Snapshot
by Craig Wright, Honour Kane, Quincy Long, Lee Blessing, Deb Margolin, Michael Bigelow Dixon, Val Smith, Tanya Barfield, Dan O'Brien, Annie Weisman, Sunil Kuruvilla, Chay Yew, Victor Lodato, Allison Moore, Lynn Nottage, David Lindsay-Abaire, Craig Wright, Julie Jensen
Directors Alissa Laney and Harmony Dawson
March 16 and 17
A photograph captures and documents a single moment in time and space -- a snapshot of history, of a reality bounded by the photo's frame. But what lies outside, beyond, behind the photograph? And what stories, memories, or associations does an image of place inspire? In this multi-writer project from Actors Theatre of Louisville, a diverse assortment of talented playwrights encounter and transform Mount Rushmore, South Dakota, 1969, a compelling image of the monument by renowned photographer Lee Friedlander. Their thought-provoking scenes and monologues range from delightful comedy to utterly serious tragedy, each approaching the photo's themes through a new lens.
Scenes and Cast
A Quick Tour of the Monument by Craig Wright An introduction to Mt. Rushmore from a slightly perplexed tour guide. (Zoe Hanna)
Monument by Honour Kane Two emergency telephone operators handle a terrifying series of calls on Tuesday morning, September 11, 2001. (Grace Havekampf and Evelyn Loperfido)
Scene at Mount Rushmore by Quincy Long In this beautiful, humorous family drama, brothers Bobby and Did contemplate stone-faced presidents and their momma's memory. (Luca Loperfido and Max Faust)
Rock Scissors Paper by Deb Margolin A teenager tells the tale of her drug-dealing brother, her ill-fated family vacation, and her mother's inability to turn around and face facts. (Haily Griggs)
Little Pezidents by Michael Bigelow Dixon and Val Smith Dave and Karen are stranded in the middle of nowhere, with nothing but some Pez dispensers to take their minds off their totaled car and relationship.
(Cash Lamar and Nola Hadley)
Defacing Patriotic Property by Tanya Barfield A man approaches a plastic surgeon with an unusual request. (Elior Bilow)
Her First Screen Test by Dan O'Brien A young vaudeville actress prepares for her first photo shoot.
(Isabel Russell)
Thrift of the Magi by Annie Weisman Trey and Tina search for the perfect ironic-retro-tourist-vintage-party clothes, only to discover each other's secret sacrifices. (Oliver VanTiel and Evelyn Loperfido)
Night Out by Sunil Kuruvilla The morning after an extramarital liaison, two lovers scramble desperately to find the man's keys and hide the evidence from the woman's husband. (Elior Bilow and Isabel Russell)
Here and Now by Chay Yew A couple in their twilight years relives an entire relationship, full of youth, possibility, secrets, disappointments, and enduring connection. (Max Faust)
American Klepto by Allison Moore A woman goes to great lengths to defend her theft of a federally-protected piece of petrified wood. (Haily Griggs)
Becoming American by Lynn Nottage A phone-support instructor teaches his Ghanaian recruits how to become American for the two or three minutes that it takes to solve the problems of a U.S. caller. (Cash Lamar)
History Lesson by David Lindsay-Abaire It's Maggie's last day as a park ranger, and she has an arsenal of made-up historical facts to unload on her helpless listeners. (Isabel Russell)
Bomb Squad by Craig Wright A ranger is powerless to stop a man determined to defuse the "conceptual land mine" that is Mt. Rushmore, all in song...(Luca Loperfido and Grace Haverkampf)
On Lincoln's Head by Julie Jensen Aggrieved over her lost father, Babe is throwing firecrackers off the top of Lincoln's head. Annette, a ranger, is the only one crazy enough to stop her. (Nola Hadley and Haily Griggs)
Tickets on sale now.
