THE DEAD GUY

STAGES REPERTORY THEATRE
www.stagestheatre.com

PRESENTS

THE DEAD GUY
APRIL 5 - 23, 2006

Multi-Media Extravaganza brings THE DEAD GUY to Life

Elena Coates (on top) as Reality TV Producer Gina Yaweth and Dwight Clark (TV) as Eldon Phelps in Stages Repertory Theatre's Production of THE DEAD GUY. This Multi-media Extravaganza Regional Premiere is written by Eric Coble and is Now Showing at Stages Theatre at 3201 Allen Parkway, Houston, Texas through April 23rd, 2006. Call ph.713-527-0123 for tickets and reservations. Photo by Bruce Bennett.

INTERVIEW WITH ELENA COATES AND DWIGHT CLARK STARRING IN THE DEAD GUY

REGIONAL PREMIERE FEATURES LIVE VIDEO, ORIGINAL THEME SONG, AND A HUGE DOSE OF REALITY

HOUSTON, TEXAS… Eric Coble, author of Bright Ideas and Natural Selection (opening the Actor's Theatre of Louisville's Humana Festival this month) returns to Stages for the regional premiere of his high-tech comedy THE DEAD GUY. Called "thrilling to watch" by the Denver Post, the play incorporates live video feed, pre-recorded video and commercials and an original theme song in its approximation of a reality TV event. "Inspired and ruthless," wrote Variety, "Eric Coble has pre-empted the network vultures with THE DEAD GUY." The play runs in Stages' Arena Theater April 5 - 23, 2006 and includes a post-performance discussion with playwright Eric Coble following the matinee on Sunday, April 9, 2006.

"My vision was to incorporate the TV show into the reality of the play more completely than in previous versions," commented director Kenn McLaughlin. "Eric re-wrote the script for the Stages production to help me achieve that vision, and the result is a much more integrated experience. In that regard, this is more than a regional premiere - we're bringing a brand new play to the Houston audiences." THE DEAD GUY follow an ambitious TV Producer who hits on the ultimate reality premise: Find some "loser" to die on live television, and let the viewing public decide how he goes. But does America have the stomach for this much reality?

The production features a live video feed from a hand-held camera onstage to monitors incorporated into the set, which allows playgoers to experience both the play and the fictional reality show simultaneously. "The production has all the trappings of a television show in progress - graphics, station identification, animation," said video designer Tim Thomson of Hot Pixel Action. The production also features an original theme song composed by sound designer Chris Bakos.

THE DEAD GUY received a workshop and public reading at Stages in January 2005, with Coble on-hand to answer questions from the audience; the play had its world premiere at Denver's Curious Theatre Company in September 2005. Coble's plays have been produced Off-Broadway and on four continents including productions at The Kennedy Center, Actors Studio, Playwrights Horizons, Alliance Theatre, Actors Theatre of Louisville, Alabama Shakespeare Festival, and the Contemporary American Theatre Festival. Awards include the AT&T Onstage Award, National Theatre Conference Playwriting Award an NEA Playwright in Residence Grant, two TCG Extended Collaboration Grants, Aristophanes Award for Best Off-Broadway Comedy. Coble is a member of the Cleveland Play House Playwrights Unit and a writer for several nationally broadcast radio programs.

Now in its 27th season, Stages Repertory Theatre advances theatre and enlivens culture by introducing world, national and regional premieres of innovative contemporary plays to audiences in Houston and surrounding areas. Stages is a member of the Fresh Arts Coalition, a collaboration of 23 arts organizations that work collectively to raise awareness of the size and diversity of the arts in Houston, and a constituent of Theatre Communications Group (TCG), the national service organization for not-for-profit theatres. Stages operates under an agreement with Actor's Equity Association (AEA), the union of professional actors and stage managers in the United Stages.

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STAGES REPERTORY THEATRE FACT SHEET

THE DEAD GUY

By Eric Coble
Director: Kenn McLaughlin
MAINSTAGE

CAST

ELDON…………………….DWIGHT CLARK
GINA……..................…….ELENA COATES
ROBERTA / WOMAN 1 / SHEILA……................................………..ADRIANNE KIPP
CHRISSY / WOMAN 2 / NANCY……............................………….JOANNE BONASSO
VIRGIL / SECURITY GUARD / LEON…………..........…………….BRANDON PETERS
DOUGIE…............................…………..MICHAEL MULLINS

PRODUCTION

Scenic and Lighting Designer…………………….John Gow
Properties Designer…......................……….Jodi Bobrovsky
Sound Designer……………................................Chris Bakos
Costume Designer……..............................…….Kathy Snider
Video Designer………............................................……..Tim Thomson
Production Stage Manager……………................................Karen Mata

Dates and Times

Previews…………………….Wednesday, April 5 and Thursday, April 6, 2006
Opening…..............................................................……….Friday, April 7, 2006
Close…………….............................................................Sunday, April 23, 2006

Opening Night……...................................................................…….8:00pm
Wednesday and Thursday………............................................……..7:30pm
Friday and Saturday…………….......................................................8:00pm
Sunday……………..............................................................................3:00pm

Tickets and Discounts

TICKETS……………………$25 - $35
STUDENTS……..................…….$10 day of show, Wed / Thurs / Sun., $15 day of show Fri / Sat
SENIOR…................................………..$20 - $25 Wed / Thurs / Sun., $25 & $30 Fri / Sat
Group Discounts available…….....................Call the Box Office for more information

BOX OFFICE…………..........……………PHONE 713-527-0123
3201 ALLEN PARKWAY AT WAUGH DRIVE
Tickets available Online at www.stagestheatre.com

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