Theatre NM, Community Theatre in and around NM
Featured Theatre          Updated: 18 July 2010



PULITZER PRIZE WINNING "A DELICATE BALANCE" OPENS NO STRINGS THEATRE COMPANY'S TENTH SEASON ON FRIDAY JULY 23

No Strings Theatre Company opens its Tenth Season with "A Delicate Balance" the 1967 Pulitzer Prize winning play about friendship, loyalty and family ties by the well-known American playwright, Edward Albee, directed by NSTC's Artistic Director, Ceil Herman. The play runs July 23 through August 8 at the Black Box Theatre, 430 N Downtown Mall in Las Cruces.

Born in 1928, Albee was greatly influenced by Theatre of the Absurd playwrights Samuel Beckett, Eugene Ionesco, and Jean Genet as well as Henry James and T.S. Eliot. Several of his one act plays, including "The Zoo Story" and "The American Dream" were produced Off-Broadway. In 1963, the Pulitzer Prize committee recommended his play "Who's Afraid of Virginia Wolfe?" for the prize, but the nomination was rejected and no award was given that year. He subsequently won the Pulitzer Prize twice more after "A Delicate Balance," in 1975 for "Seascape" and in 1994 for "Three Tall Women," Albee is a member of the Dramatists Guild, received a Special Tony Award for Lifetime Achievement in 2005, the Gold Medal in Drama in 1980 and the Kennedy Center Honors and National Medal of Arts in 1996. "Seascape," was directed by Herman for No Strings Theatre Company in September, 2000, with the opening of the Black Box Theatre.

"A Delicate Balance," deals with the meaning of friendship and loyalty. Agnes and Tobias are an older married couple, relatively content with their life in surburbia, except for the presence of Agnes' sister Claire who drinks too much and their daughter Julia who returns home every time her marriages breaks up. Then their best friends Harry and Edna arrive, too afraid to stay in their own home. When they express that they have come to live with Agnes and Tobias, this drastically tilts all the relationships in the family. Agnes and Tobias need to come to terms with crisis and Tobias must ask what he owes his friends and what debt he has to their friendship.

Albee was interested in the idea of the balance in relationships from very early in his playwriting career. In "The City of People," an early 3 act play written by Albee in 1949, "delicate balance" refers to "that shading between love and hate that exists between anybody who cares for one another." Likewise, in the play "The Invalid, a young man says: "I fear for that terrible day maybe when you're thirty, maybe later, when you find yourself skidding toward middle age with nothing to show for your youth, all of it a blank, a waste… The balance has been delicate for some time."

"A Delicate Balance" contains many autobiographical elements. Agnes, Tobias, and Agnes' sister Claire are inspired by Frances and Reed Albee. Albee's adoptive parents and Frances' sister Jane. Jane was an alcoholic and houseguest. Daughter Julia resembles Albee's cousin Barbara, one of his Aunt Ethyl's two adopted daughters.  His mother's elegant home in Larchmont was the setting for "A Delicate Balance." Albee felt very strongly that the audience to needed understand that the family presence on stage was very strong as well as the real possibility of invasion from their friends. There are entertaining, perceptive, and multi-dimensional roles for all six characters in "A Delicate Balance." The original cast was Hume Cronin and Jessica Tandy as Tobias and Agnes when the play opened on Broadway in 1966. A later production on Broadway stared Rosemary Harris as Agnes, George Grizzard as Tobias, and Elaine Stritch as Claire.

No Strings Theatre Company's production of "A Delicate Balance" stars accomplished Las Cruces theatre veterans Wynne Broms (Agnes), Carmen Call (Edna), David Edwards (Tobias), Cindy Murrell (Claire), Jeff Peckham (Harry) and Katie Richardson (Julia), all of whom have performed at the Black Box Theatre, as well as in many other venues in Las Cruces. Costume design is by Jeanne Luper and Light and Scenic Design is by Peter Herman.

Performances are Fridays and Saturdays at 8:00 p.m., Sundays, August 1 and 8 at 2:30 p.m. and a Thursday performance on August 5 at 7:00 p.m. Tickets are $10.00 regular, $9.00 students and seniors over 65 and all seats on Thursdays are $7.00. NSTC's 2010-2011 Season Tickets and discount coupon packs are for sale at the Box Office.

For reservations call (575) 523-1223 or go online at <http://mail.zianet.com/cgi-bin/sqwebmail/login/ceil%40zianet.com.authdaemon/EE2ABAAE78CD9776486957ACCDC49D26//cgi-bin/sqwebmail?redirect=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.no-strings.org&timestamp=1276799855&md5=EDFEHsFfDrKXriKut7%2FTSA%3D%3D>http://www.no-strings.org. The photographic exhibit in thetheatregallery by Peter Herman celebrates the 10 years of productions at the Black Box Theatre. The exhibit is open an hour before performances and by appointment.


"AN ECLECTIC EVENING"  WITH SHANE STEWART ON SATURDAY, JULY 17 AT THE BLACK BOX THEATRE

No Strings Theatre Company and Sargoff Sounds present “An Eclectic Evening” with Shane Stewart, a unique vocalist and cover artist, at the Black Box Theatre, 430 N Downtown Mall in Las Cruces on Saturday, July 17, 2010, at 7:00 p.m.  The performance will include Classic Country, Classic Soft Rock, and Oldies. Refreshments will be served following the show. While reminiscent of Johnny Cash, Elvis Presley, Buddy Holly and many others, Stewart is not an impersonator; he incorporates his own distinctive style, creating an innovative, fresh sound.  Not just a vocalist, he is a songwriter, and plays guitar.

Stewart was born in West Palm Beach, Florida, on September 23, 1949.  His first public appearance was at the age of eleven, singing with a band at the Merryland Roller Rink in the Chesapeake area in Maryland.  He sang with garage bands and played guitar for a couple of years.  He formed a band and played professionally in nightclubs when he was eighteen in New York State.  Eventually, his band, known as Sargoff, The Missing Link, grew in popularity.  Sargoff traveled through New York, Pennsylvania, North Carolina, and Georgia.  Then they moved on to Nashville where Shane sang at Ernest Tubbs Midnight Jamboree. In New York City, they played at the famous Copa Cabana, Great Gildersleeves and CB-GBs in Manhattan.  They entertained at Toad’s Place in New Haven, Connecticut, as the opening act for The Jerry Garcia Band and played at Yale University, Syracuse University, and Cornell.  Sargoff was the opening act, as well, for Journey, Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, Southside Johnny and The Asbury Dukes.  In late 1979, Stewart and his lead guitar player moved to California; after adding a base player and a drummer, they performed in California and Las Vegas.  In Las Vegas they played the International Hotel, The Dunes, and The Sahara.

Stewart left the music business in 1984, when unforeseen twists in his life made it impossible for Sargoff to continue.  After working construction for several years, he became an over-the-road truck driver until July 24, 2008.  He sold his truck, put his life savings into his equipment, and is now pursuing his dream with SARGOFF SOUNDS by entertaining others as a cover artist and at times providing DJ music. When he is not on tour in New Mexico, Texas, or Arizona, Stewart performs in local venues.

Tickets are $10.00 at the door. Reservations (575) 523-1223.



TO THE BEACH: AMAZING MAGICAL MUSICAL ADVENTURES ON SATURDAY, JULY 24

The Amazing Magical Musical Adventure "To The Beach" will be on Saturday, July 24 at 10:00 a.m. at the Black Box Theater at 430 N Downtown Mall in Las Cruces. Sunny days and triple-digit temperatures are just the sort of weather that make everyone dream of hanging out at the beach. This imaginary outing will be practically as much fun as the real thing. A story, interactive music and games, and snacks will be provided and the performance is fun for the entire family. Amazing Magical Musical Adventures is entertaining arts programing presented by Mesilla Valley Musical Arts in partnership with No Strings Theatre Company at the Black Box Theatre. Grab your sunscreen and shades along with a water bottle and beach towel. But first, make advance reservations by calling (575) 523-1223. All tickets are $5.00.


FOLKSINGER VANESSA LIVELY PLAYS AT THE BLACK BOX THEATRE ON SUNDAY, JULY 25

Austin folksinger Vanessa Lively will perform Folk and World Music at the Black Box Theatre, 430 N Downtown Mall in Las Cruces on Sunday, July 25 at 7:00 p.m. Tickets are $10.00 at the door. Reservations can be made in advance by calling the theatre at (575) 523-1223. Lively's eclectic blend of folk music beautifully joins heartfelt lyrics & soulful vocals with world instrumentation and unique rhythms. Her songs - which are always hopeful, always joyful - can be soothing, haunting and uplifting all at once. Folks often say that her music is deeply moving. Information: <http://mail.zianet.com/cgi-bin/sqwebmail/login/ceil%40zianet.com.authdaemon/EE2ABAAE78CD9776486957ACCDC49D26//cgi-bin/sqwebmail?redirect=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.vanessalively.com&timestamp=1276799855&md5=EDFEHsFfDrKXriKut7%2FTSA%3D%3D>http://www.vanessalively.com



BEN CARROLL PRESENTS A MUSIC NIGHT ON AUGUST 10 AT THE BLACK BOX THEATRE

Musician Ben Carroll will present an All Ages concert on Tuesday, August 10 at the Black Box Theatre 430 N Downtown Mall in Las Cruces at 7:00 p.m. Tickets are $10.00 at the door. Reservations can be made in advance by calling the theatre at (575) 523-1223.




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