Theatre VCU to open 2004 fall series with award-winning comedy by Steve Martin

By Malorie Burkett

The Virginia Commonwealth University Department of Theatre will present its first production for fall 2004—“Picasso at the Lapin Agile,” written by actor Steve Martin and directed by VCU adjunct faculty member Barry Bell.

The production will take place at the W.E. Singleton Center for the Performing Arts, Raymond Hodges Theatre, 922 Park Ave. Performances will be held Sept. 30 - Oct. 2 and Oct. 6-9 at 7:30 p.m. and Oct. 10 at 2:30 p.m. Tickets are $12 for seniors, $8 for VCU faculty and staff and free for VCU students with a valid ID.

Set in Paris in the year 1904--a year before Einstein published his theory of relativity and three years before Picasso painted "Les Demoiselles d'Avignon"--the play takes place at the Lapin Agile, a café in Paris known as a gathering place for artists and intellectuals. There, Einstein and Picasso meet, argue about art and physics, and compete for the attentions of a good-looking woman.

Steve Martin, playwright, well-known television and film comedian and author, was awarded the 1995 Outer Critics Circle Award for Best Play and Best Writer for his first comedy, “Picasso at the Lapin Agile.” The production has had runs in Chicago, New York and San Francisco, and in 2003 was released as a motion picture starring Martin, Kevin Kline, Ryan Phillippe, Juliet Binoche and Toby Maguire.

A professional actor since age 17, director Barry Bell has spent nearly 35 years in the entertainment business. His background includes regional theater, dinner theater, outdoor drama, children's theater and off and off-off Broadway—smaller productions that are more experimental and cutting edge. His credits include plays ranging from “The Odd Couple” to “American Buffalo” and “The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas.”

Bell has spent the last 15 years working in made-for-TV movies, TV series and feature films, and has had guest starring roles on shows like “Matlock,” “Walker Texas Ranger” and “Dawson's Creek.”

Tickets for “Picasso at the Lapin Agile” can be purchased at the Hodges Theatre box office, or can be reserved by calling 828-6026.