Press Release: A Life In The Theatre
Posted Tue, Apr 26, 2022 in Articles
PRESS RELEASE: A LIFE IN THE THEATRE TO OPEN AT WATERFRONT PLAYHOUSE
The historic Waterfront Playhouse on Mallory Square will open the David Mamet comedy A Life in the Theatre. Opening on Thursday, May 5 and playing Wednesday through Saturdays until May 21. Tickets are available by going clicking here or call 305-294-5015. The show will have one preview on May 4 at 8pm.
One of Mamet’s earliest and gentlest plays, A Life in the Theatre portrays the changing relationship of John and Robert, two actors–one older and experienced, the other a young up-and-comer – working together in a repertory company. Robert, the older man, feels he has a great deal to teach John, and, as they work together in a series of shows, he passes on his wisdom. John, the novice, hangs on Robert’s every word at first, knowing that he has a lot to learn about the theatre. As time goes on, however, Robert becomes resentful of John’s success, and John, ever more confident, tires of Robert’s clichĂ© advice. This sardonic love letter to theatre follows the shifting power balance between two actors as they engage in backstage banter and play parodic scenes from rep warhorses: a sub-Chekhovian comedy, a shipwreck melodrama, and a revolutionary epic, satirizing a vanished world. Mamet’s play examines our changing roles in life through the metaphor of the theatre’s never-ending demand for new roles.
Directed by Waterfront Artistic Director Tom Thayer, with set design by Michael Boyer, lighting design by Kris Hodge and stage managed by Trish Manley with Andrew Theede assisting this production will star John McDonald and Mathias Maloff.
John made his New York debut at the Old Met in Il Trovator with Gabriella Tucci and Robert Merrill (as a supernumerary). He attended the American Academy of Dramatic Arts with a scholarship from the American Broadcasting Company.
Graduating with distinction he later taught and directed for the school. His Broadway acting credits include: New York Shakespeare Festival (Macbeth with James Earl Jones); Off-Broadway: (Promenade with Madeline Kahn), Regional Theatre: Long Wharf Theatre (The Lion in Winter with Ralph Waite) as well as The Huntington Performing Arts Center and the Front Street Theatre. He directed Bah Humbug! on Broadway at the Walter Kerr Theatre for the Robert F Kennedy Theatre for Children and on television he was a puppeteer for All Aboard with Mr. B for PBS and had roles on Love of Life, Guiding Light and Search for Tomorrow.
In 1964 he was awarded Best Actor for his portrayal of Shylock a role he recently portrayed in the Waterfront Playhouse’s Something Rotten! Key West roles have included: Professor Plum in Clue, Inspector Kemp in the hit musical Young Frankenstein, Sidney Carlton in Inspecting Carol, Peter and the Starcatcher and Col. McKean in 1776 the Musical at the Waterfront Playhouse. He debuted in Alice’s Parlor, appeared in Romeo and Juliet, One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest for Theatre XP, Twice Told Tales and Key Largo for WLRN Radio.
Mathias Maloff will direct the reading of Ernest Hemmingway’s The Fifth Column to be performed at the Waterfront. This season alone Mathias has appeared in All is Calm, Matilda the Musical, Clue and most recently Something Rotten.
The Waterfront Playhouse will host an opening night party on May 5 following the show. It will be held in the garden opposite the theatre.
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