SEMINAR
By THERESA REBECK
Directed by BRYAN BRADFORD
May 10 - June 3, 2018
Rounding out the season May 10 - June 3 is SEMINAR, a provocative new play from Pulitzer Prize nominee Theresa Rebeck. Four aspiring novelists sign up for private writing classes with an international literary figure. Under his recklessly brilliant and unorthodox instruction, some thrive and others flounder, alliances are made and broken, sex is used as a weapon, and hearts are unmoored. Innocence collides with experience is this biting Broadway comedy.
Here's what the reviewers say...
Austin American-Statesman: “vicious satire with no easy answers but plenty of laughs”
Full Review
The Austin Chronicle: “this play abounds in contradictions and ironies and this staging embraces them all”
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BroadwayWorld Austin: “SEMINAR makes all the write moves”
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Austin Arts Watch: “a witty, effective peak into the inner workings of the literati”
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Central Texas Live Theatre: “a swift and merciless parable"
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"Jarrott Productions may only be three seasons old, but in that time it has become one of the city’s most acclaimed companies, thanks to an intelligent choice of plays and professional productions. The company seems to be continuing this trend with their latest, a perfectly cast and thoughtfully produced presentation of Theresa Rebeck’s Broadway hit, Seminar."
- Austin Arts Watch
"Jarrott Productions’ presentation of “Seminar” is ultimately itself a classroom on character power dynamics, as mastered and presented by a good script and a great cast."
- Andrew J. Friedenthal, Austin-American Statesman
"This is a show executed by each practitioner in such a professional fashion it's definitely worth its brisk, entertaining 90 minutes."
- Joni Lorraine, Broadway World Austin
CAST
DEVIN FINN
REGAN GOINS
BROOKS LANEY
COLUM P. MORGAN
SARAH ZERINGUE
DEVIN FINN (Douglas) I prefer reading non-fiction, and yet my favorite book of all time is The Giver, which is a rather dystopian novel. I can relate to Douglas because although he is capable and talented, he still has an immense amount of insecurity. Where we differ is that Douglas usually says more than he needs to to get his point across, and I tend to say only what’s necessary on any given subject. I’ve written poetry and screen plays, and in college I wrote a lot of hip hop verses that could be considered poetry.
REGAN GOINS (Izzy) I play the opportunistic Izzy, and like this character. I do like to take the initiative. I prefer fiction and my favorite book of all time is The Singing and Dancing Daughters of God by Timothy Schaffert. Other favorite writers are Edgar Allan Poe and Tennessee Williams. Personally, I have written a lot of things in my head that are brilliant and one day I’ll actually get around to writing them down. I did recently finish my first play, though!
BROOKS LANEY (Martin) I love creativity! Both my character Martin and I have a driving passion for creating something new, something unique to share with the world! I love Stephen King and It is my all-time favorite! I do have phases where I want to read a million books and I go out and buy about 10 new books at time, and then I’ll get halfway through one of them and get distracted and never touch any of them again. I think Martin would hate me for that.
COLUM P. MORGAN (Leonard) I’m a fiction guy and my favorite book of all time is The Old Man and the Sea. Like Leonard, I think some people are “ego pimps,” and love to whore out their own egos for pleasure. I have written poetry from time to time, but I also write grant proposals! I always travel with a 1962 puke green Olympia Baby travel typewriter. I find joy in the speed, rhythm, accuracy, and sound of the machine.
SARAH ZERINGUE (Kate) My favorite writer is John Irving, and my favorite book of all time is his novel A Prayer for Owen Meany. Kate is a feminist and so am I; but unlike the character I play in SEMINAR, I’m not rich! I have written some terrible poetry in my life. Maybe that’s why I’m not rich?
CREATIVE TEAM
DIRECTOR
Bryan Bradford
SCENIC DESIGNER
Michael Krauss
SOUND DESIGNER
Craig Brock
PRODUCTION MANAGER
Lisa Goering
COSTUME DESIGNER
Colleen PowerGriffin
LIGHTING DESIGNER/TECHNICAL DIRECTOR
Chris Conard
PRODUCTION STAGE MANAGER
Meredith Connely
HOUSE MANAGERS
Zoe Riemer & David Jarrott
GRAPHIC DESIGNER
Michael Jarrott