NRT Excitement with Emma: The Reviews Are In!

With closing weekend upon us, you have only two more chances to see Unnecessary Farce and only one more chance to see either Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike or Circle Mirror Transformation. You won't want to miss this season. Check out what our audience members have had to say about the shows!

"Last night, I laughed so hard, I couldn't catch my breath during the hilarious comedy UNNECESSARY FARCE!!! You have three more chances to see the "Three Cops. Four Crooks. Eight Doors" at the Nebraska Repertory Theatre. It has such a great cast with talented friends: Joshua Waterstone, Katherine Nora Leroy, Lucy Myrtue, David Landis, Jamie Ulmer, Carolyn Popp, and an extra loud applause to Ian Borden (husband of Sarah Imes Borden)." - Karen Friedmund Wills on Unnecessary Farce

"I felt like I was in the classroom. The way the stage was set really brought me into it and the actors kept me engaged throughout; Great show!" - DeWayne Taylor on Circle Mirror Transformation

"I thought the play was very entertaining and well cast! At the same time, it was very touching and thought provoking." - Vicki Bartels on Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike

"This is, by far, the best ensemble cast I have seen at the Nebraska Rep in years." - Bobby Bonaventura on Unnecessary Farce

"It was all so natural! I had to ask Virginia if the show was scripted because the dialogue was so real and the actors delivered it so well." - Dr. Jane Hanson on Circle Mirror Transformation

And here are the links to our reviews in the Lincoln Journal Star!

Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike

Circle Mirror Transformation

Unnecessary Farce

Be sure to catch these shows once more this weekend before they're gone for good! Call the Lied Center Ticket Office for tickets at 402.472.4747.

Thursday, Aug. 7 -- Unnecessary Farce 7:30pm

Friday, Aug. 8 -- Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike 7:30pm

Saturday, Aug. 9 -- Circle Mirror Transformation 7:30pm

Sunday, Aug. 10 -- Unnecessary Farce 2:00pm

Feature Friday: Opening Night Fever Pt. 3

And with that, our entire season is open! On Wednesday night, the lobby became a crime scene for our opening night reception. The menu was composed of Eric's Cheesy Mozzarella Bites, Agent Frank's Mini Franks, Karen's "It's Getting Hot" Wings, Agent Dwyer's Donut Holes, and Mrs. Meekly's Sweet & Nutty Brownies. We certainly had fun with this one. Check out the pictures from opening night, and make sure you've got your tickets reserved for Unnecessary Farce--it's a riot!

Billie Dwyer's Donut Holes

Karen's "It's Getting Hot" Wings

We have so enjoyed having you at our opening night receptions this season. Thank you for attending. But, just because we've run out of receptions doesn't mean you've run out of chances to see our shows! There are still THREE show-packed weekends ahead. Do you have your tickets?

NRT Excitement with Emma: Meet the Cast of Unnecessary Farce!

Our final show of the season, Unnecessary Farce, opened last night. You won't want to miss this hilarious farce with cops, crooks, and hijinks--oh my! Now let's meet the cast!

Joshua Waterstone (Eric Sheridan)
Joshua recently graduated from the Johnny Carson School of Theatre and Film with a Masters of Fine Arts in Directing for Stage and Screen. He directed Middletown by Will Eno on the Howell Stage and the film Phoenix by Cory Soukup for his thesis productions. This is Joshua’s first season acting with Nebraska Repertory, but you may have seen him as Director of Audience Development and producer of Destinations in 2012 where he directed Ryan Kathman in One-Ham Manlet. This season Joshua will be directing a staged reading of Other Desert Cities with Destinations. Joshua has worked as an actor, director and teacher regionally with Great Plains Theatre Conference, Outpost 12 Studios (NE), PlayMakers Repertory, Carrboro Art Center (NC), The Alliance Theatre, Georgia Shakespeare, Push-Push Theatre, Georgia Ensemble, Serenbe Playhouse, Fly-By Theatre, O.T.C. Improv, and The Horizon Theatre (GA). Heartfelt thanks to Virginia Smith for the mentorship over the years, love always to Anya.

Katherine Nora LeRoy (Billie Dwyer)

Katherine hails from Pensacola, Florida and currently lives in Atlanta, Georgia. Thank you Virginia, Paul and Brad for another opportunity with the Nebraska Repertory Theatre. Some theatre credits: Good People, In the Next Room, You Can't Take it With You (BTE), The 13th of Paris, Amazing Grace (Horizon Theatre/Atlanta), The Ladies Man, Speech & Debate (Theatre in the Square), For Colored Girls, A Raisin in the Sun, The Colored Museum, Omnium Gatherum, Leading Ladies, and Pretty Fire. She earned her B.A. from FAMU and M.F.A. from U.N.L. ~Thanks to my family and friends for all the love and support. Special thanks to Tashiba, Carlos and Anges for being my biggest fans.

Lucy Myrtue (Karen Brown)
Lucy has recently received her B.A. as a graduate Performance Major from The Johnny Carson School of Theatre and Film. Her UNL credits include: the Widow in Taming of the Shrew, Joan in Joshua Waterstone’s production of Melancholy Play, Estela in Ian Borden’s production of Agravio, Helsa in The Musical Comedy Murders of 1940, Lady Plymdale in Lady Windermere’s Fan, Sharla in Killer Joe, Virgil in The Inferno, Joan in Love Song, and Marianne in Tartuffe. Other credits within the community include: the Melodramas at Mahoney State Park and work with the Haymarket Theatre as the roles of Cynthia in The Maiden’s Prayer and Rosencrantz in Hamlet. Lucy is so thrilled to be playing Karen, as this is her first time performing with the Nebraska Repertory Theatre.

Jamie Ulmer (Agent Frank)

Jamie is excited to be making his Nebraska Repertory debut. Some of his previous productions in the area include Moonlight and Magnolias, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, The Foreigner, Moon Over Buffalo, and Crazy for You. Jamie is the Managing Artistic Director at Community Players in Beatrice and has directed over 95 productions including Les Misérables, Jesus Christ Superstar, Noises Off, Lend Me a Tenor, Proof, and Children of Eden. He is on the board of directors for several statewide arts organizations including Nebraska Association of Community Theatres and Nebraskans for the Arts.

Ian Borden (Todd)
Ian MacEachern Borden is glad to finally be able to fully embrace his Scottish heritage performing the role of Todd. Ian is an Assistant Professor with the Johnny Carson School of Theatre and Film. Last year he directed The Tempest for Capitol Shakespeare in Bismarck, North Dakota, and adapted Ana Caro's Siglo de Oro play, Valor, Agravio, y Mujer as Agravio for the Carson School. Recent acting credits include The Three Musketeers for the Black Hills Playhouse, As You Like It for the South Dakota Shakespeare Festival, and Vino Veritas and Act a Lady for Nebraska Repertory Theatre. Fight Direction credits include Macbeth (an inspiration!) and Richard III for Pigeon Creek Shakespeare in Michigan, The Three Musketeers for the Carson School and the Black Hills Playhouse, Lord of the Flies for the Coterie Theatre in Kansas City, and In My Daughter's Name for the Angels Theatre Company in Lincoln, Nebraska. Ian also founded the Lincoln Assassination Stage Combat Workshop, held annually at the Carson School. Finally, he would like to remind you that "if it's not Scottish, it's crap!"

David Landis (Mayor Meekly)
David is excited to be back on the Nebraska Rep stage! He is currently serving as the Director of Urban Development for the city of Lincoln. Before that, he was a Nebraska State Senator for 28 years. He lives in Lincoln with his lovely wife, Melody. Previous Nebraska Rep credits include Becky's New Car, M. Butterfly, Local Wonders, and Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf. You may have seen him recently in Haymarket Theatre's production of Anne & Emmett as Otto Frank or in Flatwater Shakespeare's production of Cyrano de Bergerac as Count De Guiche. 

Carolyn Popp (Mary Meekly)
Carolyn is delighted to debut at Nebraska Rep in two great comedies. Recently she played Aunt Kate in The Cripple of Inishmaan at Centenary Stage, and the evil Queen in Cymbeline with Shakespeare in the Parking Lot - yes - an NYC parking lot. Carolyn participated as a voice of Gettysburg in the televised live stage celebration of the 150th Anniversary of the Battle of Gettysburg last summer. Other NYC credits include The Hired Man, Escape from Happiness, Fifth of July, Natural Affection, A Tale of Two Cities, The Seagull, and The Comedy of Errors. Regional credits include The Last Night of Ballyhoo, The Clean House, Our Town, 110 in the Shade, I Do! I Do!, Dancing at Lughnasa, The Miracle Worker, Broadway Bound, Harvey, Footloose, Cabaret, Defiance, An Inspector Calls, A Wonderful Life, Funny Girl, Carousel. You may also recall Carolyn as Stephen Colbert’s unsuspecting wife Claire Noblet in Comedy Central’s Strangers with Candy. Many thanks to a great company of actors, crew and creative team, and to my dear actor/husband David Sitler who makes our life on the road feel like home.

Unnecessary Farce opened last night, Wednesday, July 23! Tickets are $25 for adults, $12 for students, $22 for seniors. Call the Lied Center Ticket Office at 402.472.4747 to reserve your seats now!

Unnecessary Farce Performances

July 23, 24, 26 and August 2, 6, 7 at 7:30pm

August 10 at 2:00pm

Howell Theatre

Humpday with Howard: Top Ten Reasons to See Unnecessary Farce

This evening the Nebraska Repertory Theatre opens its third and final show, Paul Slade Smith's Unnecessary Farce. Here's a list of the top ten reasons (in no particular order) why you need to see Farce:

10. The Costumes
Costume designer Nancy Konrardy is a seasoned professional from Dubuque, Iowa, whose costumes for General Hospital earned her two Daytime Drama Emmy awards for outstanding achievement in costume design. Farce's costumes are colorful and fun and even include some surprise tartan.

9. The Set
Darin Himmerich, who is the Scenic Designer and Technical Director at the University of Nebraska at Kearney, has designed a wonderful set complete with eight doors that is reminiscent of exactly the kind of motel where some seedy dealings might go down. 

8. An Equity Actor
Farce features one of our fabulous out-of-town Actors' Equity Association members, Carolyn Popp, who plays Mrs. Meekly, the mayor's wife.

7. The Director
Directing Unnecessary Farce is St. Louis native, Alan Knoll. You may have seen Alan during the past two Rep seasons on stage as Jeeves in Jeeves Intervenes, Phillippe in Heroes, Mr. Woodhouse in Emma and Dad in Making God Laugh. He's back again this year, not as an actor, but a director.

6. Cops and Crooks
Who doesn't like a good old cop 'n crook comedy? It's pleasure to watch new police officers Billie Dwyer (played by Katherine Nora LeRoy) and Eric Sheridan (played by Joshua Waterstone) try and prove to the chief that they're great at their jobs.

5. It's a Farce!
Featuring slapstick humor, a slew of rapidly slamming doors, and mistaken identity, Farce is a farce that will have you rolling on the floor laughing!

4. Television Theme Songs
Sound designer Michael Smith's pre-show and intermission music features some excellent and catchy television theme songs, both from today and from the past. And we're giving you an opportunity to win a prize: all you have to do is name at least ten of the theme songs played before the show begins and present your list to the house manager at intermission. If you name at least ten songs, you will have the choice to win a free beverage (glass of wine, beer, or soda) at intermission, or two free tickets to another Rep show this season!

3. Cupcakes and Refreshments 
Grab a drink from Meier's Cork 'n Bottle before show, or at intermission with a delicious cupcake from Le Cupcake! 

2. UNL Alumni Actors
The cast of Unnecessary Farce features three UNL alumni, David Landis (a JD Law graduate playing Mayor Meekly), Katherine Nora LeRoy (an MFA Acting graduate playing Billie Dwyer), Lucy Myrtue (a BA Theatre Performance graduate playing Karen Brown), and Joshua Waterstone (an MFA Directing for Stage and Screen graduate playing Eric Sheridan).

1. An Evening with the Nebraska Repertory Theatre is a Wonderful Night Out
With laughter, food, and drink, a night with the Nebraska Repertory Theatre is always sure to be excellent.

Humpday with Howard: Paul Slade Smith, the Man Behind the Farce

Hello! To wrap up my series of author bios, I'm going to talk about Paul Slade Smith, the playwright of the Nebraska Repertory Theatre's final show, Unnecessary Farce.


October of 2006, Paul Slade Smith's first play, Unnecessary Farce, premiered in Lansing, Michigan. Before the premiere of Farce, Smith's theatre work was all performance-based. He played Lefevre and understudied Andre in the national tour of Phantom of the Opera, along with Doctor Dillamond in the national tour of Wicked. He also performed regionally in a slew of musical comedies, Shakespearean

Actor and Playwright Paul Slade Smith,
Author of Unnecessary Farce

comedies, and farces. Smith's own Farce marked the start of his career as a playwright.

In a Skype interview with Smith, reviewer Dan St. Yves asked the playwright what sparked the desire to write. Smith replied "I just had a notion to set out to write a play...with the thought that 'let's see if I can write a play.'" Smith had no clue if his play would be successful, but he was optimistic. Flash-forward about seven years, and Unnecessary Farce has been so successful that by the end of last year, it reached its hundredth production.

Smith is currently preparing to perform in the world-premiere production of a musical adaptation of the film Finding Neverland and working on his second play, The Real Lulu, a comedy that deals with politics and how we mess it all up. Until then, NRT's production of Unnecessary Farce is more than enough to tickle your funny bone and get you your Paul Slade Smith fix. Buy your tickets today!

Stephanie's Weekly Spotlight: The Fantastic World of Farce

Yesterday marked the start of week two for the cast and crew of Unnecessary Farce, a hilarious slapstick comedy about a police sting set up in a cheap motel. With two cops, three crooks, eight doors, and an accountant who can't seem to keep her clothes on, chaos ensues as police try to expose the mayor's dishonest behavior via videotape.

Does this sound crazy? It is! As the title states, the play is a farce. Farce is a type of comedy that entertains the audience through highly exaggerated and extravagant situations. Plot twists galore, combined with lots of physical comedy keep audiences pleasantly confused and entertained. One quality that makes farce a unique genre is that audiences are actually encouraged to not follow the plot too closely, as to not confuse themselves further. The joy of watching a farce is being surprised with each turn the plot takes!

A 2011 production of Unnecessary Farce, presented by the Norris Community Theatre in Naples, FL

The term farce was first used in 15th century France, to describe the use of clowning, acrobatics, caricature, and indecency together in a single work of art. Farce quickly spread through Europe where it influenced famous playwrights, such as Shakespeare and Molière. The genre survived through the 19th and 20th centuries with plays such as Charlie's Aunt (1892), and entertainers including the Marx Brothers and Charlie Chaplin. A more modern example is the classic television show I Love Lucy, which aired from 1951 to 1957. 

One of the most well-known episodes of I Love Lucy, "Job Switching", 1952.

You won't want to miss your chance at seeing this delightfully hilarious style played out on Howell Stage. Unnecessary Farce opens July 23rd. Get your tickets today!

Stephanie's Weekly Spotlight: What's on the Menu?

Though it may feel like we are approaching the middle of summer, it officially began on Saturday. And nothing says summer like relaxing in your yard, at the lake, or even in the comfort of air-conditioned home with a good drink or snack. For my weekly spotlight, I selected a recipes inspired by the plots and characters of our three plays. For your next summer party or quiet night at home, try one of these delicious treats!

Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike

Siblings Vanya and Sonia are living in their Pennsylvania family home, bemoaning their unfufilled potential. Enter movie star sister Masha, and her her boy-toy. Successful and sassy, Masha does little to help Vanya and Sonia's situation.

Mango Passion Fruit Smoothie (inspired by the character of Masha):

Ingredients:

2 cups 1/2-inch cubes peeled mango 

2 cups crushed ice

5 tablespoons strained passion fruit juice (from about 8 passion fruit seeds)

1/4 cup coconut water

1 teaspoon 

Combine all ingredients in a blender and process until smooth. Divide between two glasses and serve.

Circle Mirror Transformation

A delightful comedy set in an adult creative drama class, where our characters explore their lives through the use of theatre games. 

Chocolate Peanut Protein Balls (a perfect on-the-go snack):

Ingredients: 

1 cup unsalted peanuts

1 1/3 cup tightly packed, pitted medjool dates

2 tablespoons raw cacao powder

2 scoops chocolate protein powder

Pinch of sea salt

1) Grind all ingredients in a food processor till they're evenly and finely ground. When you can take a small handful and squeeze it in your palm and it holds together well, you're ready to roll.

2) Roll the mixture into 1 or 1 1/2" balls.

Store in an airtight container in a cool place for up to two weeks.

Unnecessary Farce

In this hilarious slapstick comedy, a police sting takes place while the mayor meets with his accountant in the other room. But nothing goes right, amidst the confusion as to who's occupying which room, who's watching the video, who's taken the money, and who's hired a hit man. 

Cinnamon Carrot Chips with Yogurt Honey Dip (quirky but delicious!):

Ingredients:

2 large carrots, preferably organic

1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1/4 teaspoon ground ginger

Cooking oil spray

1/2 cup plain or plain greek yogurt

1 tablespoon pure honey

Arrange the oven racks in thirds. Preheat oven to 400°F.

Wash, scrub, and dry carrots. With a vegetable peeler, peel the carrots entirely into strips. Place the carrot strips into a bowl and toss with cinnamon and ginger.

Being careful not to overlap, lay carrot strips on two baking sheets that have been lightly sprayed with cooking oil spray. Place in the oven on the top and bottom racks and bake for 10 minutes, rotating the pans halfway through. Turn the oven off and crack the door. Allow to sit in the oven for 8 minutes. Keep an eye on it while the carrots are in the oven as oven temperatures vary and some ovens are hotter than others. Remove from the oven if they begin to brown. Carefully, transfer the carrots to a cooling rack or plate and allow to cool. The chips will crisp while they cool.

In a bowl, combine yogurt and honey; stir.

Once the chips have crisped up, serve the carrot chips with the dip and snack away.