SUMMER STAGE OFFERS NEW “TWICE TOLD TALES” EVENT

TheatreXP, producers of the annual Summer Stage theatrical events every July in Key West, has always looked for intriguing new ideas to include in their “Festival of Stage Arts” line-up. This year, it’s something entirely new that’s never been done in Key West before.

“Twice Told Tales”, set for one night only on Monday, July 24th at 8 pm in the Helmerich Theatre at the Studios of Key West, is an exciting and fun twist to a theatrical staple as old as theatre itself – the monologue.

Normally relegated to the heart of a play, or made a tool of directors for auditions, the monologue – one actor, solo on stage, delivering a single speech that hopefully has power, emotion, message, and connection – is seldom allowed to stand alone center-stage as the sole star.

Until now.

“Twice Told Tales” is an evening of monologues, each delivered twice….once each by two different actors, guided by a single director in hopefully two completely different directions, resulting in two completely different outcomes for the audience.

Directors for this inaugural presentation include top Key West helmers Joy Hawkins, Carole MacCartee, Tony Konrath, Alicia Merel, and Karen Leonard. Actors will include Melody G. Moore, Karl M. Stahl, L. John Van Noorden, Ross Pipkin, Lisa Elena Monda, Mia Shawn, Chris Stone, Chrissy Jacobs, Pony Charvet, and John McDonald.

Here’s how it works:

Monologues are chosen by the directors – the subject can be anything. Each can be about five minutes long. Each director is given two actors, who may be of different genders or sexual orientations, but two actors of the same gender could also be used. The directors then work with each actor separately in rehearsal, developing the monologue in two completely different ways…meaning interpretation or delivery or emotion or intent or all of them.

The evening of the performance, each monologue is then delivered in its dual iterations, back to back. The results are sometimes startling.

“It’s a fun, surprising, and often illuminating evening of theatre,” said TheatreXP founder Bob Bowersox. “It can really show how direction and actor interpretation can completely change a piece of writing. It has the potential to really show the magic of theater.”

Tickets for the one night only event are $25 and are available at redbarntheatre.com/tickets or 305-296-9911. They will also be available at the door that evening. The show is sponsored in part by a grant from the Anne McKee Artists Fund and the Monroe County Tourist Development Council. For more information, visit keywestsummerstage.com or call TheatreXP at 302-540-6102.

[livemarket market_name="KONK Life LiveMarket" limit=3 category=“” show_signup=0 show_more=0]