Picasso At The Lapin Agile
"Picasso at the Lapin Agile" is comedian Steve Martin's eccentric comedy about the birth of the Twentieth Century and a meeting of the minds between Pablo Picasso and Albert Einstein. Both men are on the verge of artistic and scientific masterpieces when they find themselves at a bar in paris called the Lapin Agile. With some help from a "mysterious visitor" and the bar's regulars the two men explore genius and creation. It is a Comedy brimming with youth, truth and beauty—told in a way only Steve Martin could write.
Photo Gallery
An Actor's Exercise
Cast
Stephen Sherman (Picasso) is so excited to be returning to Emerson Theater Collaborative for a second production! ETC is an awesome company and he is so proud to have been invited back (Thank you Camilla, Lisa, & Emma!!!). He played ‘Father Flynn’ in Doubt with ETC last summer. Off-Broadway: Claymont (Emerging Artists), Tony N’ Tina’s Wedding (Corcoran Prods). Off-Off: Premiere of Chicken Bone Beach. Tour: The Who’s Tommy, Brazil (Dodger), Aladdin (AFT) Glaxo Mystery Theatre (Off The Cuff), Cheap Sunglasses (Plays For Living). Feature Film: Dawg’s Eye View, Morning Glory, You Fit The Description. He is currently in an AT&T commercial, which you can catch on your next visit to Anchorage, Alaska! Trained at AMDA, BADA, and WASH U. Proud member of Emerging Artists Theatre and Actor’s Equity. Much love and thanks to Aaron, our incredible director, to the Saari’s for putting him up, and the Ross’, for putting up with him. And also, to his very supportive friends and family. Dedicated to Ron Kenney.
James Patrick Flynn’s (Gaston) credits in Manhattan include appearances as Marchbanks in Candida (Theatre for the New City), de la Tremoille in Saint Joan (John Houseman Theatre), Prof. van Helsing in Dracula (Gallery Theatre), the world premiere of Edmund Wilson’s This Room and This Gin and These Sandwiches (New York Borough Theatre) and most recently, as Al in the premiere of David Patrick Stearns’comedy, Addicted to Christmas (Midtown Int’l Theater Festival). At the Theatre-in-the-Round in Minneapolis, he appeared in Mrs. Warren’s Profession (Lord George Croft) and in Brian Friel’s Translations (Jimmy Jack). Other roles include Edmund in King Lear, Mel in The Prisoner of Second Avenue and Ebenezer Scrooge in Miami’s Coconut Grove Playhouse’s A Christmas Carol. He earned a BFA in Theatre Arts at Ithaca College in Ithaca, New York and was a scholarship student at the American Conservatory Theatre in San Francisco.
Christopher Bell (Freddy) has been seen on stage from Putnam to Stratford to Ivoryton to Mystic. Having performed more than forty-five roles, some of his favorites are Pap Finn (Big River), George Willowby (I’ll Be Back Before Midnight), Roger Chillingworth (The Scarlet Letter), and Fredrick (Smokey Joe’s Café). This award-winning chicken clucker, theater board member and three-time independent film actor is up for any creative challenge.
Sarah Kronisch (Suzanne, Countess) has her BFA in acting from The University of Connecticut and graduated from the Greater Hartford Academy of the Arts’ theater program. Sarah was last seen in the Connecticut Repertory Theater’s productions of Thin Air, Tales of a Revolution and Shakespeare in Hollywood. She appeared in UConn Department Series productions of A Midsummer Night’s Dream and Marat Sade. Film Credits include Law and Order: SVU, Lipstick Jungle, and Made for Each Other, as well as commercials for Mohegan Sun and Indonique Teas. This is Sarah’s ETC debut, and this one’s for Nana.
John Heath (Einstein) is thrilled to be performing in his first play with the Emerson Theatre Collaborative. He is a New York based actor and has spent three summers studying with and working at the Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey. He was recently featured as the leading role of Adam Trainsmith in the Hudson Theatre Ensembles production of Alan Ayckborne’s Comic Potential, and the Drilling Company’s Shakespeare in the Parking Lot.
Mark Foster (Schmendiman) lives and works in Waterford with his wife, Diane. Mark is both a French teacher and student; he is currently writing his thesis to complete a doctorate in medieval French literature. Mark has been involved in theater for years; he’s directed eight shows and has performed in more than 40, as far away as Paris, France and at the Waterford (Ireland) Light Opera Festival, at the Pocono Playhouse, the Theatre-by-the-Sea in Rhode Island, and a few dozen shows locally. He has appeared as: Felix Ungar in The Odd Couple, El Gallo in The Fantasticks, Billy in Anything Goes (and also as Sir Evelyn Oakleigh), and Anthony, the sailor, in Sweeney Todd, and Bill Snibson in Me and My Girl. He would like to thank his wife Diane, who has been by his side for 25 years, shared the stage with him for 15 shows, helped him direct six others (choreographing and directing music for four of them), and handled all the hard parts of producing two children, Bryan and Leigh. Mark thanks you for coming and hopes that you enjoy the show.
Diane Foster (Germaine) has been performing as long as she can remember both as an amateur and a professional, both here and abroad. A local girl, resident of Waterford, graduate of St. Bernard HS and Connecticut College, she is a math teacher at the ISAAC School in New London by day and the mother of two children. By night some of her favorite roles have included Guenevere in Camelot, Sally in Me and My Girl, Charity in Sweet Charity, and Mistress in Evita. She is thrilled to have discovered ETC and the amazing people connected to this group, including the chance to work again with her husband, Mark, who is the person who convinced her 25 years ago that she could do this.
Brian Smith (Sagot)—Picasso at the Lapin Agile marks Brian’s return to the stage after a ten-year hiatus. Prior to that, over a twenty year period he appeared in dinner theatre, summer stock and local theatre venues in a variety of acting, directing and technical theatre positions. Among the roles he has played in the past, Brian’s favorites are the Stage Manager in Our Town, George Spelvin in The Actor’s Nightmare and Sparky in Serjeant Musgrave’s Dance. Brian would like to thank everyone at ETC for welcoming him into the fold and his family for their love and support.
Paul Lang (The Visitor)—Paul is so excited to be making his debut with ETC in their production of Picasso at the Lapin Agile. He is currently a sophomore at the Boston Conservatory, majoring in musical theater. Paul’s previous credits include Dickon in The Secret Garden (Boston Conservatory), Joseph in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat (St. Bernard High School), Lun Tha in The King and I (Colchester Community Theater), Danny in Grease (Broadway Kids and Company), and Schroeder in You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown (Hartford Children’s Theater), as well as other various roles. He would like to thank the crew for all of their amazing behind the scenes work, the cast for their willingness to explore and play, Aaron for his dedication to this show, and the production staff for making it all happen. Love to Mom, Dad, Molly and my wonderful family from across the pond!
Aleandra Wittenski (The Female Admirer) has been involved in theatre since she was in the third grade. She participated in school productions before she played Lynn McCarthy in the Chelsea Players production of Red Herring, which was her break into Southern Connecticut theatre. Aleandra now attends NFA and will be a senior in the upcoming year. She wants to be a professional actress in England.
Stage Managers
David Smith (Stage Manager) is 16-years-old and thrilled to be involved in his second ECT production! David has recently started his own free theater group for teenagers, Down Stage Center, sponsored by the Bully Busters in Norwich, CT, and just finished directing it’s first production, How the Dinosaurs REALLY Died at the Spirit of Broadway Theater. David’s favorite acting role was Jack in the Three River Community College’s SPAG player’s production of Into the Woods the Musical. He would like to thank his family and friends for all their support, tolerance and gas mileage.
Zoë Hartman (Assistant Stage Manager) is in the final phase of filming the lead part of Amy in a film for director C. Jenner Jose. Her past acting roles include Revolutionary Road, Profile, The Big Bad Swim, The Bronx is Burning and the television series In Search Of. Zoë was the Stage Manager for The Saints Players production of Joseph and His Amazing Technical Dreamcoat. She was the Set Dresser on the film Crippled Creek and has worked as a Production Assistant on two independent feature films. Zoë attended The Crenshaw School for the Performing Arts and is currently entering her senior year at Saint Bernard High School. Zoë thanks Camilla, Lisa and Aaron for this opportunity to work behind the scenes. Thanks, also, to the wonderful crew and the great cast of this production. Finally, thanks to her parents, brother, family and friends!
Production Staff
Executive producer, actress and playwright Camilla Ross produced several productions for the ETC, including Harriet2 which continues it’s tour this fall. Camilla enjoys the process of producing great quality theater. The summer production of Picasso at the Lapin Agile has truly been a rewarding experience. Thanks be to God from whom all blessings flow. She is also thankful for the continued support of family and friends. She looks forward to the fall show Spinning into Butter by Rebecca Gilman.
Lisa Giordano (Producer and Publicity Director) is a current board member of the Emerson Theater Collaborative, playwright and producer. Her most recent play, “Harriet Tubman’s Dream,” was produced by The Emerson Theater Collaborative in March 2009 as part of the “Harriet2" production, directed by Aaron Arbitor. “Picasso at the Lapin Agile” is the third show she has produced for ETC, and is happy to be working again with the director, Aaron Arbitor, and with the entire cast, crew and staff of this production.
Gail Decoteau (Costume Designer) has been designing and making costumes for many years. She bagan by working with her mother, Flora DeCoteau, creating dance costumes as well as working as a dresser. Her first production was Private Lives for Mohegan Community College Theatre Guild. Some her past productions have been A Funny thing happened on the way to the Forum, Murder at the Howard Johnson's, and The Odd Couple, Female Version, where she created the costumes for Groton Regional theatre. In the summer of 2008 she designed costumes for the Emerson Theater Collaborative's critically acclaimed production of Doubt, by John Patrick Shanley. This is her fourth production with the Emerson Theater Collaborative.
Illustrator Sarah Paolucci is a freelance illustrator, designer, and artist. She received a BFA from the Hartford Art School and has studied illustration, painting, drawing and graphic design techniques from a very early age. Although illustration is her passion, Sarah is also an award-winning graphic designer. She has a successful track record creating advertising, packaging design, literature, logos and other brand-building programs for consumer and business-to-business clients. Please visit her website at www.sarahpaolucci.com for more samples of her work.
- Lighting DesignerRoy Bourque
- Set DesignerAaron Arbiter
- Set ConstructionPeter Stand
- Costume DesignerGail Decoteau
- Executive ProducerCamilla Ross
- PublicityLisa Giordano
Show Information
Executive Producer Camilla Ross
Producer Lisa Giordano
Director Aaron Arbiter
Performed by special arrangement by Samuel French and Actors Equity Association
Performance Dates
Friday, July 17 at 8:00pm
Saturday, July 18 at 8:00pm
Sunday, July 19 at 4:00pm
Friday, July 24 at 8:00pm
Saturday, July 25 at 8:00pm
Sunday, July 26 at 4:00pm
Running Time: 1 hour 30 minutes
A portion of the profits from this show will benefit Operation Smile.
Location
Tansill Theater
Connecticut College
270 Mohegan Avenue
New London, CT 06320-4125
