SANTA MONICA, Calif., Jan. 8, 2003 (PRIMEZONE) -- Santa Monica Playhouse is proud to announce the return of BOOTH, a highly imaginative and remarkably suspenseful award-winning play about the greatest Tragedian that America has produced, Edwin Booth -- from his record-breaking 100 night run of Hamlet to the tragic assassination of President Lincoln by his brother, John Wilkes Booth.
Playing for two performances only -- January 24 and 31 -- as a special benefit for the Save the Playhouse Campaign, BOOTH stars renowned actor/playwright David Beeler, a performer hailed as "Fascinating!" (The Evening News, Edinburgh); "Superb!" (The Scotsman); "Compelling!" (The Independent); and "Electric!" (City Limits Magazine); and whose versatile international credits include Ritchie Valens in BUDDY; Birdboot in THE REAL INSPECTOR HOUND; and the title role in HAMLET.
Edwin Booth was the first American actor to achieve a European reputation. In 1864, he played 100 consecutive performances of Hamlet, a record unbroken until John Barrymore's 101 in 1922. The same year saw a performance of Julius Caesar, in which Edwin and his two brothers, John Wilkes and Junius Brutus Jr., appeared together for the only time. Five months later John Wilkes assassinated Abraham Lincoln. Edwin went into retirement, planning never to perform again. On January 3, 1866, he returned to the stage at The Winter Garden Theatre in New York, playing Hamlet.
What personal and public demons he was forced to face are intriguingly and guilelessly explored in this elegant piece of theatre, a fascinating insight into life in the public eye, an individual grappling with the wheels of history and fate, and American theatre at the time of The Civil War. BOOTH was awarded a Fringe First Award for Outstanding new drama at the Edinburgh Festival. Its companion piece, "Our Brutus," was also awarded the Fringe First and nominated for the Independent Award.
In its West Coast premiere last year, BOOTH was an L.A. WEEKLY PICK OF THE WEEK. It was also the first benefit performance of the current Save the Santa Monica Playhouse Campaign, inaugurating what has become a series of more than 40 different productions featuring nearly 200 local, national and international artists, poets, musicians, actors and speakers who have donated their talents to help save this local theatre gem.
BOOTH will return to the Playhouse January 24 and 31, at 7:30pm. Admission is $15.00, and all proceeds benefit the Save the Playhouse Campaign. January is a critical month for this community-wide campaign, with a benchmark of $200,000 to reach by the 31st. For reservations and group sales call 310-394-9779 ext. 1 or visit SantaMonicaPlayhouse.com
FOR THE CALENDAR
WHAT: BOOTH, a highly imaginative and remarkably suspenseful award-
winning play. A featured presentation of the Santa Monica
Playhouse 40th Anniversary American History Series.
WHO: Performed and written by David Beeler
Production design by The Attic Room
WHEN: TWO PERFORMANCES ONLY!
Friday, Jan. 24 and
Friday, Jan. 31
curtain 7:30 p.m.
ADMISSION: $15 for all seats;
proceeds benefit the Save the Playhouse Campaign.
WHERE: Santa Monica Playhouse Main Stage
1211 Fourth Street (between Wilshire & Arizona)
Santa Monica, CA 90401-1391
HOW: Reservations are necessary.
Call (310) 394-9779 extension 1 or
visit www.SantaMonicaPlayhouse.com