|
|
|
Theatre & Box Office |
Could your marriage stand your best friend’s divorce? Full of warmth and life, Donald Margulies’ Pulitzer Prize winning drama explores the relationships of two married couples have been best friends for years, but now one couple is going through a divorce. Throughout the play, relationships are questioned and reorganized. The still-married couple find themselves assessing the strength of their own relationship and mourning the little corner of their world which dies when their friends divorce. Dinner with Friends is a rare gem—a questing, moral play that takes an honest look at the issues of commitment and fidelity in today’s world. Directed by CTG's Stan Christianson and Deb Weiss. |
 |
|
Cast
|
DIRECTORS' NOTES from Stan & Deb Dinner With Friends is a very simple, very direct reminder that the assumptions with which we comfort ourselves – the notion that we are somehow in charge of our lives, and that we can be confident we will always move forward smoothly and pleasantly on predictable trajectories – may be shattered quite casually, at a moment’s notice, and that the solid ground upon which we stand may suddenly give way. Here are four people who enjoy what we imagine to be the best that life has to offer. They are bright, attractive, intelligent, educated, and prosperous. Yet two of them live with a discontent that leaves them searching for something – an act of creation, an act of love, a perfect fulfillment – that you rather suspect has always eluded them and will elude them again, even beyond the play’s end. Two others are shaken to the core by the unexpected failure of their neat and elegant recipe for living. CAST PROFILES Patricia Bird (Beth) most recently appeared on CTG’s stage as Raymonde in A Flea in Her Ear and as Beth in A Lie of the Mind. Last summer she appeared as Poopay in Communicating Doors, receiving a NIETF nomination for best actress. Other favorite roles at CTG include Shelly in Sam Shepard’s Buried Child, Catherine in Memory of Water, and Marcy/Ruby in The Angels of Lemnos. When not at the theatre Patricia enjoys running, weight lifting, and playing with her highly energetic kids, Sydney, Logan, and Blake. Mucho hugs and kisses go out to her husband Eric, her parents, her sister and fabulous friends for all of their continued support. Dan Matern (Tom) is an attorney in Merrillville. He was last seen as The Old Man in CTG’s A Christmas Story. One of CTG’s veteran actors, Dan has appeared in productions of Sly Fox, Deathtrap, Whodunnit, The Children’s Hour, As You Like It, The Boys Next Door, The Secret Garden, Macbeth, Romeo and Juliet, Children of a Lesser God, Dangerous Liasons, Picasso at the Lapin Agile, Buried Child and Annie. Karla VanWinkle (Karen) a native of southern Indiana, is making her second appearance on stage. She was last seen in Fourth Street Theatre’s production of The Laramie Project. She received her B.S. from the University of Southern Indiana and her M.S. from Indiana University Southeast. Karla is a resident of Michigan City and is an assistant principal at Michigan City High School. She would like to thank her supportive family, friends and co-workers. Jay Williams (Gabe) makes his second appearance on our stage. We last saw him as Richard Roma in Glengarry Glen Ross. Some of his favorite roles include Robert in Don’t Dress for Dinner and Junior in Dearly Departed. Thanks to Deb and Stan for casting him in this great show. Many thanks to his family for putting up with him. DIRECTOR PROFILES Deb Weiss recently co-directed A Flea in Her Ear and stage managed A Lie of the Mind. She also has directed three past Popcorn Shows. Deb has been seen on stage in CTG productions of The Cripple of Inishmaan, Balm in Gilead, A Lie of the Mind, and The Diary of Anne Frank; as well as serving on the CTG Board. Deb works in the Communications and Development Office at the Visiting Nurse Association of Porter County. Stan Christianson serves on the CTG Board, and is a committed participant in the theatre craft of CTG participating in CTG’s Resident Ensemble Project acting classes. He has served as co-director of Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? and A Lie of the Mind, as Assistant Director and dramaturge of Never the Sinner, Balm in Gilead, and Julius Caesar. He has worked behind the scenes of many productions including Buried Child, Memory of Water, 7th Monarch, Hot L Baltimore, Glengarry Glen Ross, Tom Sawyer, Annie, A Few Good Men, and The Cripple of Inishmann. By day Stan works for Thrall Enterprises, Inc., in Chicago. |
