The Studio Theatre’s production Death Defying Acts, a long running off Broadway play, features the work of playwrights David Mamet, Elaine May and Woody Allen who wrote three comical skits for the production. In Hotline by Elaine May, a neurotic woman with enough urban angst to fill a neighbourhood calls a suicide crisis hotline late one night. The counsellor who gets the call is overwhelmed. It is his first night on the job.  This scenario features Chris Armstrong as Ken; Jay Goddard as Dr. Russell; Laura Masini Pieralli as Marty Laura; Veronica Abel (above) as Dorothy; and Haley Tazelaar as the delivery person. Death Defying Acts is on stage tonight through Saturday night. Tickets are available at About Face Photography, Kit and Kaboodle and The Open Book.

The Studio Theatre’s production Death Defying Acts, a long running off Broadway play, features the work of playwrights David Mamet, Elaine May and Woody Allen who wrote three comical skits for the production. In Hotline by Elaine May, a neurotic woman with enough urban angst to fill a neighbourhood calls a suicide crisis hotline late one night. The counsellor who gets the call is overwhelmed. It is his first night on the job. This scenario features Chris Armstrong as Ken; Jay Goddard as Dr. Russell; Laura Masini Pieralli as Marty Laura; Veronica Abel (above) as Dorothy; and Haley Tazelaar as the delivery person. Death Defying Acts is on stage tonight through Saturday night. Tickets are available at About Face Photography, Kit and Kaboodle and The Open Book.

Studio Theatre stages two plays for zone festival

The Williams Lake Studio Theatre is pulling out all of its resources to host the Central Interior Zone Festival this month.

The Williams Lake Studio Theatre is pulling out all of its resources to host the Central Interior Zone Festival this month, including staging two plays in the two weeks leading up to the festival.

Annoyance by Sam Bobrick will join Death Defying Acts as the Studio Theatre’s entries in the festival which will also include a play from Prince George and one by the Maranatha Christian School’s Maranatha Players.

Death Defying Acts opened at the Studio Theatre Wednesday, May 4 and finishes its two-week run May 11-14.

Annoyance will be on stage for only two nights May 16 and 17 before the festival begins on May 18.

“As Annoyance is only a two night run tickets will only be available at the theatre concession during Death Defying Acts,” says director Brad Lawryk who is also a festival co-ordinators.

A comedy, Annoyance stars Oren Barter as Ethan, Tanis Daum as Dr. Wells and Colin Sanford as Dr. Gates.

The play involves a very annoying man who manages to drive both of his therapists over the edge.

The therapists decide to take drastic measures to rid the world of this most obnoxious man but of course things don’t go as planned, Lawryk says.

He warns the play contains occasional adult language and content.

The Central Interior Zone Festival takes place at the Studio Theatre Wednesday, May 18 through Sunday, May 22.

The festival plays will be adjudicated by Sarah Rodgers, a busy director from Vancouver who is currently directing West Side Story for Theatre Under the Stars following her hit production of Hairspray last summer.

The Central Cariboo Zone Drama Festival opens Wednesday, May 18 at 8 p.m. with the Maranatha Players’ production of Snake in the Grass by Alan Ayckbourn and directed by Becky Strickland.

Death Defying Acts by David Mamet, Elaine May and Woody Allen and directed by Shane Tollefson will be on stage for the festival Thursday, May 19 at 8 p.m.

Annoyance will be on stage for the festival on Friday, May 20, at 8 p.m.

Saturday, May 21 starting at 2 p.m. Prince George Pocket Theatre presents Vanya and Sonya and Masha and Spike written by Christopher Durange and directed by Dominic Maguire.

On the morning following each of the festival plays the adjudicator will hold coffee critiques with the cast and crew.

Sunday, May 22 the adjudicator will hold an intensive workshop at the Studio Theatre with the cast and crew of the winning play.

Williams Lake Tribune