Thursday, June 16, 2005
The New Harmony Theatre’s first world premiere, “A Moon to Dance By”
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The New Harmony Theatre’s first world premiere, Thom Thomas’s "A Moon to Dance By," opens Friday, July 8. The romantic, poignant drama recreates a visit to D.H. Lawrence’s widow, Frieda, and her lover, Angelo, by her estranged son on the eve of World War II. Lawrence (1885–1930) was one of the most important and controversial English writers of the 20th century. He is best known for his novel, "Lady Chatterley's Lover," which was banned as obscene in the United States and Britain. Frieda abandoned her husband and three children – including 12-year-old Monty – for Lawrence, who was her husband’s student. She began her affair with Angelo while she and Lawrence lived in Italy, inspiring him to write "Lady Chatterley’s Lover." After Lawrence’s death, Frieda stayed in Taos, New Mexico, with Angelo and never returned to her family in England. "A Moon to Dance By" imagines the reunion between mother and son as they explore questions of forgiveness and love with humor and grace – all against the backdrop of the American southwest and impending war. In preparation for the premiere, playwright Thom Thomas, Artistic Director Scott LaFeber, and designer Holly Haas traveled together to the D.H. Lawrence ranch, about 20 miles outside of Taos. “We stood and looked out at the vista the characters see in the play,” Thomas said. “Everything is very much the same as it was back in 1939, when the play takes place….the smell of the juniper trees and the evergreen, and the sound of the whistling of the trees off Lobo Mountain. “Hopefully, the audience will be transported in their imaginations to that place.” The cast, comprised entirely of members of Actors Equity, includes Jana Robbins as Frieda Lawrence, Tim Artz as Angelo Ravalgi, Larry Gleason as Monty Weekley, and Jeremy Holm as the Kiowa Warrior. This will be Gleason’s sixth role at New Harmony Theatre, and Holm’s fourth. Robbins and Artz are making their NHT debuts. Thomas has written several other plays, as well as for film and television, including the Emmy Award-winning series “Hill Street Blues,” “Hotel,” “Mr. President” with George C. Scott, and a multitude of Movies of the Week, HBO features, and TV pilots. He currently has five films in development. A graduate of Carnegie Mellon University, he was associate playwright/director at the American Conservatory Theatre in San Francisco, artistic director and head of the Drama Department at Point Park University in Pittsburgh, artistic director of the Pittsburgh Civic Light Opera, and an associate member of the Playwright Unit at the acclaimed Circle Repertory Theatre in New York. He is a member of the Playwright/Directing Unit of the Actor’s Studio in Hollywood, the Dramatists Guild, The Writer’s Guild of America, The Academy of Television Arts and Sciences, and has been a recipient of the National Endowment for the Arts. Production underwriting for "A Moon to Dance By" was provided by Edward P. and Mary Anne Fox. "A Moon to Dance By" runs July 8-24 at The New Harmony Theatre, Murphy Auditorium, 419 Tavern Street, in New Harmony, Indiana. Performances are at 7:30 p.m. Thursdays; 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays; and 2 p.m. Sundays. There will be an additional matinee at 2 p.m. Saturday, July 23. Tickets are $22, with discounts for seniors, students, and groups. For tickets, call 877/NHT-SHOW or go to www.newharmonytheatre.com. The play contains adult language and situations. |
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