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THE INDUSTRIAL STRENGTH THEATRE Elden Street Players True West Directed by David Sher Produced by special arrangements with Samuel
French, Inc
The Scene - a kitchen and adjoing living room of an older home
in a The Time - Summer 1981 There will be one 15 minute intermission
Director's NotesWhen I was first approached about
taking over as Artistic Director here at Elden Street, the first show that I
thought of was True West. I had intended to put True West in as the first show
in my first season as Artistic Director. Unfortunately for me, the Broadway
version was receiving wonderful reviews and the rights were not available. So
Sam Shepard's masterpiece about the duality of man, about Nature vs. Nurture,
Brother vs. Brother, about what success and prosperity really means, had to wait
to open this, my second season as Artistic Director. True West began its existence
with a very successful California debut. Rave reviews, critics' awards, the Obie
award, and an invitation from Joe Papp to bring the show to New York for a
Broadway run. But before True West would begin life on Broadway, Mr. Papp made a
few changes. He recast the show with a budding star: Tommy Lee Jones, and
redirected a few of the scenes. The original director balked, and asked to have
his name removed from the program. Subsequently, Sam Shepard disavowed the
production and claimed that any negative press regarding the New York show
should be aimed squarely at Papp. Shepard proved to be clairvoyant, (For he had
never seen the newly staged version as he refused to travel to New York) the
show flopped badiy on the East Coast. A few years later, True West was
revived by a young Chicago theater company starring John Malkovich and Gary
Senise. It was also directed by Mr. Sinise. Again Rave reviews met the
production. The show eventually came to New York and had a short but successful
run there. This production was, at least in part, responsible for building the
reputation and success of a young Chicago theater company named "Steppenwolf."
Fast forward to two years ago. A Broadway revival re-ignites the American
Theatre world's passion for True West. With Tony nominations for Shepard, the
director, and both actors, True West was finally a Broadway success. This is the history, the show seems to have two lives. Like the two brothers themselves. One wandering, searching for his place in the world. The other, a success. The world at his feet. The text remains the same, but we're never sure which show we're going to see. A show looking for it's roots, trying to stay grounded, or a show soaring to the heights it was destined to see. I hope you enjoy our interpretation of Sam Shepard's True West. David SherPS - As I write the final version of these notes, the American response to the events of September 11th has begun. I hope that this difficult time finds you and yours healthy and safe.
AcknowledgementsThe Elden Street Players wish to thank the following people and businesses for their help in making this production a success: Great Harvest Bread Company
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