Theatre Scene: Such A Pretty Little Picture

Is it the fall weather? There are three prime Dorothy Parker productions going up in the next six weeks in the Big Apple, the Sun Belt, and the Blue Grass State.

Parker No. 1: The first production will find Dottie fans on a trek to the mega-cool, lets-get-pierced-and-drink-cheap Lower East Side of Manhattan. Every couple of months there is a Parker play or reading someplace in New York City, and this looks like a winner: An adaptation of Big Blonde -- which won Dottie the 1929 O. Henry prize for best short story of the year -- is being produced by Expanded Arts at 113 Ludlow Street (just above Delancey). The production opens this Thursday, Sept. 23 and closes Oct. 10. Showtime for Big Blonde is 7:00 p.m. -- Thursday through Sunday. Expanded Arts has a fabulous reputation. They produced the all-male Romeo and Juliet that received so much attention last year, and they have been doing free Shakespeare "In The Parking Lot" for five years.

Parker No. 2: The next two Parker presentations are both one-woman shows. The Sunshine State is a long way from Ludlow Street, but Dotheads will want to hit the Hollywood Boulevard Theatre as it opens its 1999-2000 season with the Southeastern premiere of The Singular Dorothy Parker. It is written by Rory Seebert, stars Ellen Simmons, and is directed by Phillip Church. The Singular Dorothy Parker opens on Friday, October 1 and continues until October 31. Ellen Simmons is a veteran of stage, screen and television having performed in New York and Connecticut for many years -- Simmons had a recurring role on One Life to Live. There will be a special section in the HBT lobby of photos and articles devoted to Mrs. Parker's life and career. Books and Books of Coral Gables will have a display of Parker books on sale. The Singular Dorothy Parker opens Friday, October 1 at 8:00 p.m. Performances are Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays at 8:00 p.m. and Sunday matinees at 2:00 p.m. General admission tickets are $20. Senior tickets are $18 and student tickets are $12. Special group rates are available upon request. Call the box office at 954-929-5400 for reservations and information, or online at www.hbtheatre.com or e-mail jerry@hbtheatre.com. The Hollywood Boulevard Theatre is located at 1938 Hollywood Boulevard in the heart of the historic Downtown Hollywood district.

Parker No. 3: Writer Barbara H. Franklin journeyed to New York for Parkerfest last month all the way from Kentucky, so we think you should support the play she meticulously researched and wrote about Mrs. Parker, Beyond Dorothy Parker, a one-woman play starring Michele Ruby. It is at the Victory Jory Theatre/Actors Theatre of Louisville October 7 through 10. Tickets are $16 and $14 for seniors and students. Call 584-1205 or 1-800-4ATLIX for reservations. Beyond Dorothy Parker is a "Marie of Roumania Production" with the Jewish Community Center.

Posted by Kevin Fitzpatrick on Tuesday, September 21, 1999 at 10:09 PM | Permalink