Written by Yasmina Reza
Directed by Debbie Barber-Eaton
Produced by Scott Sanders
Performance Dates:
September 9 – October 1, 2022
Run time: 80m, no intermission
Marc, Serge, and Yvan are friends. They are three middle-aged men of comfortable means who have stayed friends with each other for fifteen years. Since men of their age often lack opportunities to meet new people and sustain new friendships, their courtesy towards and their tolerance for one another’s quirks and affinities have been worn raw. Serge has bought a modern work of art for a large sum of money. Marc hates the painting and cannot believe that a friend of his could possibly want such a work. Yvan attempts, unsuccessfully, to placate both sides with hilarious consequences. The question is: Are you who you think you are or are you who your friends think you are?
To download the production postcard for Art to share with your friends, visit the Downloads page of our website and look under the Production Postcard heading. A PDF of the production playbill is also available in the same location.
About the Director
Debbie Barber-Eaton holds a degree in Musical Theatre from the Catholic University of America and studied cabaret at Yale. A director, performer and acting coach, she has worked in local and regional theatre. She taught acting, musical theatre and sketch comedy at Maryland Hall for the Creative Arts in Annapolis for 15 years. Debbie appeared on the Colonial Players’ stage as “Martha” in Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?, which earned her a WATCH Award nomination for best lead actress in a play. Most recently, she appeared as “Rose” in Gypsy at 2nd Star Productions and “Sarraghina” in NINE at CP. Debbie directed Calendar Girls for CP followed by Guys & Dolls for 2nd Star, which garnered the Ruby Griffith Award for All Round Production Excellence and a WATCH nomination for Debbie for her direction. She is proud to have received the last directing award CP gave for her direction of The Robber Bridegroom. "Many thanks to my incredible team for agreeing to come on board for this project! As always, my love and thanks to my family and friends for supporting me as I continue to make my own “art,” especially Neal, Eddie, Cathy, Donna, Paul, and Casey. What would I do without you!? I dedicate my work on this show to the memory of my favorite artist, Ann Catherine Barber, my mom."
About the Author
Yasmina Reza is a French playwright and novelist, based in Paris, whose works have all been multiaward-winning, critical and popular international successes, produced worldwide and translated into 35 languages. She has written seven plays (CONVERSATIONS AFTER A BURIAL, THE PASSAGE OF WINTER, "ART," THE UNEXPECTED MAN, LIFE X 3, A SPANISH PLAY, GOD OF CARNAGE, HOW YOU TALK THE GAME) and 6 novels ("Hammerklavier," "Une Desolation (Desolation)," "Adam Haberberg," "Dans la Luge d'Arthur Schopenhauer," "Nulle Part" and "L'Aube, le Soir ou la Nuit (Dawn Dusk or Night)"). Films include: "Le Pique-Nique de Lulu Kreutz," directed by Didier Martiny and "Chicas," written and directed by the author.
Director's Notes
Since embarking on the journey of directing this play, I’ve had quite a few questions swirling about in my head. Two of them keep popping up for me: What keeps friendships alive…and what the heck is “art” anyhow? Well…art and friendship are both living things and they both require some sort of relationship to thrive. In other words, it takes at least two to have art, the creator and the audience. It takes at least two to have a friendship. But what if the friendship is broken? There’s a lovely Japanese art called kintsugi, in which beautiful pottery is deliberately broken. It is then repaired, literally glued back together with gold. The pottery is then considered even more beautiful thanks to its golden scars; in fact, the scars make it even more unique and valuable. Like friendship, art is a sharing of human thoughts and emotions, the sharing of the very essence of what it is to be human. What draws us to a particular piece of art, be it written, sung, spoken, sculpted or drawn? I suggest it’s the same thing that draws us to certain people. Yvan would call it “a resonance.”
- DEBBIE BARBER-EATON
The Cast
Sam Lunay (Yvan) - Sam Lunay (He/Him) was last onstage at Mosaic Theatre’s production of Eureka Day. Prior to that, he was honored to participate in the Kennedy Center Page to Stage Festival as Sergeant Riggin, Private Atlas, and as various other characters in Company K. Other local theatre credits include Bo in Appropriate (Silver Spring Stage), Pastor Gregg (U/S) in Hand to God, and Howard (U/S) in If I Forget (both at Studio Theatre). He is a graduate of the Studio Acting Conservatory. He would like to thank Lucy, Izzy and Ellen for all their support.
Tom Newbrough (Marc) - Tom has acted, sung and directed locally for many years. Past CP performances include A New Brain, Assassins, Jacques Brel, Terra Nova, A Little Night Music, Dial M for Murder, Crimes of the Heart, and The Elephant Man. At CP he has directed Strange Snow, A Shayna Maidel, Incorruptible, Rabbit Hole, and Dead Man’s Cell Phone. Tom is a partner in the law firm of Cohen, Snyder, Eisenberg & Katzenberg. As always, he thanks his lovely and talented wife CeCe and his family for their love and support.
Jim Reiter (Serge, Sound Designer) - Jim is happy to again be directed by his "Rose," and to share the stage with old pal Tom and new pal Sam. Jim first appeared at the Colonial Players in 1995 as Boolie in Driving Miss Daisy; among those he's been in since are Proof, Hauptmann (WATCH Award winner for featured actor), She Loves Me, Dog Logic, Dead Man's Cell Phone (directed by "Marc"), Moonlight and Magnolias, Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike, and two Scrooges and a Cratchit in A Christmas Carol. He also directed 2015's Sideman, which received five WATCH nominations including best director. Elsewhere Jim has appeared in Becky's New Car at Bay Theater Company, The Addams Family at Annapolis Summer Garden Theatre, Pride and Prejudice at Classic Theatre of MD, Sordid Lives, The Shadow Box, and The Crucible at Dignity Players where he also directed The 39 Steps, and too many to count at 2nd Star Productions in Bowie and its predecessor Musicomedy Productions, most recently 2019's Gypsy as Herbie to our director, Debbie Barber-Eaton's, Rose. He also reviews plays (well, not this one) for Bay Weekly and hosts the Colonial Players podcast, Theatre in 360°. But Jim's favorite roles are PopPop to Caleb, Chloe, Corey, Christa, Emma and Miles, Dad to Joey, Kelly and Katie Rose, and blue-eyed perpetual suitor to Darice, who even though she married him, he still chases.
George King (Swing) - This is George's second show with The Colonial Players. He played Grandpa in Freaky Friday. He is excited to have joined The Colonial Players Board as the treasurer, effective September 1st. He most recently performed with Annapolis Summer Garden Theatre as Daddy Murphy in Bright Star. Prior to that he performed with the Pasadena Theatre Company in Scrooged & You're A Good Man Charlie Brown. Some favorite past non-musical roles (all in California) include Rumors (Lenny Ganz), Psycho Beach Party (Kanaka) and Murder Most Fouled Up (Jason/Ridgely). George would like to thank his wife, Ameeta and their two sons George IV & Rudy, for all the love and support.
The Production Staff
Janice Coffey (Costume Designer) Janice has been involved in theatre both onstage and backstage for decades as well as working as a professional actress in film, television and print. Janice is a past President of Bowie Community Theater and past Board Member of The Colonial Players. Thanks to Fran for a fun time!
Mary Fawcett Watko (Set Designer/Play Consultant) Dedicated to The Colonial Players for 41 years as an actor, director and play consultant. For the Love of It!!
Andy McLendon (Stage Manager) It is exciting to be back at The Colonial Players and working with such an amazing production staff and cast. The list of favorite theatre projects becomes more and more difficult to select; there have been so many memorable experiences. At this juncture, I simply believe that we are all grateful to be "back on the boards."
Laura Nolan (Set Designer/Set Decorator) Laurie Nolan has been painting this stage floor for longer than her back would care to remind her! But it’s always fun, and a pleasure to work with such creative, kind people. If you are looking for an interesting and collaborative group with which to explore all things theatre, please join us. Laurie’s recent sets include The Children and Love, Loss, and What I Wore. Extra thanks to my husband John for all he did for me this summer.
Matthew Rigby (Lighting Designer) Matt is excited to be back with The Colonial Players for a new season! He was involved in three shows last season, both as an actor and as part of the stage crew. Working as board operator for The Lost Boy and as the Special Effects Engineer for ASGT’s Rock of Ages, Matt has learned a lot about light design. This is his first time as the Lighting Designer for a show, and thanks to the support and assistance from John Purnell, Wes Bedsworth, and the rest of the theatre community, you won’t miss a thing! Matt has really enjoyed working on lighting and making his vision a reality. He’ll be back for more in the future, he’s just getting started!!
Charlotte Robinson (Props Designer) Charlotte joined The Colonial Players in 1984 and was invited to work backstage in 1988 as stage crew on Dial M For Murder. She has served on several committees, and the Board of Directors. In recent years she moved from tech, crew, and stage manager to props. Her most recent shows were Trying, Side Man, Lucky Stiff and A New Brain. And now she’s happy to be back with her CP friends and family after the Covid imposed hiatus. This one’s for you JoAnn.
Jim Robinson (Carpenter) Jim began volunteering at The Colonial Players in 1984. He operated the light board and sound equipment as well as working as stage crew and set/props builder for many shows. After retiring in 2003, Jim joined Dick Whaley and Ted Yablonsky as permanent set building crew. He enjoys working on shows where his wife Charlotte is also involved.
