Bug
by: Tracy Letts
Directed by Isaac Callahan and Ginny Simmons
October 26th-28th
Tickets $5 available online
The Town & Gown Players present Bug, directed by Isaac Callahan and Ginny Simmons, a visceral and lurid black comedy that deals with love, paranoia, and insanity.
Set in a seedy Oklahoma City motel room, the play centers on the meeting between Agnes, a divorced waitress with a fondness for cocaine and isolation, and Peter, a soft-spoken Gulf War drifter introduced to her by her friend, R.C. Agnes stays at a hotel in hopes of avoiding her physically abusive ex-husband, Jerry, who was just released from prison. What starts as a chance meeting between Agnes and Peter quickly spirals into a complicated situation, which takes the audience on a journey involving love, distrust, and psychological twists.
Letts is a playwright, screenwriter, and actor. He received the Pulitzer Prize for Drama in 2008 for his play August: Osage County and a Tony Award for his portrayal of George in the revival of Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? His plays often center on people struggling with moral and spiritual questions.
Isaac Callahan previously directed Gideon’s Knot in Season 64 and was an Assistant Director for Deathtrap, which opened Season 65. He has been an active member at T&G for five years. He most recently played the role of Brighella in The Servant of Two Masters and the role of Paul in Sleeping Indoors. “Bug is one of those plays that can have a different impact on each audience member. Reality to one is fantasy to another, but everything will get under your skin,” says Callahan.
Ginny Simmons has been an active member at T&G since 2011. She recently acted in Gideon’s Knot, The Clean House, The Language Archive, The Illusion, and A Month of Sunday’s in recent T&G productions. She studied in London at the Royal School of Speech and Drama.
Bug features Patrick Najjar in the leading role of PETER EVANS as well as Shannon Crawford as the leading role of AGNES WHITE. Several T&G veterans round out the cast – KAT Marie Mitchell as R.C., Andrew Rabanal as DR. SWEET, and Isaac Callahan (doing double work) as JERRY GOSS.
Bug is presented by T&G with 8 p.m. performances October 26-27, and a 2 p.m. matinee performance October 28. Tickets are $5 for adults, students, seniors, and T&G members, free for Season Ticket holders, and can be purchased by visiting townandgownplayers.org or calling the box office at 706-208-TOWN.
Athens Community Theatre, home of the Town & Gown Players, is located at 115 Grady Avenue, Athens, Georgia. For more information, please call 706-208-TOWN (8696) or visit the website at www.townandgownplayers.org
CASTING CALL FOR ELAINE LEE’S STARSTRUCK
The United Federation of Female Freedom Fighters needs your help! (Don’t worry; it’s only the fate of the universe at stake.) Strap on your jetpacks, charge up your laser guns, and get ready to blast off into an out-of-this-world sci-fi comedy!
Auditions for the Town & Gown Players' upcoming production of Elaine Lee's STARSTRUCK, directed by W. Steven Carroll, will be held December 10 & 11, 2018 at 7pm nightly, no appointment necessary, and will consist of cold readings from the script. Rehearsals will begin in early January, with performances February 8-17, 2019. Auditions, rehearsals, and performances are held at 115 Grady Avenue, home of the Town & Gown Players, off Prince, less than a mile from downtown Athens.
We are casting at least 8 female and 4 male roles. All ages, types, and experience levels are welcome.
For information about the Town & Gown Players, our productions, and how to get involved, visit us at townandgownplayers.org.
Don't miss the upcoming Membership Meeting October 28th at 6:30 at the theater.
It's that time of year again! The yearly membership meeting is upon us. This year we will be trying something new. We will be voting electronically through eballot.
You should have received an email from eballot with your own personal login and password generated by the system in order to ensure anonymity. The voting is currently open and will end on October 27th. If you have not received an email from eballot, or you would like to vote by paper ballot, please contact membership@townandgownplayers.org.
This year, the membership will also be voting on changes in our bylaws and our new code of conduct. You can access these changes at bit.ly/grev18 or by contacting treasurer@townandgownplayers.org. You should have also received an email from eballot inviting you to participate in a poll over these changes. Though this is not a vote, it will be a great way to give voice to those who are unable to attend and to facilitate discussion at the meeting.
Second Stage shows often feature new or local playwrights and properties, and are performed in the same space as our Mainstage series. Second Stage Series productions operate on a small budget and have only one or two weeks in the theater. If you are interested in submitting a proposal for second stage contact secondstage@townandgownplayers.org.
BOX OFFICE VOLUNTEERS ARE NEEDED!
T&G needs box office volunteers for our upcoming productions. Receive a complimentary ticket to see the show that night or any other performance for free by selling tickets, running will call & concessions, or ushering.
If you have any questions, contact Front of House Coordinators Anna Reynolds and Eddie Nadeau attownandgownvolunteers@gmail.com.
SET VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES
What gets seen on stage even MORE than the actors? That’s right! The SET! At Town & Gown, this all important theatrical element is 100% built by volunteers. All cast members agree to participate in set calls but everyone is welcome to be a part of the fun.
Every Saturday, when there is not a show scheduled, work begins at 10:00 AM and ends sometime in the afternoon (depending on the show). Stay as long as you can.
Don’t think you have to be a master carpenter to participate. All skill levels are useful, and you might even learn a thing or two! Each show has a crew member who “choreographs” the work, “directs” your performance, and leads the applause at the end of the day!
The success of any production only occurs through us working together. Please come play with us at set calls.
Membership Meeting October 28th 6:30 at the theater
November 11th TBA
All meetings start at 6:00 p.m.
All current T&G Members are welcome and encouraged to attend Board meetings.
BECOME A MEMBER OF TOWN & GOWN PLAYERS
By becoming a member of our volunteer organization you have the perks of receivinga voucher valid for 12 months for one free ticket to anyPlayers performance each time you work in cast or crew of a Players production, admission to all Players productions at the lowest published ticket price, and the right to vote in elections, hold office, and serve on committees. Membership is just $20 a year. Emailmembership@townandgownplayers.orgwith any questions.
