The Play The Boys Next Door is a great story of four mentally challenged adults trying to live life to the fullest and a social worker trying to do the same. The cast is pretty open in terms of non-traditional casting except for the character of Lucien P. Smith. He must be played by a black man because of references made to him in the script. All of the other characters would work well as any other race, but must all be men. The Character of Jack has been known to be played by a female actress and would then go by the name Jackie. I think this is a great choice to cast a female in this role as it totally changes the group dynamics. Women tend to be more emotional than men and become more involved in their work and when Jack or Jackie because so drained that he/she has to find a new job it just seems to work better for me with a women, because to me a woman would have more invested than a man would. The character of Norman Bulansky is another character that has to be somewhat type specific. There are tons of references to him being overweight and that he eats a lot of donuts. Having a skinny man playing Norman talking about how he is “not so skinny minnie himself” would distract from the play.
Another issue I would like to address is that of portraying a mentally handicapped person. The Sunset play house included this statement in their program “The audience is encouraged to laugh at the cognitively impaired not because they are strange and freakish, but because their offbeat idiosyncrasies are honest reflections of neuroses common to even the most functional among us. The key to a successful staging of the play is the delicate balance between the comedy of the individual and the comedy of disability in a way that maintains a universal level of human dignity." This is a great statement of purpose to share with everyone coming to see this play and I think that something close to this statement should appear in our programs as well. I read numerous reviews that stated how unreal or unbelievable the portrayal of these real people was. One theater actually held a two week audition process to see the consistence of each actor and how they viewed and portrayed a person with a disability. One of the most important things we have to remember is that it is ok to make these people funny because in real life they are funny, but we must be careful to make them real. Real life is funny and for these guys they are just living life and it happens to be funny. I think that a couple trips to a special education home or group living situation would greatly help out this production in terms of set design, costume design and most of all acting and directing. I feel that the only way to really learn the characteristic or each individual in this play you really need to interact with them. No matter how much you read on a page, nothing compares to actual experience.
Overall I think this is a great experience for anyone involved including the audience. Before we get ahead of ourselves I think a lot more research should be done on the mental illnesses at hand and to push design elements to the back burner. I feel as though if we concentrate on the actual condition of these guys and what they do on a day to day basis that everything else will come secondary. When we see how they act we will know in what kind of space they live and what kind of cloths they like to wear and even what kind of donuts Norman likes to eat.
Thursday, August 7, 2008
5 Most Important Sites
1. The Dramaturg's Network. This site is basically exactly what the title says it is. the site has tons of resources and information on general Dramaturgy. This site is also a way for people to connect and share their Dramaturgical ideas.
http://ee.dramaturgy.co.uk/index.php/site/front/
2. Associated Content. This site is very valuable to the character playing Jack. It has tons of information on being a social worker. It's talks about the rewards and the downfalls as well as the training that is needed.
http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/21706/how_to_deal_with_being_a_social_worker.html
3. This is a great web site for anyone playing the character of Barry who is a Schizophrenic. This is information on how to deal with this condition, why it is cause, treatment options and many other resources.
http://www.webmd.com/schizophrenia/default.htm
4. WebMD.com. This is a web site that is all about depression. I would say that all of the character including Jack who does not suffer from a mental disability suffer from depression. This is a great site because it has tons of links and information on depression.
http://www.depression.com/
5. The Boston Globe. This is a web site article that sheds some light on a local Boston group home and it's positive impact on the community. I think this is important because it's lets us see how handicapped people impact our community.
http://www.boston.com/jobs/diversityfall_07/portrait_of_a_group_home/
http://ee.dramaturgy.co.uk/index.php/site/front/
2. Associated Content. This site is very valuable to the character playing Jack. It has tons of information on being a social worker. It's talks about the rewards and the downfalls as well as the training that is needed.
http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/21706/how_to_deal_with_being_a_social_worker.html
3. This is a great web site for anyone playing the character of Barry who is a Schizophrenic. This is information on how to deal with this condition, why it is cause, treatment options and many other resources.
http://www.webmd.com/schizophrenia/default.htm
4. WebMD.com. This is a web site that is all about depression. I would say that all of the character including Jack who does not suffer from a mental disability suffer from depression. This is a great site because it has tons of links and information on depression.
http://www.depression.com/
5. The Boston Globe. This is a web site article that sheds some light on a local Boston group home and it's positive impact on the community. I think this is important because it's lets us see how handicapped people impact our community.
http://www.boston.com/jobs/diversityfall_07/portrait_of_a_group_home/
Tuesday, July 29, 2008
week 4 assignment
Production History
1. -Theater Of Dare, Kill Devil Hills, NC.
-May 7th -May 16th, 2004
-Producer-Tom Filkins, Director-Jonathon Bender
-No designers listed
-Arnold ------ Don Bridge
-Lucien ------ Lee Fields
-Norman ----- Bill Fenner
-Jack ----------Neil Ferguson
-Barry -------- Max Bridge
-3 Girls ------ Lisa Bridge
-3 Guys ------ Charles Winstead
-Sheila --------K. T. Childress
-Mr. Klemper---- Tom Filkins
-I think this particular production stands out because the director decided to have over two weeks of auditions. The director held auditions all over town to see as many people as he possibly could. This strikes my attention because most auditions only last one to two days.
2. -Montgomery Playhouse, Gaithersburg, MD.
-Jan. 15th- Feb. 9th 2008
-Producer-Donna Dangle, Director-Cecellia Rogers
-Lighting Design-John Hutson,Sound Design Paul Shoop,Costume Design Mary Schmidt,
-Arnold, Kevin Dykstra
-Barry, Timothy Phelps
-Lucien, David Hughson
-Norman, David Jones
-Jack, John Dickson
-Sheila, Susan Aaron Ostrinsky
-Mr. Klemper, Bruce Kaplan
-Mrs. Fremus/ Mrs. Warren/Clara, Stacey Fearheiley
-Mr. Hedges/ Mr. Corbin/Senator Warren, Nick Sampson
-I think this Production strikes my attention because one reviewer talks about the use of lighting to show what is really happening and what they guys think is happening. I have seen a production of this show where lighting played such a huge part that i think this element needs to be explored by all productions of this show in order to illustrate the difference between reality and fantasy in a very real situation.
3. -The Sunset Playhouse, Elm Grove,WI
-Director-Mark Salentine,
-Costume Designer-Pat Boek, Set Designer-J. Michael Desper
-May 23rd-June 14th
- Mark Neufang, Jack
-Scott Kopischke, Arnold
-Lawrence J. Lukasavage, Norman
-Kurtis Witzlsteiner, Barry
-Mario Alberts, Lucien
-Sheila-Becky Peters
-"The audience is encouraged to laugh at the cognitively impaired not because they are strange and freakish, but because their offbeat idiosyncrasies are honest reflections of neuroses common to even the most functional among us. The key to a successful staging of the play is the delicate balance between the comedy of the individual and the comedy of disability in a way that maintains a universal level of human dignity." This statement was written in the program and read by audience member before the show. I think this statement is something that should appear in all programs for this show to inform the audience that it is O.K. to laugh.
4. The Journeyman Theater, Washington, DC
-Director-Jeffrey Keenan
-Set Design-Ryann Lee, Costumes-Melanie Dale, Lighting-Brian Miller
-September 14 - October 15, 2005
-Jack, Deborah Kirby
-Arnold-Cecil Baldwin
-Norman-Don Prather
-Lucien-Dallas Miller
-Barry-Michael Propster
- I think this production is important because it has a female cast in the main role of Jack. This to me gives the script a whole new meaning. Men seem to stay more detached and not as emotionally involved as women especially in the work place. Although Jack's lines in the play say other wise and show how attached he really is, i think a women caring so much for these guys just totally changes the situation. Women handle situations like this differently, situations that are emotionally charged, and more importantly i think that an audience would respond better to an emotional, strung out and compassionate women more so than any man.
5. Vintage Theater Company, Denver, CO
-Director-Bernie Cardell, Producer-Debbie Laureta
-May 2nd-June 1st
-Jack-Andy Anderson
-Arnold-Partick Mann
-Norman-Partick Hurley
-Lucien-Mathew Kepler
-Barry-Addison Parker
-Sheila-Kristen Krieg
-What i find most interesting about this particular production is that it was involved in a series of shows that this group puts on throughout their season. this group is available for private bookings at their theater or as a traveling production. This Theater group will actually pick up it's entire show and move it to you instead of you coming to see them.
Reviews
1.Theatre of Dare casts 'The Boys Next Door' Outer Banks Sentinel (3/30/04)
Rehearsals are under way for Theatre of Dare's (TOD) next production, "The Boys Next Door." Set to open May 7, director Jonathan Bender selected a cast after an unprecedented two weeks of auditions. "This show is very demanding of its actors. I wanted to make sure I could include as many people who were interested and see as many talented actors as I could. Holding two weeks of auditions in different locations allowed people to attend who otherwise couldn't have due to scheduling or location. I ended up in exactly the position I wanted to be in. I had so many talented to choose from that selecting the cast was very difficult," he said. The Boys Next Door, an off-Broadway smash by Tom Griffin, is the touching story of four mentally handicapped adults trying to integrate into society. The results are often both hilarious and heart breaking. Don Bridge, a TOD and Lost Colony veteran, plays Arnold, a mildly retarded depressive with a persecution complex. Said Bender, "I've enjoyed working with Don before and he was the first person I thought of for this role. When he came to auditions, he hit the nail on the head so I had no choice but to cast him." Lucien is the most handicapped of the four main characters, being both severely retarded as well as physically challenged. Lucien will be played by Outer Banks newcomer Lee Fields. BND producer Tom Filkins had special praise for Fields. "He's a newcomer to TOD and I'm very impressed how he took a character and ran with it and kept his character alive every time he read." Bill Fenner, a face well-known to TOD audiences, is Norman, the love able doughnut shop employee who sees the world with a smile often covered in sugar glaze and/or chocolate sprinkles. "I think Bill's real-life experience brought a touching realism to the role. Bill is going to be one of the shining stars in this production," said Filkins. Max Bridge, fresh from service in the Marine Corps, returns to his family's theatrical roots in the role of Barry, a schizophrenic convinced he's a golf pro. Barry challenges the young actor with his reunion with a mysterious father he hasn't seen in nine years. "Max is a young man with a lot of talent," said Bender, "and coming from a theatrical family might be one reason, but I think this role will allow Max's talent to shine in its own right." Actor Neil Ferguson, last seen in TOD's "A Few Good Men," plays Jack, the increasingly frustrated caregiver, providing a calming counterpoint to the high-energy antics of the four other men. Filkins commented, "It's not enough to learn lines and Neil always does more than that. He always brings humanity to a role, comedy or otherwise, which is essential for the character of Jack." KT Childress, a local massage therapist, delightfully plays Shelia, Norman's love interest. "KT could have played any of the women in the show, but her reading of Shelia carried such a warmth, simplicity and tenderness," commented Filkins. "She and Bill played off of each other, in a word, perfectly." Charles Winstead, an Outer Banks native and freelance writer, is featured in three smaller roles in the show. He plays Mr. Corbin, Arnold's manager at the theater; Mr. Hedges, one of Barry's unsuspecting golf students and Senator Clarke, who heads the committee reviewing Lucien's disability benefits. Said Filkins, "These roles provide moments of comedy and drama and require one actor to create three distinct characters. From what we saw in auditions, we felt Charles could easily accomplish that."
Lisa Bridge, most noted for her role of Queen Elizabeth in the Lost Colony, also pulls triple duty in the roles of Clara, friend of Shelia; Mrs. Fremus, the deaf widow in whom Barry often confides and Mrs. Warren, an unsuspecting neighbor of the boys. "Lisa was able to bring depth and separation to every character. All of them came to life when she read." Rounding out the cast is producer Filkins in the role of Mr. Klemper, Barry's father who visits his son after nine years in an explosive reunion. "Tom's versatility will be featured in this role. Tom is such a likable guy, I think people will be surprised how much they dislike Mr. Klemper." The Boys Next Door opens Friday, May 7 at 8 p.m. at Manteo High School followed by performances on the 8, 9, 14, 15 and 16.
-Theater of Dare casts "The Boys Next Door", Sandy Semans, The Outer Banks Sentintal,
03-30-04
-http://www.theatreofdare.org/press.htm#a009
2. -Mike: The Boys Next Door is a funny show, but it also very serious and I think Montgomery Playhouse did a pretty good job with it.
Laura: This show was touching and there were some really funny lines in the show that the actors said quite seriously, because it made perfect sense to them, but the rest of the audience was howling. There were some really touching moments as well.
Mike: The Boys Next Door is a play by Tom Griffin. This very funny, yet touching play focuses on the lives of four men with disabilities who live in a communal residence under the watchful eye of a sincere, but increasingly despairing social worker. Filled with humor, the play is also marked by the compassion and understanding with which it peers into the world of its protagonists. Mingled with scenes from the daily lives of these men are moments of great poignancy, when we are reminded that disabilities are relative and that we all want only to love and laugh and find meaning and purpose in the brief time we are given.
Laura: The first person that we meet in this household was Arnold, played by Kevin Dykstra. He was the narrator of the show. His disabilities included being accessibly neurotic and always wanted to set up a plan, but was easily distracted. He set the tone that all of the men in the house seemed to enjoy living together, but all had various degrees of disabilities.
Mike: Barry saw himself as a golf pro. He was played by Timothy Phelps. He was slipping through reality as he was interacting through different people. We were able to watch a few of his golf lessons. He would focus on entirely the wrong thing, such as you always stay quiet when your in the gallery and how to handle hecklers when your in the gallery. He seemed to be fairly together except for this idiosyncrasy thought that he was actually a golf pro.
When he discovered that his father was coming for a visit for the first time in ten years, that really gave him something to focus on. When the actual visit occurred it was not a good thing, but a disaster. The scene between Barry and his father, played by Bruce Kaplan, was very emotional and life changing for Barry. Mr. Klemper’s reaction didn’t seem to build quite right. He hadn’t seen him in ten years and in his mind he had a certain expectation. The way he came in was so derisive of the living conditions and the apartment itself was really upsetting. I think they played the scene pretty well. The physical interaction between the two I didn’t really like, it didn’t look too realistic. I kind of understood where the father was coming from, but it really didn’t work.<><>Laura: The next roommate was Lucien, played by David Hughson. Lucien was mentally retarded and had the maturity level of about a five year old. He was very child like. He was quite happy in his living situation. His main action was when Social Security decided to stop sending him his security benefits. He had to go before before a state senate committee to to discuss that issue. Lucien was very nervous. There was a good monologue scene that Lucien did that explained a lot of things.
Mike: The final roommate was Norman, played by David Jones. He worked at a local donut shop and was given the doughnuts that were not sold or were bad. That gave him an obsession over the donuts, which played out throughout the show at different points. His character also had the most interaction with other people outside the household. There were a few scenes at the weekly dance facility and he was able to fall in love with Shelia, played by Susan Aaron Ostrinsky. Their interactions were very nicely done.
I liked how the Montgomery Playhouse handled the lighting to signify to us what was going on in their heads. The lighting was designed by John Hutson. It helped to keep us focused and let us know what they were experiencing versus what we were seeing. I liked that contrast a lot.
Laura: The Social Worker, Jack, was played by John Dickson. He would come and visit the boys at the house. He did an excellent job. You could understand the turmoil going on inside of him. He understood what these men were going through, but at the same time he was really getting burned out by always having to chase after them and clean up their messes. The scene where he had to tell them all he was changing jobs was a very emotional, powerful scene.
Mike: The other two performers in the show played multiple roles. Stacey Fearheiley played Mrs. Fremus, Mrs. Warren and Clara. Nick Sampson played Mr. Hedges, Mr. Corbin, and Senator Warren. I think the appearance of the characters was far enough apart that that you didn’t realize it was the same actor coming in. They played supporting roles, but I think they did a fine job. Some of the challenge from those parts was the emotions having to to come out in different ways.
Laura: The set for The Boys Next Door was nice. Set Designer was David Jones. It all took place in the common area of the house. The boys’ rooms were on either side with the bathroom toward the back. There was a door to the outside with a window so you could se people going by. I though it was very well done.
Mike: It was a very nice set. There was also a kitchen area that was used several times during the show very effectively. I liked it as it was a great use of space for the Gaithersburg Arts Barn.
Laura: After the show we talked to some of the performers to find out how they got in character for their various roles. They had some really interesting information. They said they went to ArtStream which is a program for mentally challenge people and talked with them. They did some improvisational exercises which is how they got their insight into their characters.
Mike: The four boys’ problems were not the result from an accident. Laura and I have had extensive experience with traumatic brain injury and the impact that can have on lives. I was really wondering how this would be handled in this show and I think it was handled very well. The characters did have different degrees of brain injuries and different levels of processing information in their brains. I think they did a great job with that part of it. Most of the times it was funny, to them it was serious and that was just the way the world works. It made perfect sense. As an example, Arnold was saying that if they don’t let him do something he was going to move to Russia where they will listen to him. That was a perfectly sensible option for what he was experiencing and how he could process the information coming in to his brain. Even though this was not a funny ha ha comedy, it does have its funny points. I think this play can challenge you on how you look at other people, especially people with different disabilities.
Laura: The Boys next Door ran about two and a half hours with one intermission. It is playing through Sunday, February 3rd. Friday and Saturdays at 8 and Sunday matinee at 2 PM at the Gaithersburg Arts Barn in Gaithersburg, Maryland. We recommend you go see this show. It will make you think, laugh, and maybe even cry.
-Show Biz Radio, Theater info for the Washington DC area, Montgomery Playhouse The Boys Next Door,01-23-08
-http://www.showbizradio.net/2008/01/23/review-mp-boys-next-door/
3.-Staging Tom Griffin’s The Boys Next Door can be a tricky endeavor. The comedy about a group of developmentally disabled men and the social worker who looks after them uses a brand of humor that doesn’t always make people feel comfortable. The audience is encouraged to laugh at the cognitively impaired not because they are strange and freakish, but because their offbeat idiosyncrasies are honest reflections of neuroses common to even the most functional among us. The key to a successful staging of the play is the delicate balance between the comedy of the individual and the comedy of disability in a way that maintains a universal level of human dignity. The Sunset Playhouse production, which opened last weekend, comes perilously close to presenting its subjects as stereotypes of mental retardation, but only in brief, fleeting moments. For the most part, this is an exquisite production of a well-written contemporary comedy. Mark Neufang plays Jack Palmer, the social worker keeping track of four men who live in a group home for the developmentally disabled. The play charts Palmer’s uneasy desire to find better, less stressful work elsewhere. Neufang has an impressive amount of nice-guy charm, but the subtleties of his character’s mounting job dissatisfaction are largely missing. However, Neufang brings more than enough compassion to the stage to make up for any other shortcomings in his performance.Scott Kopischke plays group home resident Arnold Wiggins. Wiggins is a reasonably functional individual who works at a movie theatre. Wiggins has a mildly obsessive compulsive personality that is warped by an aversion to internally consistent logic. Kopischke recently played Elwood P. Dowd in a Sunset production of Harvey. His performance here is far more accomplished. Here he shows a profound amount of humanity and a clear aptitude for performance in a larger ensemble piece peppered with a few clever stretches of monologue. Lawrence J. Lukasavage plays group home resident Norman Bulansky. Norman’s cognitive development seems to be stuck at grade school level, but he’s functional enough to hold a job at a local donut shop. This is Lukasavage’s first performance with Sunset and probably one of the few he’s had outside Off The Wall Theatre. Lukasavage takes to the new stage quite well in a brilliantly subdued performance. It’d be all too easy to simply pretend to be a child in the role of Norman, and Lukasavage gracefully avoids this in a very sympathetic performance.Kurtis Witzlsteiner plays mild schizophrenic Barry Klemper. Klemper believes himself to be a professional golfer. Probably the most functional of the four men, Klemper may be one of the trickiest roles to play. The character has to seem completely functional until a key moment when everything turns around for him. Witzlsteiner is capable at conveying the character’s emotional dynamic, but seem to lack the kind of stage experience necessary to make the role as powerful as it could be.Mario Alberts rounds out the central cast in the role of Lucien P. Smith, a profoundly impaired man who may not be all that well suited to life in the group home. Lucien carries books around that he couldn’t possibly read — clearly he aspires to overcome his impairment. His is one of the most emotionally affecting performances in the production aided in no small part by Griffin’s script. Near the end of the play, Griffin allows us to see the Lucien P. Smith as he has always wanted to be. Lights fade from the scene. A spotlight is drawn. Alberts enters as Smith. The slump and contortions of Lucien’s body slowly straighten out to a perfect posture. In a slow, confident and suddenly educated voice, Smith addresses the audience. Alberts’ performance here is phenomenal. It’s an overwhelming and startling transformation, but only because Alberts was so convincing throughout the rest of the play as a severely impaired Lucien. It’s easily the most powerful moment in the production — one of the most powerful moments onstage this season.
-Sunset Playhouse The Boys Next Door, Russ Bickerstaff, May-20-08, Vital Source.
-http://www.vitalsourcemag.com/index.php/magazine/article/the-boys-next-door/
4.-The Boys Next Door by Tom Griffin is the kind of play that makes you laugh in an uneasy way. One question this wonderfully acted production asks is pointed and direct — can a play about four mentally challenged men living together in a small apartment be humorous without the focus of the joke being the handicap? The answer in the case of The Boys Next Door is yes. This play is not hilarious because the characters are mentally challenged but instead because they say and do things that are comical. Jeff Keenan who directed last season’s Colorado Catechism for Journeymen Theater is able to balance the laughs and poignant moments in such a way that there are very few times that the laughs feel misplaced. The Boys Next Door is truly inspiring and thought provoking–the characters seem to become your long time friends by the end of the show. The play revolves around the lives of the four previously mentioned men living in a group apartment and their social worker Jack (Deborah Kirby). The men, Arnold (Cecil Baldwin), Norman (Don Prather), Lucian (Dallas Miller) and Barry (Michael Propster) all have varying disabilities ranging from mental retardation (Norman and Lucian) and depression (Arnold) to schizophrenia (Barry). The play questions how we care for our developmentally challenged citizens with four sub plots, Jack’s burn out and change of career, Barry’s abusive dad visiting after nine years, a hearing for Lucian to determine if he is capable of living on his own and finally a budding romance between Norman and his dance partner Shelia. We are left at play’s end to contemplate the questions asked and their possible answers. The performances in The Boys Next Door are fabulous from Dallas Miller’s tender portrayal of Lucian to Cecil Baldwin’s jumpy Arnold. Don Prather is hilarious as Norman who must battle a love for donuts that is unrelenting. The most haunting performance was Michael Propster’s golf obsessed Barry whose breakdown after an abusive visit from his father is heart wrenching. Becky Peters who plays Sheila, Norman’s love interest, brings quite a few smiles and Deborah Kirby as Jack works well even though the part was written for a male. I found myself caring about these characters not because they were handicapped but instead because they were just likeable people and I think that is what Griffin is trying to convey — the handicapped just want to be thought of as members of society and not someone to be pitied or felt sorry for. Most of the play takes place in the apartment the men share and it is functionally staged by Ryann Lee. The lighting
design by Brian Miller provided smooth transitions between indoor and outdoor scenes that were staged to the left and right of the apartment setting. The excellent costumes by Melanie Dale had a quirky retro feel for Arnold, Barry and Shelia and an ill-kempt quality for Norman and Julian. Our ability to provide services for handicapped citizens amidst budgetary cut backs has many of us asking tough questions. The Boys Next Door does not answer these questions but tactfully and with touching humor provides a glimpse of how much of our daily lives we as a community take for granted. During the scene when Lucien is before a committee to determine if he needs assisted living there is a frozen moment where Lucien comes out of character.
In a chilling discourse he says: “I stand before you a middle-aged man in an uncomfortable suit, a man whose capacity for rational thought is somewhere between a five-year-old and an oyster. I am retarded. I am damaged. I am sick inside from so many years of confusion, utter and profound confusion. I am mystified by faucets and radios and elevators and newspapers and popular songs. I cannot always remember the names of my parents. But I will not go away. And I will not wither because the cage is too small. I am here to remind the species.. of.. the species. I am Lucien Percival Smith. And without me, without my shattered crippled brain, you will never again be frightened by what you might have become. Or indeed, by what your future might make you.” It is an understatement to say I was moved. If Journeymen Theater can force tough issues into the limelight while providing some light hearted humor a great service has been rendered. See The Boys Next Door — laugh and enjoy a great play, then ask yourself "Who is
taking care of Lucien?"
-MORE THAN JUST LAUGHS AT CLARK STREET, DC Theatre Reviews, September 18, 2005,Walter Ruff
-http://www.journeymentheater.org/documents/theatrereview81905.pdf
5.-The Boys Next Door is a very funny and thoroughly touching Off-Broadway hit that focuses on the unusual lives of four mentally challenged men, where 'little things' sometimes become momentous. Arnold (their ringleader) is a hyperactive chatterer. Norman successfully works in a doughnut shop and takes great pride in the large ring of keys which dangles from his belt. Lucien P. Smith has the innocent mind of a five year old with a heart of gold, and Barry is a brilliant schizophrenic who fantasizes himself a Golf pro. Their New England group home is supervised by Jack who is occasionally overwhelmed by his responsibility to the group. The Boys Next Door moves the audience to an awareness of how many things in everyday life we take for granted.
Vintage Theatre opens Tom Griffin's "The Boys Next Door" on Friday, May 2 and plays Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 p.m.; Sundays at 2:30 p.m. through June 1. There will be one special performance on Tuesday, May 13 at 7:30 p.m. when all tickets will be only $11. Performances are in their new home at Vintage Theatre, 2119 E 17th Ave in Denver. Tickets are $22 at the door, $17 in advance and available by calling 303-839-1361 or online at http://www.vintagetheatre.com/. Tom Griffin is a playwright. " The Boys Next Door" is his most successful work. His other plays include "Amateurs", "Einstein and The Polar Bear", "Pasta", and "Mrs. Sedgewick's Head". He spent many years working with challenged men and women. He decided to dramatize his experiences in this wonderful work. While his frustrations grew, as happens to his alter-ego Jack Palmer in the play, Mr. Griffin was still able to see the wonderful humor in the way his charges look at life. The cast includes Andy Anderson (Jack), Patrick Mann (Arnold), Patrick Hurley (Norman), Mathew Kepler (Lucien), Addison Parker (Barry), Kirsten Krieg (Sheila), Jesse Pearlman (Mr. Klemper) and Michelle Grimes as Everyone Else. Denver's Vintage Theatre Productions- founded in 2002 over a vintage martini glass- is changing its nomadic ways and settling into the newly renamed Vintage Theatre (2119 E 17th Ave in Denver) for the entirety of its 2008 season.
-Vintage Theatre presentsThe Boys Next Door, Gloria Shanstrom, 04-22-08, Denver Post.
-http://denver.yourhub.com/Denver/Stories/Goings-on/General/Story~459701.aspx
Production Photos
Montgomery Playhouse, Gaithersburg, MD. 2008. Director-Cecellia Rogers -Lighting Design-John Hutson,Sound Design Paul Shoop,Costume Design Mary Schmidt
http://www.montgomeryplayhouse.org/Casts/BoysNextDoorCast.htm
Vintage Theater Company, Director-Bernie Cardell, Denver, CO. 2008.
http://www.americantowns.com/co/denver/news/the-boys-next-door-by-tom-griffin-95455
Theater of dare, Kill Devil Hills, NC. 2008 ,Director-Jonathon Bender
http://www.theatreofdare.org/boys_next_door.htm
Sunset Playhouse,Elm Grove,WI, Director-Mark Salentine, Costume Designer-Pat Boek, Set Designer J. Michael Desper -May 2007
http://www.gmtoday.com/timeout/reviews/topstory001.asp
Porthouse Theater, Director Cynthia Stallings, Cuyahoga Falls, OH. 2005
http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.kent.edu/TopStories/2005/images/ChuckRichie(l)andMichaelJamesAnderson.JPG&imgrefurl=http://www.kent.edu/TopStories/2005/SeeTheBoysNextDoor.cfm&h=1312&w=2000&sz=1723&hl=en&start=11&um=1&tbnid=mYUBsHcdUVi_cM:&tbnh=98&tbnw=150&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dthe%2Bboys%2Bnext%2Bdoor%2Bproduction%2Bphotos%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DN
1. -Theater Of Dare, Kill Devil Hills, NC.
-May 7th -May 16th, 2004
-Producer-Tom Filkins, Director-Jonathon Bender
-No designers listed
-Arnold ------ Don Bridge
-Lucien ------ Lee Fields
-Norman ----- Bill Fenner
-Jack ----------Neil Ferguson
-Barry -------- Max Bridge
-3 Girls ------ Lisa Bridge
-3 Guys ------ Charles Winstead
-Sheila --------K. T. Childress
-Mr. Klemper---- Tom Filkins
-I think this particular production stands out because the director decided to have over two weeks of auditions. The director held auditions all over town to see as many people as he possibly could. This strikes my attention because most auditions only last one to two days.
2. -Montgomery Playhouse, Gaithersburg, MD.
-Jan. 15th- Feb. 9th 2008
-Producer-Donna Dangle, Director-Cecellia Rogers
-Lighting Design-John Hutson,Sound Design Paul Shoop,Costume Design Mary Schmidt,
-Arnold, Kevin Dykstra
-Barry, Timothy Phelps
-Lucien, David Hughson
-Norman, David Jones
-Jack, John Dickson
-Sheila, Susan Aaron Ostrinsky
-Mr. Klemper, Bruce Kaplan
-Mrs. Fremus/ Mrs. Warren/Clara, Stacey Fearheiley
-Mr. Hedges/ Mr. Corbin/Senator Warren, Nick Sampson
-I think this Production strikes my attention because one reviewer talks about the use of lighting to show what is really happening and what they guys think is happening. I have seen a production of this show where lighting played such a huge part that i think this element needs to be explored by all productions of this show in order to illustrate the difference between reality and fantasy in a very real situation.
3. -The Sunset Playhouse, Elm Grove,WI
-Director-Mark Salentine,
-Costume Designer-Pat Boek, Set Designer-J. Michael Desper
-May 23rd-June 14th
- Mark Neufang, Jack
-Scott Kopischke, Arnold
-Lawrence J. Lukasavage, Norman
-Kurtis Witzlsteiner, Barry
-Mario Alberts, Lucien
-Sheila-Becky Peters
-"The audience is encouraged to laugh at the cognitively impaired not because they are strange and freakish, but because their offbeat idiosyncrasies are honest reflections of neuroses common to even the most functional among us. The key to a successful staging of the play is the delicate balance between the comedy of the individual and the comedy of disability in a way that maintains a universal level of human dignity." This statement was written in the program and read by audience member before the show. I think this statement is something that should appear in all programs for this show to inform the audience that it is O.K. to laugh.
4. The Journeyman Theater, Washington, DC
-Director-Jeffrey Keenan
-Set Design-Ryann Lee, Costumes-Melanie Dale, Lighting-Brian Miller
-September 14 - October 15, 2005
-Jack, Deborah Kirby
-Arnold-Cecil Baldwin
-Norman-Don Prather
-Lucien-Dallas Miller
-Barry-Michael Propster
- I think this production is important because it has a female cast in the main role of Jack. This to me gives the script a whole new meaning. Men seem to stay more detached and not as emotionally involved as women especially in the work place. Although Jack's lines in the play say other wise and show how attached he really is, i think a women caring so much for these guys just totally changes the situation. Women handle situations like this differently, situations that are emotionally charged, and more importantly i think that an audience would respond better to an emotional, strung out and compassionate women more so than any man.
5. Vintage Theater Company, Denver, CO
-Director-Bernie Cardell, Producer-Debbie Laureta
-May 2nd-June 1st
-Jack-Andy Anderson
-Arnold-Partick Mann
-Norman-Partick Hurley
-Lucien-Mathew Kepler
-Barry-Addison Parker
-Sheila-Kristen Krieg
-What i find most interesting about this particular production is that it was involved in a series of shows that this group puts on throughout their season. this group is available for private bookings at their theater or as a traveling production. This Theater group will actually pick up it's entire show and move it to you instead of you coming to see them.
Reviews
1.Theatre of Dare casts 'The Boys Next Door' Outer Banks Sentinel (3/30/04)
Rehearsals are under way for Theatre of Dare's (TOD) next production, "The Boys Next Door." Set to open May 7, director Jonathan Bender selected a cast after an unprecedented two weeks of auditions. "This show is very demanding of its actors. I wanted to make sure I could include as many people who were interested and see as many talented actors as I could. Holding two weeks of auditions in different locations allowed people to attend who otherwise couldn't have due to scheduling or location. I ended up in exactly the position I wanted to be in. I had so many talented to choose from that selecting the cast was very difficult," he said. The Boys Next Door, an off-Broadway smash by Tom Griffin, is the touching story of four mentally handicapped adults trying to integrate into society. The results are often both hilarious and heart breaking. Don Bridge, a TOD and Lost Colony veteran, plays Arnold, a mildly retarded depressive with a persecution complex. Said Bender, "I've enjoyed working with Don before and he was the first person I thought of for this role. When he came to auditions, he hit the nail on the head so I had no choice but to cast him." Lucien is the most handicapped of the four main characters, being both severely retarded as well as physically challenged. Lucien will be played by Outer Banks newcomer Lee Fields. BND producer Tom Filkins had special praise for Fields. "He's a newcomer to TOD and I'm very impressed how he took a character and ran with it and kept his character alive every time he read." Bill Fenner, a face well-known to TOD audiences, is Norman, the love able doughnut shop employee who sees the world with a smile often covered in sugar glaze and/or chocolate sprinkles. "I think Bill's real-life experience brought a touching realism to the role. Bill is going to be one of the shining stars in this production," said Filkins. Max Bridge, fresh from service in the Marine Corps, returns to his family's theatrical roots in the role of Barry, a schizophrenic convinced he's a golf pro. Barry challenges the young actor with his reunion with a mysterious father he hasn't seen in nine years. "Max is a young man with a lot of talent," said Bender, "and coming from a theatrical family might be one reason, but I think this role will allow Max's talent to shine in its own right." Actor Neil Ferguson, last seen in TOD's "A Few Good Men," plays Jack, the increasingly frustrated caregiver, providing a calming counterpoint to the high-energy antics of the four other men. Filkins commented, "It's not enough to learn lines and Neil always does more than that. He always brings humanity to a role, comedy or otherwise, which is essential for the character of Jack." KT Childress, a local massage therapist, delightfully plays Shelia, Norman's love interest. "KT could have played any of the women in the show, but her reading of Shelia carried such a warmth, simplicity and tenderness," commented Filkins. "She and Bill played off of each other, in a word, perfectly." Charles Winstead, an Outer Banks native and freelance writer, is featured in three smaller roles in the show. He plays Mr. Corbin, Arnold's manager at the theater; Mr. Hedges, one of Barry's unsuspecting golf students and Senator Clarke, who heads the committee reviewing Lucien's disability benefits. Said Filkins, "These roles provide moments of comedy and drama and require one actor to create three distinct characters. From what we saw in auditions, we felt Charles could easily accomplish that."
Lisa Bridge, most noted for her role of Queen Elizabeth in the Lost Colony, also pulls triple duty in the roles of Clara, friend of Shelia; Mrs. Fremus, the deaf widow in whom Barry often confides and Mrs. Warren, an unsuspecting neighbor of the boys. "Lisa was able to bring depth and separation to every character. All of them came to life when she read." Rounding out the cast is producer Filkins in the role of Mr. Klemper, Barry's father who visits his son after nine years in an explosive reunion. "Tom's versatility will be featured in this role. Tom is such a likable guy, I think people will be surprised how much they dislike Mr. Klemper." The Boys Next Door opens Friday, May 7 at 8 p.m. at Manteo High School followed by performances on the 8, 9, 14, 15 and 16.
-Theater of Dare casts "The Boys Next Door", Sandy Semans, The Outer Banks Sentintal,
03-30-04
-http://www.theatreofdare.org/press.htm#a009
2. -Mike: The Boys Next Door is a funny show, but it also very serious and I think Montgomery Playhouse did a pretty good job with it.
Laura: This show was touching and there were some really funny lines in the show that the actors said quite seriously, because it made perfect sense to them, but the rest of the audience was howling. There were some really touching moments as well.
Mike: The Boys Next Door is a play by Tom Griffin. This very funny, yet touching play focuses on the lives of four men with disabilities who live in a communal residence under the watchful eye of a sincere, but increasingly despairing social worker. Filled with humor, the play is also marked by the compassion and understanding with which it peers into the world of its protagonists. Mingled with scenes from the daily lives of these men are moments of great poignancy, when we are reminded that disabilities are relative and that we all want only to love and laugh and find meaning and purpose in the brief time we are given.
Laura: The first person that we meet in this household was Arnold, played by Kevin Dykstra. He was the narrator of the show. His disabilities included being accessibly neurotic and always wanted to set up a plan, but was easily distracted. He set the tone that all of the men in the house seemed to enjoy living together, but all had various degrees of disabilities.
Mike: Barry saw himself as a golf pro. He was played by Timothy Phelps. He was slipping through reality as he was interacting through different people. We were able to watch a few of his golf lessons. He would focus on entirely the wrong thing, such as you always stay quiet when your in the gallery and how to handle hecklers when your in the gallery. He seemed to be fairly together except for this idiosyncrasy thought that he was actually a golf pro.
When he discovered that his father was coming for a visit for the first time in ten years, that really gave him something to focus on. When the actual visit occurred it was not a good thing, but a disaster. The scene between Barry and his father, played by Bruce Kaplan, was very emotional and life changing for Barry. Mr. Klemper’s reaction didn’t seem to build quite right. He hadn’t seen him in ten years and in his mind he had a certain expectation. The way he came in was so derisive of the living conditions and the apartment itself was really upsetting. I think they played the scene pretty well. The physical interaction between the two I didn’t really like, it didn’t look too realistic. I kind of understood where the father was coming from, but it really didn’t work.
Mike: The final roommate was Norman, played by David Jones. He worked at a local donut shop and was given the doughnuts that were not sold or were bad. That gave him an obsession over the donuts, which played out throughout the show at different points. His character also had the most interaction with other people outside the household. There were a few scenes at the weekly dance facility and he was able to fall in love with Shelia, played by Susan Aaron Ostrinsky. Their interactions were very nicely done.
I liked how the Montgomery Playhouse handled the lighting to signify to us what was going on in their heads. The lighting was designed by John Hutson. It helped to keep us focused and let us know what they were experiencing versus what we were seeing. I liked that contrast a lot.
Laura: The Social Worker, Jack, was played by John Dickson. He would come and visit the boys at the house. He did an excellent job. You could understand the turmoil going on inside of him. He understood what these men were going through, but at the same time he was really getting burned out by always having to chase after them and clean up their messes. The scene where he had to tell them all he was changing jobs was a very emotional, powerful scene.
Mike: The other two performers in the show played multiple roles. Stacey Fearheiley played Mrs. Fremus, Mrs. Warren and Clara. Nick Sampson played Mr. Hedges, Mr. Corbin, and Senator Warren. I think the appearance of the characters was far enough apart that that you didn’t realize it was the same actor coming in. They played supporting roles, but I think they did a fine job. Some of the challenge from those parts was the emotions having to to come out in different ways.
Laura: The set for The Boys Next Door was nice. Set Designer was David Jones. It all took place in the common area of the house. The boys’ rooms were on either side with the bathroom toward the back. There was a door to the outside with a window so you could se people going by. I though it was very well done.
Mike: It was a very nice set. There was also a kitchen area that was used several times during the show very effectively. I liked it as it was a great use of space for the Gaithersburg Arts Barn.
Laura: After the show we talked to some of the performers to find out how they got in character for their various roles. They had some really interesting information. They said they went to ArtStream which is a program for mentally challenge people and talked with them. They did some improvisational exercises which is how they got their insight into their characters.
Mike: The four boys’ problems were not the result from an accident. Laura and I have had extensive experience with traumatic brain injury and the impact that can have on lives. I was really wondering how this would be handled in this show and I think it was handled very well. The characters did have different degrees of brain injuries and different levels of processing information in their brains. I think they did a great job with that part of it. Most of the times it was funny, to them it was serious and that was just the way the world works. It made perfect sense. As an example, Arnold was saying that if they don’t let him do something he was going to move to Russia where they will listen to him. That was a perfectly sensible option for what he was experiencing and how he could process the information coming in to his brain. Even though this was not a funny ha ha comedy, it does have its funny points. I think this play can challenge you on how you look at other people, especially people with different disabilities.
Laura: The Boys next Door ran about two and a half hours with one intermission. It is playing through Sunday, February 3rd. Friday and Saturdays at 8 and Sunday matinee at 2 PM at the Gaithersburg Arts Barn in Gaithersburg, Maryland. We recommend you go see this show. It will make you think, laugh, and maybe even cry.
-Show Biz Radio, Theater info for the Washington DC area, Montgomery Playhouse The Boys Next Door,01-23-08
-http://www.showbizradio.net/2008/01/23/review-mp-boys-next-door/
3.-Staging Tom Griffin’s The Boys Next Door can be a tricky endeavor. The comedy about a group of developmentally disabled men and the social worker who looks after them uses a brand of humor that doesn’t always make people feel comfortable. The audience is encouraged to laugh at the cognitively impaired not because they are strange and freakish, but because their offbeat idiosyncrasies are honest reflections of neuroses common to even the most functional among us. The key to a successful staging of the play is the delicate balance between the comedy of the individual and the comedy of disability in a way that maintains a universal level of human dignity. The Sunset Playhouse production, which opened last weekend, comes perilously close to presenting its subjects as stereotypes of mental retardation, but only in brief, fleeting moments. For the most part, this is an exquisite production of a well-written contemporary comedy. Mark Neufang plays Jack Palmer, the social worker keeping track of four men who live in a group home for the developmentally disabled. The play charts Palmer’s uneasy desire to find better, less stressful work elsewhere. Neufang has an impressive amount of nice-guy charm, but the subtleties of his character’s mounting job dissatisfaction are largely missing. However, Neufang brings more than enough compassion to the stage to make up for any other shortcomings in his performance.Scott Kopischke plays group home resident Arnold Wiggins. Wiggins is a reasonably functional individual who works at a movie theatre. Wiggins has a mildly obsessive compulsive personality that is warped by an aversion to internally consistent logic. Kopischke recently played Elwood P. Dowd in a Sunset production of Harvey. His performance here is far more accomplished. Here he shows a profound amount of humanity and a clear aptitude for performance in a larger ensemble piece peppered with a few clever stretches of monologue. Lawrence J. Lukasavage plays group home resident Norman Bulansky. Norman’s cognitive development seems to be stuck at grade school level, but he’s functional enough to hold a job at a local donut shop. This is Lukasavage’s first performance with Sunset and probably one of the few he’s had outside Off The Wall Theatre. Lukasavage takes to the new stage quite well in a brilliantly subdued performance. It’d be all too easy to simply pretend to be a child in the role of Norman, and Lukasavage gracefully avoids this in a very sympathetic performance.Kurtis Witzlsteiner plays mild schizophrenic Barry Klemper. Klemper believes himself to be a professional golfer. Probably the most functional of the four men, Klemper may be one of the trickiest roles to play. The character has to seem completely functional until a key moment when everything turns around for him. Witzlsteiner is capable at conveying the character’s emotional dynamic, but seem to lack the kind of stage experience necessary to make the role as powerful as it could be.Mario Alberts rounds out the central cast in the role of Lucien P. Smith, a profoundly impaired man who may not be all that well suited to life in the group home. Lucien carries books around that he couldn’t possibly read — clearly he aspires to overcome his impairment. His is one of the most emotionally affecting performances in the production aided in no small part by Griffin’s script. Near the end of the play, Griffin allows us to see the Lucien P. Smith as he has always wanted to be. Lights fade from the scene. A spotlight is drawn. Alberts enters as Smith. The slump and contortions of Lucien’s body slowly straighten out to a perfect posture. In a slow, confident and suddenly educated voice, Smith addresses the audience. Alberts’ performance here is phenomenal. It’s an overwhelming and startling transformation, but only because Alberts was so convincing throughout the rest of the play as a severely impaired Lucien. It’s easily the most powerful moment in the production — one of the most powerful moments onstage this season.
-Sunset Playhouse The Boys Next Door, Russ Bickerstaff, May-20-08, Vital Source.
-http://www.vitalsourcemag.com/index.php/magazine/article/the-boys-next-door/
4.-The Boys Next Door by Tom Griffin is the kind of play that makes you laugh in an uneasy way. One question this wonderfully acted production asks is pointed and direct — can a play about four mentally challenged men living together in a small apartment be humorous without the focus of the joke being the handicap? The answer in the case of The Boys Next Door is yes. This play is not hilarious because the characters are mentally challenged but instead because they say and do things that are comical. Jeff Keenan who directed last season’s Colorado Catechism for Journeymen Theater is able to balance the laughs and poignant moments in such a way that there are very few times that the laughs feel misplaced. The Boys Next Door is truly inspiring and thought provoking–the characters seem to become your long time friends by the end of the show. The play revolves around the lives of the four previously mentioned men living in a group apartment and their social worker Jack (Deborah Kirby). The men, Arnold (Cecil Baldwin), Norman (Don Prather), Lucian (Dallas Miller) and Barry (Michael Propster) all have varying disabilities ranging from mental retardation (Norman and Lucian) and depression (Arnold) to schizophrenia (Barry). The play questions how we care for our developmentally challenged citizens with four sub plots, Jack’s burn out and change of career, Barry’s abusive dad visiting after nine years, a hearing for Lucian to determine if he is capable of living on his own and finally a budding romance between Norman and his dance partner Shelia. We are left at play’s end to contemplate the questions asked and their possible answers. The performances in The Boys Next Door are fabulous from Dallas Miller’s tender portrayal of Lucian to Cecil Baldwin’s jumpy Arnold. Don Prather is hilarious as Norman who must battle a love for donuts that is unrelenting. The most haunting performance was Michael Propster’s golf obsessed Barry whose breakdown after an abusive visit from his father is heart wrenching. Becky Peters who plays Sheila, Norman’s love interest, brings quite a few smiles and Deborah Kirby as Jack works well even though the part was written for a male. I found myself caring about these characters not because they were handicapped but instead because they were just likeable people and I think that is what Griffin is trying to convey — the handicapped just want to be thought of as members of society and not someone to be pitied or felt sorry for. Most of the play takes place in the apartment the men share and it is functionally staged by Ryann Lee. The lighting
design by Brian Miller provided smooth transitions between indoor and outdoor scenes that were staged to the left and right of the apartment setting. The excellent costumes by Melanie Dale had a quirky retro feel for Arnold, Barry and Shelia and an ill-kempt quality for Norman and Julian. Our ability to provide services for handicapped citizens amidst budgetary cut backs has many of us asking tough questions. The Boys Next Door does not answer these questions but tactfully and with touching humor provides a glimpse of how much of our daily lives we as a community take for granted. During the scene when Lucien is before a committee to determine if he needs assisted living there is a frozen moment where Lucien comes out of character.
In a chilling discourse he says: “I stand before you a middle-aged man in an uncomfortable suit, a man whose capacity for rational thought is somewhere between a five-year-old and an oyster. I am retarded. I am damaged. I am sick inside from so many years of confusion, utter and profound confusion. I am mystified by faucets and radios and elevators and newspapers and popular songs. I cannot always remember the names of my parents. But I will not go away. And I will not wither because the cage is too small. I am here to remind the species.. of.. the species. I am Lucien Percival Smith. And without me, without my shattered crippled brain, you will never again be frightened by what you might have become. Or indeed, by what your future might make you.” It is an understatement to say I was moved. If Journeymen Theater can force tough issues into the limelight while providing some light hearted humor a great service has been rendered. See The Boys Next Door — laugh and enjoy a great play, then ask yourself "Who is
taking care of Lucien?"
-MORE THAN JUST LAUGHS AT CLARK STREET, DC Theatre Reviews, September 18, 2005,Walter Ruff
-http://www.journeymentheater.org/documents/theatrereview81905.pdf
5.-The Boys Next Door is a very funny and thoroughly touching Off-Broadway hit that focuses on the unusual lives of four mentally challenged men, where 'little things' sometimes become momentous. Arnold (their ringleader) is a hyperactive chatterer. Norman successfully works in a doughnut shop and takes great pride in the large ring of keys which dangles from his belt. Lucien P. Smith has the innocent mind of a five year old with a heart of gold, and Barry is a brilliant schizophrenic who fantasizes himself a Golf pro. Their New England group home is supervised by Jack who is occasionally overwhelmed by his responsibility to the group. The Boys Next Door moves the audience to an awareness of how many things in everyday life we take for granted.
Vintage Theatre opens Tom Griffin's "The Boys Next Door" on Friday, May 2 and plays Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 p.m.; Sundays at 2:30 p.m. through June 1. There will be one special performance on Tuesday, May 13 at 7:30 p.m. when all tickets will be only $11. Performances are in their new home at Vintage Theatre, 2119 E 17th Ave in Denver. Tickets are $22 at the door, $17 in advance and available by calling 303-839-1361 or online at http://www.vintagetheatre.com/. Tom Griffin is a playwright. " The Boys Next Door" is his most successful work. His other plays include "Amateurs", "Einstein and The Polar Bear", "Pasta", and "Mrs. Sedgewick's Head". He spent many years working with challenged men and women. He decided to dramatize his experiences in this wonderful work. While his frustrations grew, as happens to his alter-ego Jack Palmer in the play, Mr. Griffin was still able to see the wonderful humor in the way his charges look at life. The cast includes Andy Anderson (Jack), Patrick Mann (Arnold), Patrick Hurley (Norman), Mathew Kepler (Lucien), Addison Parker (Barry), Kirsten Krieg (Sheila), Jesse Pearlman (Mr. Klemper) and Michelle Grimes as Everyone Else. Denver's Vintage Theatre Productions- founded in 2002 over a vintage martini glass- is changing its nomadic ways and settling into the newly renamed Vintage Theatre (2119 E 17th Ave in Denver) for the entirety of its 2008 season.
-Vintage Theatre presentsThe Boys Next Door, Gloria Shanstrom, 04-22-08, Denver Post.
-http://denver.yourhub.com/Denver/Stories/Goings-on/General/Story~459701.aspx
Production Photos
Montgomery Playhouse, Gaithersburg, MD. 2008. Director-Cecellia Rogers -Lighting Design-John Hutson,Sound Design Paul Shoop,Costume Design Mary Schmidt
http://www.montgomeryplayhouse.org/Casts/BoysNextDoorCast.htm
Vintage Theater Company, Director-Bernie Cardell, Denver, CO. 2008.
http://www.americantowns.com/co/denver/news/the-boys-next-door-by-tom-griffin-95455
Theater of dare, Kill Devil Hills, NC. 2008 ,Director-Jonathon Bender
http://www.theatreofdare.org/boys_next_door.htm
Sunset Playhouse,Elm Grove,WI, Director-Mark Salentine, Costume Designer-Pat Boek, Set Designer J. Michael Desper -May 2007
http://www.gmtoday.com/timeout/reviews/topstory001.asp
Porthouse Theater, Director Cynthia Stallings, Cuyahoga Falls, OH. 2005
http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.kent.edu/TopStories/2005/images/ChuckRichie(l)andMichaelJamesAnderson.JPG&imgrefurl=http://www.kent.edu/TopStories/2005/SeeTheBoysNextDoor.cfm&h=1312&w=2000&sz=1723&hl=en&start=11&um=1&tbnid=mYUBsHcdUVi_cM:&tbnh=98&tbnw=150&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dthe%2Bboys%2Bnext%2Bdoor%2Bproduction%2Bphotos%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DN
andMichaelJamesAnderson.JPG&imgrefurl=http://www.kent.edu/TopStories/2005/SeeTheBoysNextDoor.cfm&h=1312&w=2000&sz=1723&hl=en&start=11&um=1&tbnid=mYUBsHcdUVi_cM:&tbnh=98&tbnw=150&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dthe%2Bboys%2Bnext%2Bdoor%2Bproduction%2Bphotos%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DN){kind=link}
5 Sites of interest.
1. This is a web site i found that has a very interesting lawsuit over one mans anger because he was not told that a group home for handicaped adults was right across the street from his newly purchsed home. I think this would help my team understand the negative stigmas that some people have about living next to mentally handicaped people and how it might effect the guys in the play every time they step outside of the own home.
http://www.parealtor.org/content/RealEstateSellerDisclosureLawUpdate.htm
2. This is a website that is actully about a Boston Group Home and the impact it has made of the community and sheds some light on how these people are a part of the community in which they live.
http://www.boston.com/jobs/diversityfall_07/portrait_of_a_group_home/
3. In the play some of the characters suffers from severe depression and this is a website that gives all the information and resources you could ever want when researching depression.
4.This here is a web site from WebMD that has tons and tons of information on schizophrenia which will help in the research of these characters as well.
http://www.webmd.com/schizophrenia/default.htm
5. This is a great web site with tons of links and information on being a social worker. Jack has many issues in the play and most of them stem from his work as a social worker and not because of his own problems. this site will better help someone cast as Jack to understand exalty why he is going through what he is going through.
http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/21706/how_to_deal_with_being_a_social_worker.html
5% Production Designs
Find 5 total images (plates, renderings, thumbnails, elevations, digital illustrations, etc.) representing the design process for one or more of these productions. Yes, all 5 may be from the same production, but a variety of productions would be more interesting. For each, identify:
- designer(s)
- producing theatre, city, state
- director
- year
- and an active link
Friday, July 25, 2008
10 pictures
Boston skylinehttp://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.usatourist.com/photos/massachusetts/boston3b.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.usatourist.com/english/places/massachusetts/boston.html&h=300&w=780&sz=38&hl=en&start=5&tbnid=IpPYNiAIHuTFSM:&tbnh=55&tbnw=142&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dboston%26gbv%3D2%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DG
This is the Senate Chambers in Boston.http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://lh5.ggpht.com/_HZ-qbJ2gCps/RvhZeQDHTaI/AAAAAAAACFI/nPLsOhw6na8/RIMG0639.JPG&imgrefurl=http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/5xHxPIixUClxIsE1d-ZqTg&h=960&w=1280&sz=15&hl=en&start=24&um=1&tbnid=WoUDmtWms4E-KM:&tbnh=113&tbnw=150&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dboston%2Bsenate%26start%3D18%26ndsp%3D18%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DN
http://www.ninth.courts.state.oh.us/images/Summit%20Courtroom.jpg
Town houses in Boston.http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://listings.firstseo.net/sites/pruboston/images/8/DSCN06160002.JPG&imgrefurl=http://www.prubostonrealty.com/listings/search_results.php&h=768&w=1024&sz=267&hl=en&start=16&um=1&tbnid=sr25h6V6ZrzJ_M:&tbnh=113&tbnw=150&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dgroup%2Bhome%2BBoston%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den
Amtrak station in Boston.http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://gallery.photo.net/photo/2958838-lg.jpg&imgrefurl=http://photo.net/photodb/photo%3Fphoto_id%3D2958838%26size%3Dlg&h=499&w=801&sz=58&hl=en&start=9&um=1&tbnid=fZ0ZbWgkRSFI5M:&tbnh=89&tbnw=143&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dboston%2Bamtrak%2Bstation%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den
The Boston Red Bull Bike Battle, an event going on in the middle of Boston.http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.freewebs.com/andybiking/STEP%2520UP%2520BAIL.JPG&imgrefurl=http://forums.farkin.net/showthread.php%3Ft%3D4349&h=480&w=640&sz=130&hl=en&start=5&um=1&tbnid=xorxz1SCX6k9bM:&tbnh=103&tbnw=137&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dboston%2Bbike%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den
This is a picture of Fenway Park in Boston. It is the oldest ball park in use by the MLB and home to the Red Sox.http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.mapseeing.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/04/windowslivewriterfenwaypark-940amap7de2aaa199ab1.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.mapseeing.com/category/locations/united-states/massachussetts/&h=452&w=596&sz=79&hl=en&start=9&um=1&tbnid=yMZfbBPrAp6H3M:&tbnh=102&tbnw=135&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dboston%2Bbaseball%2Bstadium%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den
This is a picture of an actual Getty Gas Station. I did not know that these were in fact a popular chain and existed primarily on the easy coast.http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/ABPub/2006/10/06/2003292864.jpg&imgrefurl=http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2003293194_oil07.html&h=133&w=200&sz=10&hl=en&start=2&um=1&tbnid=fIBxLgSA83f7WM:&tbnh=69&tbnw=104&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dgetty%2Bgas%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den
This is a picture of American Fashions designers in 1985 showing typical clothing, hair and accessories.
This a driving range in Boston showing the landscape in which Barry spends a lot of his time. 
This is a picture of Historic Boston Park.
Wednesday, July 23, 2008
THE WORLD OF THE PLAY: New England, name applied to the region comprising six states of the N.E. United States—Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut. So basically we could set the play in any of these states but we will choose to set it in Boston Massachusetts. It is located in Suffolk County and is the largest city in New England.
The town has many colleges and Universities and is a center of higher education and medicine. the citys economy is fueled by research, finance, and technology and has one of the highest cost of living in the U.S.
TIME:Jack is a underpaid social worker who wants the best out of life but his job leaves him lacking. The median income for a household in the city was 39,629 dollars and almost 20 percent of people live below the poverty live. jack would have been just above this line and it shows in his stress for a better job and a better future for his wife. 13 percent of Boston travels by foot making it the highest percentage of pedestrian commuters in the country. All of the men that live in the home believe that they should be taken care of by someone. I don't think that they necessarily want to but they have to. Jack understands this and knows that he has a job because these guys need someone to watch over them. Even though these men matured late, they are still taking an interest in the women around them. This kind of behavior is prohibited because of their mental state and living conditions. These guys see everyday as a new day, full of mystery and excitement, never knowing what is going to happen.
(5%)What was going on at the time the play takes place—global and national as well as local events and phenomena—that would affect the characters, the lives they lead and the choices they make?What did these characters believe and value? (This includes any specifics you can find about economics, religion, war, art, politics, sex, the role of women, etc.)If you copy and paste text, please be specific and selective and edit your content for relevance…and cite!
SPACE: Bicycle and foot traffic are the most popular modes of transportation in this area. buses are also used and taxis. very few people own their own car and if they do they usually do not drive it unless they are going out of town.
SOUND:1.The Wild Rovers are a Boston based Irish contemp. band that they guys may have seen around town. You can download samples from the link below or use the link to buy a c.d. for 20 dollars.
2.Boston. I personally think that some of the guys would have like the band Boston just because they were from Boston. Below is a link that you can get a Quicktime audio of all of their songs for FREE.
3.Punk rock music was in it's height during the 80's and at the head of that movement was The Clash. They combined punk rock, reggae, funk, rap, dub, rock and roll and rockabilly to create their own unique sound. This is a site that give you the history of the band, music clips and links to their other web sites and influences.
4.Wham! was a very popular 80's band and had the number 1 song in 1985 (the year of the play) with their single Careless Whispers.
5.This is the original theme to the second Spider Man cartoon series. The original was in the 60's and this version played on the Saturday morning cartoons in the 80's. Because Lucien loves Spider Man i thought this would be appropriate. The link also includes the video intro to the spider man series.
Tuesday, July 15, 2008
Week 2 Assignment
The Facts:
Title: The Boys Next Door
Author(s): Tom Griffin
Language/Translator(s): English/None
Year of Original Publication: 06/01/1995
Genre/Length/Structure: Full Length/ Comedy/ 2 Act
Agency Controlling License: Dramatists Play Service
Royalty Fee(s): $75 Per Performance
Cast Breakdown (M/F): 7 Men/ 2 Women
Time and Setting: Now/ New England City
Brief Bio of Author(s):
Tom Griffin’s highly acclaimed play THE BOYS NEXT DOOR was produced Off-Broadway in the Fall of 1987, after productions at the McCarter Theatre in Princeton, New Jersey and the Berkshire Theatre Festival in Stockbridge, Massachusetts. The motion picture rights to the play have been acquired by Warner Brothers. Mr. Griffith has had his work produced at numerous American regional theatres, including the premieres at the Mark Taper Forum, the Long Wharf Theatre, the Hartford Stage Company and the Alley Theatre in Houston. His play EINSTEIN AND THE POLAR BEAR was produced on Broadway at the Cort Theatre. He has been awarded a CBS/Dramatists’ Guild Award (for AMATEURS),an L.A. Drama Critics Circle nomination (for THE TAKING AWAY OF LITTLE WILLIE), an N.E.A. grant and an O’Neill playwriting fellowship. He has had fiction published in the United States and Europe and has been the recipient of a Playboy editorial award. His play PASTA was produced at Trinity Repertory Company in Providence, Rhode Island, where Mr. Griffin has appeared in over 25 productions as a member of the Tony Award winning resident acting company. He has also written two screenplays, FIDELITY and an adaptation of EINSTEIN AND THE POLAR BEAR both of which have been optioned for production. His updated version of DINNER AT EIGHT aired on TNT in December, 1989. AMATEURS was produced at Trinity Rep in the spring of 1990. He is currently under contract at MGM-UA, for whom he has written two screenplays. His newest play, MRS. SEDGEWICK’S HEAD will open this fall at Trinity Repertory in Providence, RI. http://www.dramatists.com/text/authorbios.asp
Brief Plot Summary: THE STORY: The place is a communal residence in a New England city, where four mentally handicapped men live under the supervision of an earnest, but increasingly "burned out" young social worker named Jack. Norman, who works in a doughnut shop and is unable to resist the lure of the sweet pastries, takes great pride in the huge bundle of keys that dangles from his waist; Lucien P. Smith has the mind of a five-year-old but imagines that he is able to read and comprehend the weighty books he lugs about; Arnold, the ringleader of the group, is a hyperactive, compulsive chatterer, who suffers from deep-seated insecurities and a persecution complex; while Barry, a brilliant schizophrenic who is devastated by the unfeeling rejection of his brutal father, fantasizes that he is a golf pro. Mingled with scenes from the daily lives of these four, where "little things" sometimes become momentous (and often very funny), are moments of great poignancy when, with touching effectiveness, we are reminded that the handicapped, like the rest of us, want only to love and laugh and find some meaning and purpose in the brief time that they, like their more fortunate brothers, are allotted on this earth.
http://www.dramatists.com/cgi-bin/db/single.asp?key=1022
1.Arnold Wiggins, Male, he is a middle aged Mildly retarded white male who works at a movie theatre. His mild retardation come in the forms of hyperactivity and relentless talking. He Is taken advantage of easily and suffers from severe OCD.
2.Norman Bulansky, Male, Middle aged and is also slightly retarded, works at a doughnut shop and has cause him to become overweight. He is white American and has a white, overweight girlfriend named Sheila.
3. Lucien P. Smith is a black, middle aged male who is severely retarded. He is an American but has to be played by a black man. He checks out books from the library despite the fact he can not read. He is in jeopardy of loosing his state funding to stay in the group home.
4. Barry Klemper, younger, 20’s Schizophrenic white American male who pretends to be a gold pro. He is the most “stable” of the men. He is triggered by a visit from his father that proves harmful to his mental condition.
5. Jack, is a middle to late age white American male and the guys social worker. He is in a failing marriage and is in turmoil weather to choose his work or his personal life.
6. Sheila, is a middle aged white American Female who is slightly overweight and has the same upbeat but still slightly retarded personality of Norman.
NON-Traditional Casting:
In terms of non-traditional casting this play is pretty open. the only character that is specific is that of Lucien. He has to be played by a black man because of references made in the script by himself and others. I would say that it is safe to say that all the other men in the play could be played by any man of any race. the idea of having an all black cast is something that could be explored. In terms of casting women in the roles of the four main men, I would say that it could be done but all would have to be women. I feel as though Sheila could be played by a women of any color but most be a little overweight due to references made in the script. Norman also falls under the same category and a lot of his jokes stem from the fact the he is overweight. casting a skinny actor in this role would not help out the production.
The Facts: Exegesis (5%)Identify and define 20 total “unknowns” in your script including at least one item from each of the following categories:
-- geographic settings, locations, buildings, streets
--cultural references: furniture, clothing, styles of architecture and music
--real people, names, and pronunciation
--archaic or foreign words and phrases
--idiomatic language (slang)\
1. Social security Administration: A division of the Department of Health and Human Services, created in 1946, that administers federal Social Security programs. Abbreviation: SSA
2. State Sneck: what Lucien refers to as the State Senate.
3.Xavier Cugart: Remembered for his highly commercial approach to pop music, Xavier Cugat (born Francisco de Asis Javier Cugat Mingall de Cru y Deulofeo) made an even greater mark as one of the pioneers of Latin American dance music.
4.Arthritis: Inflammation of a joint, usually accompanied by pain, swelling, and stiffness, and resulting from infection, trauma, degenerative changes, metabolic disturbances, or other causes
5.African Violet: Any of various East African herbs of the genus Saint paulia, having a basal leaf rosette and a showy cluster of violet or sometimes pink or white flowers. African violets are grown as indoor ornamentals.
6.Geranium: any of numerous plants of the genus Geranium, which comprises the crane's-bills.
7.Ginger Rogers: 1911–1995, U.S. actress and dancer: longtime partner of Fred Astaire.
8. Fred Astaire: Born Fredrick Austerlitz: May 10th 1899. he was an american academy award winning film and broadway stage dancer, choreographer, singer and actor.
9.Tourniquet: is a constricting or compressing device to control Venous and arterial circulation to an extremity for a period of time.
10.Nyet: is a Russian word that arnold usues in the play to me "oh boy."
11.Getty Gas Station: is a seller of Getty Oil Products and was founded by J. Paul Getty. it was in its heights during the 1960's.
12.Vladivostok: is Russias largest city on the Pacific Ocean and the administrative center of Primorsky Krai.
13.Irkutsk: is one of the largest cities in Siberia and the administrative center of Irkutsk Oblast.
14.Van Gogh: born Vincent Willem Van Gogh March 30th 1853, died july 29 1890. He was a dutch impressionist artist.
15.New England City: Town area or NECTA is a geographic and statistical entity defined by the U.S. Office of Management and Budget.
Title: The Boys Next Door
Author(s): Tom Griffin
Language/Translator(s): English/None
Year of Original Publication: 06/01/1995
Genre/Length/Structure: Full Length/ Comedy/ 2 Act
Agency Controlling License: Dramatists Play Service
Royalty Fee(s): $75 Per Performance
Cast Breakdown (M/F): 7 Men/ 2 Women
Time and Setting: Now/ New England City
Brief Bio of Author(s):
Tom Griffin’s highly acclaimed play THE BOYS NEXT DOOR was produced Off-Broadway in the Fall of 1987, after productions at the McCarter Theatre in Princeton, New Jersey and the Berkshire Theatre Festival in Stockbridge, Massachusetts. The motion picture rights to the play have been acquired by Warner Brothers. Mr. Griffith has had his work produced at numerous American regional theatres, including the premieres at the Mark Taper Forum, the Long Wharf Theatre, the Hartford Stage Company and the Alley Theatre in Houston. His play EINSTEIN AND THE POLAR BEAR was produced on Broadway at the Cort Theatre. He has been awarded a CBS/Dramatists’ Guild Award (for AMATEURS),an L.A. Drama Critics Circle nomination (for THE TAKING AWAY OF LITTLE WILLIE), an N.E.A. grant and an O’Neill playwriting fellowship. He has had fiction published in the United States and Europe and has been the recipient of a Playboy editorial award. His play PASTA was produced at Trinity Repertory Company in Providence, Rhode Island, where Mr. Griffin has appeared in over 25 productions as a member of the Tony Award winning resident acting company. He has also written two screenplays, FIDELITY and an adaptation of EINSTEIN AND THE POLAR BEAR both of which have been optioned for production. His updated version of DINNER AT EIGHT aired on TNT in December, 1989. AMATEURS was produced at Trinity Rep in the spring of 1990. He is currently under contract at MGM-UA, for whom he has written two screenplays. His newest play, MRS. SEDGEWICK’S HEAD will open this fall at Trinity Repertory in Providence, RI. http://www.dramatists.com/text/authorbios.asp
Brief Plot Summary: THE STORY: The place is a communal residence in a New England city, where four mentally handicapped men live under the supervision of an earnest, but increasingly "burned out" young social worker named Jack. Norman, who works in a doughnut shop and is unable to resist the lure of the sweet pastries, takes great pride in the huge bundle of keys that dangles from his waist; Lucien P. Smith has the mind of a five-year-old but imagines that he is able to read and comprehend the weighty books he lugs about; Arnold, the ringleader of the group, is a hyperactive, compulsive chatterer, who suffers from deep-seated insecurities and a persecution complex; while Barry, a brilliant schizophrenic who is devastated by the unfeeling rejection of his brutal father, fantasizes that he is a golf pro. Mingled with scenes from the daily lives of these four, where "little things" sometimes become momentous (and often very funny), are moments of great poignancy when, with touching effectiveness, we are reminded that the handicapped, like the rest of us, want only to love and laugh and find some meaning and purpose in the brief time that they, like their more fortunate brothers, are allotted on this earth.
http://www.dramatists.com/cgi-bin/db/single.asp?key=1022
1.Arnold Wiggins, Male, he is a middle aged Mildly retarded white male who works at a movie theatre. His mild retardation come in the forms of hyperactivity and relentless talking. He Is taken advantage of easily and suffers from severe OCD.
2.Norman Bulansky, Male, Middle aged and is also slightly retarded, works at a doughnut shop and has cause him to become overweight. He is white American and has a white, overweight girlfriend named Sheila.
3. Lucien P. Smith is a black, middle aged male who is severely retarded. He is an American but has to be played by a black man. He checks out books from the library despite the fact he can not read. He is in jeopardy of loosing his state funding to stay in the group home.
4. Barry Klemper, younger, 20’s Schizophrenic white American male who pretends to be a gold pro. He is the most “stable” of the men. He is triggered by a visit from his father that proves harmful to his mental condition.
5. Jack, is a middle to late age white American male and the guys social worker. He is in a failing marriage and is in turmoil weather to choose his work or his personal life.
6. Sheila, is a middle aged white American Female who is slightly overweight and has the same upbeat but still slightly retarded personality of Norman.
NON-Traditional Casting:
In terms of non-traditional casting this play is pretty open. the only character that is specific is that of Lucien. He has to be played by a black man because of references made in the script by himself and others. I would say that it is safe to say that all the other men in the play could be played by any man of any race. the idea of having an all black cast is something that could be explored. In terms of casting women in the roles of the four main men, I would say that it could be done but all would have to be women. I feel as though Sheila could be played by a women of any color but most be a little overweight due to references made in the script. Norman also falls under the same category and a lot of his jokes stem from the fact the he is overweight. casting a skinny actor in this role would not help out the production.
The Facts: Exegesis (5%)Identify and define 20 total “unknowns” in your script including at least one item from each of the following categories:
-- geographic settings, locations, buildings, streets
--cultural references: furniture, clothing, styles of architecture and music
--real people, names, and pronunciation
--archaic or foreign words and phrases
--idiomatic language (slang)\
1. Social security Administration: A division of the Department of Health and Human Services, created in 1946, that administers federal Social Security programs. Abbreviation: SSA
2. State Sneck: what Lucien refers to as the State Senate.
3.Xavier Cugart: Remembered for his highly commercial approach to pop music, Xavier Cugat (born Francisco de Asis Javier Cugat Mingall de Cru y Deulofeo) made an even greater mark as one of the pioneers of Latin American dance music.
4.Arthritis: Inflammation of a joint, usually accompanied by pain, swelling, and stiffness, and resulting from infection, trauma, degenerative changes, metabolic disturbances, or other causes
5.African Violet: Any of various East African herbs of the genus Saint paulia, having a basal leaf rosette and a showy cluster of violet or sometimes pink or white flowers. African violets are grown as indoor ornamentals.
6.Geranium: any of numerous plants of the genus Geranium, which comprises the crane's-bills.
7.Ginger Rogers: 1911–1995, U.S. actress and dancer: longtime partner of Fred Astaire.
8. Fred Astaire: Born Fredrick Austerlitz: May 10th 1899. he was an american academy award winning film and broadway stage dancer, choreographer, singer and actor.
9.Tourniquet: is a constricting or compressing device to control Venous and arterial circulation to an extremity for a period of time.
10.Nyet: is a Russian word that arnold usues in the play to me "oh boy."
11.Getty Gas Station: is a seller of Getty Oil Products and was founded by J. Paul Getty. it was in its heights during the 1960's.
12.Vladivostok: is Russias largest city on the Pacific Ocean and the administrative center of Primorsky Krai.
13.Irkutsk: is one of the largest cities in Siberia and the administrative center of Irkutsk Oblast.
14.Van Gogh: born Vincent Willem Van Gogh March 30th 1853, died july 29 1890. He was a dutch impressionist artist.
15.New England City: Town area or NECTA is a geographic and statistical entity defined by the U.S. Office of Management and Budget.
Friday, July 11, 2008
graduate programs
1.University of Ottawa MFA in Theatre Theory and Dramaturgy Ottawa, Canada Two Year Program. it is the only bilingual masters program in theatre. offering classes such as Drama in Quebec.
2. The University of Iowa MFA in Dramaturgy Iowa City, IA Three Year Program(The last year is your Thesis on a new Play) focused on new play dramaturgy.
3.Hunter College New York, NY MFA in Dramaturgy Two Year Program
4. University of Alabama Tuscaloosa, AL MFA Dramaturgy Three year Program
5. Towson University Towson, Maryland MFA in Dramaturgy Three year program
6.University of Hull United Kingdom Master’s in Performance Translation and Dramaturgy Two Years
7.Roosevelt College Chicago, IL MFA in Directing/Dramaturgy Two Year Program
8. York University Toronto, Canada MFA in Dance Dramaturgy Two Years
9. Mary Baldwin College Staunton, VA MFA Emphasis in Dramaturgy Two Years
10.Virginia commonwealth University,Richmond, VA MFA in Dramaturgy, geared toward those who are pursuing career's in higher education.
2. The University of Iowa MFA in Dramaturgy Iowa City, IA Three Year Program(The last year is your Thesis on a new Play) focused on new play dramaturgy.
3.Hunter College New York, NY MFA in Dramaturgy Two Year Program
4. University of Alabama Tuscaloosa, AL MFA Dramaturgy Three year Program
5. Towson University Towson, Maryland MFA in Dramaturgy Three year program
6.University of Hull United Kingdom Master’s in Performance Translation and Dramaturgy Two Years
7.Roosevelt College Chicago, IL MFA in Directing/Dramaturgy Two Year Program
8. York University Toronto, Canada MFA in Dance Dramaturgy Two Years
9. Mary Baldwin College Staunton, VA MFA Emphasis in Dramaturgy Two Years
10.Virginia commonwealth University,Richmond, VA MFA in Dramaturgy, geared toward those who are pursuing career's in higher education.
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