the still of the night, his imagination raging? What music flooded his mind night and day, come rain or come shine? Find out in this funny and macabre musical trip through the wonder-filled flights of Poe's life with the women he loved and memorialized. And it's all true!
Scenes from the play :
Poe and All That Jazz is an original piece written by Peter Coy. It explores the story of Poe's tortured personal life and his connection with the many women of his real and artistic relationships. As there are only two characters, and actor Jon Cobb is Poe and I am...well, I guess I am "All that Jazz". Basically I am all the other characters, including the main figure of Eliza, his mother. whose deathbed "mom"-ories haunt Poe all his life, and who is the main hub around which the play turns. Oh, I also illustrate the action and drive the dramatic tension by breaking out into songs of Johnny Mercer (& others) --there is a jazz combo on stage--musicians Bob Benetta and Jim Ryan at the piano and bass.
I know what you're thinking. A play about Edgar A. Poe... in a jazz club? Not exactly...well, not at all in fact.
Poe and All That Jazz is a post-modern pastiche, as powerful as a fever dream, or a simoom...(that is one of Poe's fave words--a great tropical wind)....and yet, the story itself is quite touching, too, in its humanity. There is so much more to him than madness. Remarkably, virtually all the text is taken directly from Poe's life experiences, related correspondence, and of course, his writings, and Peter's work to synthesize these sources is a singular achievement in itself. Working thru " All that Jazz" as an actor, I am surprised by how clearly this play offers the potential for understanding what lies behind the 'misogyny' that is so often immediately associated with Poe's treatment of women characters. The outcome of this process is not at all what I expected.
This piece creates an access to the troubled subconscious mind that is psychologically truthful, associatively rich, humorous and horrifying, yet simultaneously, surprisingly delightful. I know that I never realized the breadth of Poe's influence on writers of prose, his legacy as a source of genre development, his great humor and of course, the thin veil which separated his life and his artistic works.
It is a remarkable play and a production that I am proud to be associated with.
- Patti Finn
Patti Finn's Dress by
Hamner Theater graphics by Donegan Design
A Shadow of Honor
Written by Peter Coy
May 23 - June 1
Tickets $10 at the door or by reservation at 434.361.1999
Directed by Boomie Pedersen
Jonas Collins - William Ruffin
Rebecca Hudnall- Caroline Ruffin
Holly Schumann - Grace Ruffin
Jim Johnston - Aubrey Strode
Richard Averitt - Tyler McNeill
Rose Harper - Kathy McNeill
Performances will be held:
May 23 - 24, Fri - Sat at 7:30pm
May 25, Sun at 2:00pm
May 28 - 31, Wed - Sat at 7:30pm
June 1, Sun at 2:00pm
A Shadow of Honor in the Press:
Hamner Theater hosting historical play, by Erin McGrath, Nelson County Times, 5/28/08
Brendan Fitzgerald talks to Peter Coy in this week's Cville Weekly, 5/27/08
Nelson County Life talks about A Shadow of Honor Go there to hear an interview with playwright Peter Coy.
A 'Shadow of Honor' traces legacy of war, by Jane Norris, in the Daily Progress, 5/22/08.
Century old murder trial brought back to life by Chris Graham, in The Augusta Free Press, 5/05/08.
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- 1430 reads
Am I Black Enough Yet?
by Clinton A. Johnston
March 19 - 22
Press reaction to Am I Black Enough, Yet?
From Potomac Stages review by Brad Hathaway, 4/10/08
"simultaneously delightful and thoughtful"
"The strength of this piece is in its language, its humor, its humanity and its generous spirit - not in elaborate sets or visual effects. It is an enjoyably engaging evening without rancor but not without a strong viewpoint."
Everything Turned Black: Charter Theatre's Bold Comic Playin The Express, from The Washington Post, 4/24/08
(Spoiler alert - read the review after seeing the play!)
dctheatrescene.com review, by Debbie Minter Jackson, 4/20/08. If that link is not working, see review here
Read the Washington Post review, 'Black Enough': Tales that get under the skin, by Celia Wren 4/17/08. "...a patchwork of poignant and satirical skits grappling with questions of ethnicity...Johnston's bold tonal shifts add surprise and texture to the piece, which is always thoughtful..."
Performances will be held at 7:30pm,
March 19 - 22, Wednesday - Saturday
Tickets are $10, on the door or by reservation at 434.361.1999.
Wednesday Performance, Opening Night, is SOLD-OUT -
Please join us Thursday - Saturday..
"Can you feel it? Can you see it? When do you wanna be it and when break free of it? And after all, what is it? Where does it start ... and where does it end?"
No matter who you are or where you're from, for one night at the Hamner Theater, you get to be African-American. Playwright Clinton A. Johnston takes you on a touching & insightful tour of the state of Blackness in America. This bitingly intelligent play is sometimes funny, always thought provoking. Don't miss it.
Directed by George Grant
Cast featuring Edward Daniels, Patrick M. Doneghy, Matthew Eisenburg, Paige Hernandez and Sonia Justl
and with the technical assistance of Megan Allen (Stage Manager) & David Lamont Wilson (Sound Designer)
Opening Night performance at The Hamner Theater on Wednesday, March 19 will be followed by a Champagne Reception with members of the cast & crew - Open to all.
There will be a Talkback with Playwright Clinton A. Johnston following Saturday's performance - Open to all.
There will also be three performances at Charlottesville's Live Arts Tuesday March 18 at 7 & 10pm, and Friday March 21 at 11pm.
Call 434.977.4177 for reservations.
The Hamner Theater gratefully acknowleges the generosity of the C & O Restaurant in sponsoring this production.
Monday, March 17, 8:30am: Listen to playwright Clinton Johnston & Hamner Co-Artistic Director Boomie Pedersen on 106.1 The Corner
Hamner Theater will feature "Am I Black Enough Yet?", Daily Progress, 3/14/08
Read (or check link at the Augusta Free Press to listen to) Chris Graham's interview with playwright Clinton A. Johnston
'Am I Black Enough?' to begin Va. tour , by Kevin Kittredge, Roanoke Times 3/09/08 ("receives a standing ovation at Dumas Festival")
This production is also playing at
Call 540.342.5740 for reservations.
at Charlottesville's Live Arts Tuesday March 18 at 7 & 10pm, and Friday March 21 at 11pm.
Call 434.977.4177 for reservations.
and at Charter Theatre in Washington DC from April 11 - May 3.
Call 202.333.7009 for reservations.
Am I Black Enough, Yet?, a new play by Charlottesville playwright Clinton A. Johnston, will open at the Hamner Theater on Weds., March 19.
In the play, Johnston explores the state of blackness in America. Through the theatrical device of making everyone in the audience "honorary black folk", it opens the door for frank discussion of prejudice, assumption and discrimination. The play aims not only to examine differences, but also to encourage communication and a sense of community.
Johnston originally wrote Am I Black Enough, Yet? as a series of sketches for Charlottesville's No Shame Theater, with the encouragement of Todd Ristau (now of Hollins University) as well as Doug Grissom, head of playwriting at UVA. The play was further developed at the Earl Hamner Playwrights Conference and DC's Charter Theatre. The Hamner Theater & Charter Theatre have joined forces to bring this production of Am I Black Enough, Yet? to Roanoke and Washington, DC, as well as Charlottesville & Nellysford.
Playwright Clinton A. Johnston, a member of the theater faculty at Mary Baldwin College, holds an MFA in Directing from UVA, and has more than a decade of experience acting and directing in local theaters. He directed In the Blood, playing at Live Arts from March 13 - 29, and is currently rehearsing Guys and Dolls for PlayOn! His one-act play Representin', in which he also starred, was part of the Hamner Theater production 6x6 - A Festival of One Acts.
The cast of Am I Black Enough, Yet? includes UVA graduate and Live Arts alum Edward Daniels, as well as Paige Hernandez, Patrick M. Doneghy, Sonia Justl, and Matthew Eisenberg, and is directed by George Grant, Senior Faculty member of the National Conservatory of Dramatic Arts and a teaching artist for the Shakespeare Theatre Co.
Am I Black Enough, Yet? promises to be a thoroughly thought-provoking evening of theater. It will play for four shows only at the Hamner Theater from Weds., March 19 through Sat., March 22 at 7:30pm. A champagne reception follows opening night at the Hamner. A talkback with playwright Clinton A. Johnston follows the Saturday, Mar 22 performance. Tickets for all Hamner shows are $10, at the door or by reservation at434-361-1999. For information & directions visit www.hamnertheater.com.
There will also be three performances at at Charlottesville's Live Arts: Tuesday, March 18 at 7 & 10pm, and Friday, March 21 at 11pm. Call 434.977.4177 for reservations at Live Arts.
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On Stage
September 27 - October 7
6x6 - A Festival of One Act Plays
By Bob Blumenstein, Peter Coy, Joel Jones, Billy Aronson, Clinton A. Johnston & Doug Grissom
All tickets are $10. Call 361.1999 for reservations.
There will be a Free Preview Wed, Sept 26 at 7:30pm.
Performances will be held:
Thu, Sept 27 - Sat Sept 29 at 7:30pm
Sat, Sept 29 & Sun, Sept 30 at 2pm
Tue, Oct 2 - Sat, Oct 6 at 7:30pm
Sat, Oct 6 & Sun, Oct 7 at 2pm
Opening Night performance on Thursday the 27th will be followed by a Champagne Reception with members of the cast & crew. Join us!
6x6 - A Festival of One Acts, the next production at The Hamner Theater, will feature 6 one-act plays by playwrights from Charlottesville, Richmond & New York City, providing an evening of theater that runs the gamut from burning philosophical questions to issues of racism. Never frivolous, often biting social commentary is interspersed with 'normal' relationship issues, with plenty of opportunity for laughter throughout. The shared theme? A struggle for power as the protagonists jockey for the best position.
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- 2098 reads
You Know I Can't Hear You When the Water's Running
February 7 - 17
You Know I Can't Hear You When the Water's Running
by Robert Anderson
Opening Night Thursday, February 7
All tickets are $10. Call 434.361.1999 for reservations.
Performances will be held
Feb 7 - 9, Thurs - Sat at 7:30pm
Feb 10, Sun at 2:00pm
Feb 13 - 16 Wed - Sat at 7:30pm
Feb 17, Sun at 2:00pm
There will be a Free Preview Wed, February 6 at 7:30pm.
Opening Night performance will be followed by a Champagne Reception with members of the cast & crew.
