John Wilkerson
by Joy Donovan
John Wilkerson takes his bow, a deep Japanese bow, as Artisan Center Theater’s new artistic director by successfully bringing “The Mikado” to the Hurst theater for a multi-week run.
Wilkerson has assembled a talented lineup of actors to play an array of Japanese parts in this famed musical operetta written by Gilbert and Sullivan. Set in the town of Titipu, “The Mikado” features characters with such fanciful names as Yum-Yum, Ko-Ko and Peep-Bo.
“The Mikado” centers on Nanki-Poo, a young man who has banished himself from the town of Titipu. Nanki-Poo has fallen in love with Yum-Yum, a beautiful young lady unfortunately engaged to be married to her guardian, the tailor Ko-Ko. The plot twists and turns through circumstances that could only happen in a town where flirting is considered a capital crime.
Stealing the show is Brian Hales, who deftly plays Ko-Ko as a breathless buffoon in the mold of the late comedian Red Skelton. Artisan Center Theater’s production is double cast, but every audience will be treated to Hales’ droll wit since he takes the part for both casts.
Also a bright spot was Gary Payne in the role of Pooh-Bah. For a character who defends his personality with the line “I can’t help it; I was born sneering,” Payne is appropriately and amusingly haughty. Other standouts were the strong-voiced Brad Stephens as Nanki-Poo, the soprano Lauren Morgan as Yum-Yum and the droll Jonathan Kennedy as The Mikado.
In addition to the comedy that borders on a delightful silliness, highlights included musical numbers, especially the very feminine “Three Little Maids From School are We,” featuring the trio of Yum-Yum, Peep-Bo and Pitti-Sing, and the amusing “I am So Proud,” spotlighting a humorous male quartet. The two-act operetta features dozens of songs, so casting requires strong vocalists to carry the show. For the most part this worked well, but occasionally voices were overwhelmed by the musical accompaniment, and that musical track presented some distracting technical problems.
Costumes featuring kimonos, kabuki-style makeup, Asian wigs and pretty parisols help transport the story to another time and place. The set features Asian images, too, surrounding the Artisan’s theater-in-the-round with this foreign culture.
“The Mikado” is an old, old tale. The show premiered in March of 1885 in London, and it opened later that same year same year in New York. But the humor stands up well, even more than 100 years later. Artisan Center Theater’s current production, continuing through Oct. 10, will bring a smile to your face, and that’s worth a Japanese bow or two.
After a very successful preview performance, the cast of Poor Man Production’s TWELVE ANGRY MEN returns to the Sterling Hotel Dallas tonight to open our highly anticipated run, playing atop the hotel in the Castleview Ballroom overlooking the Dallas skyline. Written by Reginald Rose, this theater classic is directed by Joey Folsom and produced by David Moore. Yours truly is portraying Juror #7.
Twelve Angry Men is a play adapted from Rose’s 1954 teleplay for the CBS Studio One anthology television series. Initially staged as a live production on 20 September 1954, the episode garnered three Emmy Awards. The drama was later rewritten for the stage in 1955 under the same title and again for a feature film, 12 Angry Men (1957). The play’s Broadway debut came fifty years later on 28 October 2004 at the Roundabout Theatre, where it ran for 328 performances.
ICT MainStage enters the final weekend of its production of Arthur Miller’s classic American drama, All My Sons. The critically acclaimed production has only three performances left, beginning at 8 PM tonight in the Dupree Theater at the Irving Arts Center. Hailed by Edge Dallas as “an inspired, intense, enervating drama,” All My Sons is a show you do not want to miss.
PAUL ARNOLD (Frank Lubey) is better known in Dallas as a lighting designer, with shows at Theatre Three, Theatre Too, Garland Civic Theatre, and Theatre Coppell. This is his second role in Dallas, and is debuting with ICT. Some favorite roles include Marcellus/THE MUSIC MAN, Drake/HONK!, Hero/FORUM, Albert/DEAR RUTH, Pedant/TAMING OF THE SHREW, and Foreman/12 ANGRY MEN.
LYZZ BROSKEY (Lydia Lubey) is making her debut with ICT. Lyzz recently appeared as Gayle in Black Box Operations’ production of ALMOST, MAINE. She is a 2nd semester student in the Career Acting program at KD Studio in Dallas.
CATHERINE DuBORD (Ann Deever) is thrilled to be back on stage with ICT MainStage. She was last seen making her New York debut with The Modern Stage in MY FAVORITE ANIMAL. She graduated from SMU’s Meadows School of the Arts with a B.F.A. in Acting. Her favorite theatrical credits from Dallas/Ft. Worth include PILLOWMAN (Kitchen Dog Theatre), PROOF (ICT MainStage), POPCORN (Theatre Three), LUANN HAMPTON LAVERTY OBERLANDER and SYLVIA (Contemporary Theatre of Dallas), and EVERY TRICK IN THE BOOK (Classical Acting Company). You can see Catherine next in SOME GIRL(S) with Second Thought Theatre. As always much love to Mom, Dad and the boys. Ms. DuBord is represented by The Mary Collins Agency.
DIANA GONZALEZ (Sue Bayliss) is very excited to be a part of ALL MY SONS with ICT. A graduate of the University of Dallas, Diana has also received extensive training through The Actors Conservatory Theatre Summer Intensive Program in San Francisco, California. She has been seen on many stages around Dallas including Cara Mia, Groundhog Theatre, as well as Risk Theatre Initiative. Some of Diana’s favorite performance credits include PINKALICIOUS, VOLPONE, AS YOU LIKE IT, THREE SISTERS, CLOUD TECTONICS, NIGHT TRAIN TO BOLINA, THE FESTIVITIES, THE FORCED MARRIAGE, ANOUILH’S ANTIGONE, HAMLET, and THE SLEEP OF REASON. She would like to thank the wonderful cast and crew and her amazing family and friends for their never-ending love and support.
MICHAEL MCNIEL (Joe Keller) was last seen on the ICT stage as Howard Bevans in PICNIC. Other roles have included The Skipper/GILLIGAN’S ISLAND: THE MUSICAL, Gerald Gannett/WOMAN IN MIND (Rover Dramawerks), Manolo Costazuela/THE ODD COUPLE (FEMALE VERSION), Linus Larrabee, Jr./SABRINA FAIR and Dr. Phillip Thorwold/NOTORIOUS, PSYCHO BIRDS IN THE NORTH BY NORTHWEST REAR WINDOW (The Pocket Sandwich Theatre). Michael would like to thank Marco Salinas for allowing him to work with such a talented cast.
FRED PATCHEN (Dr. Jim Bayliss) This is the Fred’s first production with ICT. Some of his more recent work includes shows with Pocket Sandwich Theatre, Garland Civic Theatre and Project X. He dearly thanks his family and Gary for their constant love and encouragement, and all of his friends who supported him in getting back on stage.
DREW SMITH (Bert) is making his first appearance at ICT. He has previously been seen in church performances as Drew/FISH TALES and Jackson/LIVING INSIDE OUT. He is thrilled to be making his debut in public theater with this performance. When he isn’t acting, he plays baseball and basketball in Irving and attends The North Hills Preparatory School where he is in 3rd grade. He would like to thank his parents and sister for their support and encouragement.
BRAD STEPHENS (George Deever) is an award-winning filmmaker and actor with more than 20 years of film and television experience. He has been in commercials for Pepsi, Southwest Airlines and Joe’s Crab Shack. His local stage credits include Olsen in ICT’s LAURA, Bob Cratchit in EBENEZER SCROOGE, Canon Pennefather in MURDER ON THE NILE and Chris Keller in Mesquite Community Theatre’s ALL MY SONS for which he received MCT’s 2008 People’s Choice Award. Brad is privileged to return to this material and to ICT. His gratitude goes out to this wonderful cast and director, his supportive family and devoted wife.
DIANE TRUITT (Kate Keller) is glad to be performing with ICT MainStage after a long absence. Diane has appeared over the years in various productions locally and out of state, most recently as Elaine Wheeler in NIGHT WATCH at Rotunda Theatre in Dallas.
JORDAN WILLIS (Chris Keller) is thrilled to be returning to ICT MainStage having last appeared as Hal in last season’s PROOF. He was most recently seen in Theatre Three’s production of MURDER ON THE NILE as Smith. Jordan is proud to serve on the boards for both John Garcia’s The Column as well as ICT. Other ICT roles include Anthony Marston/TEN LITTLE INDIANS, Shelby Carpenter/LAURA, and Gideon Temple/THE ADVENTURES OF TOM SAWYER. Jordan wishes to thank Marco for this awesome experience!! “Ab imo pectore”
MARCO E. SALINAS (Director) is delighted to return to ICT MainStage, having previously directed PICNIC there in 2007. His most recent directorial efforts include THE TRAGEDY OF MACBETH in 2007 and TWELFTH NIGHT in 2005, both for Shakespeare Dallas. He is also The Director of Educational Tours with Shakespeare Dallas, having written and directed local school tours for over seven years. As an actor, he most recently appeared at ICT in their production of THE SECRET GARDEN as Dr. Neville Craven, for which he was given a Leon Rabin Award nomination. Marco works predominantly as a local area sound designer, having designed over 100 shows in the last decade for companies such as Dallas Children’s Theater, WaterTower Theatre, Contemporary Theatre of Dallas and Echo Theatre. Additionally, he has won several awards for his work as Sound Designer.
Set in the turbulent summer of late August, 1946, the year after World War II ended, Arthur Miller’s All My Sons is a study in false values and their resulting devastation. Joe Keller (Michael McNiel) the patriarch of a prosperous, upper-middle class home, is trying to persevere after calamity and upheaval has shaken his family nearly to pieces. His elder son, Larry, has died in the war, a fact his wife, Kate (Diane Truitt) has refused to confront. In a scandal involving his factory and defective airplane parts, his neighbor, friend and business partner, Steve Deever, has been sent to prison. As the play opens, his younger son, Chris (Jordan Willis) has brought home Steve’s daughter, Ann, with the hope of getting married. But doing so would mean getting Kate to admit that Larry is never coming home, because in her mind, Ann is still Larry’s girl.
Brad Stephens 