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BLACK BOX THEATRE

‘Laughing Wild’ opens Sept. 24 at Black Box Theatre

1980s play offers ‘strange, wacky way’ of looking at world that remains fresh

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“Laughing Wild,” by Tony-winning playwright Christopher Durang, will open Friday, Sept. 24, and continue for three weekends at Black Box Theatre (BBT), 430 N. Main St. downtown.

Performances are at 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Sept. 24-25, Oct. 1-2 and Oct. 8-9; 2:30 p.m. Sundays, Oct. 3 and 10; and 7 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 7.

Tickets are $15 regular admission, $12 for students and for seniors over age 65 and $10 for the Thursday, Oct. 7, show only. Call 575-523-1223 to reserve tickets or buy tickets online at www.tktassistant.com/Tix/?u=NSTC.

All attendees must wear masks during all performances.

The play is directed by BBT co-owner Ceil Herman.

"We have previously produced Durang’s ‘Beyond Therapy,’ directed by Bradd Howard and ‘Baby with the Bathwater,’ which I directed, both audience favorites,” Herman said. “Durang has such a strange and wacky way of looking at the world. Even though this play was written in 1988, and we are setting it in 1987, the subject matter is very current.”

In the play, a man (Brad Martinez) is looking at cans of tuna in a grocery store when a woman (Jamie Bronstein) appears behind him and ultimately conks him on the head because he won’t talk to her.

The first act of the play consists of two extended monologues, one by the woman and one by the man, talking about their experiences in the store. In the second act, the man and woman enter a series of dream sequences imagining what might have happened during their encounter and in other circumstances, like appearing on a talk show or participating in the Harmonic Convergence.

Set in 1987, “Laughing Wild” covers topics that include nuclear proliferation, sexual identity, AIDS and mental health.

Bronstein’s first acting role was as Anne in “The Diary of Anne Frank” as an eighth-grader at the Pax Amicus Castle Theatre in Budd Lake, New Jersey. Years later, she played Mrs. Van Daan in Las Cruces Community Theatre’s production of the same play. Bronstein also has been seen in LCCT productions of “Belles,” “The Foreigner,” “Shadowlands” and “ The Odd Couple.” At BBT, Bronstein has been seen in “Dead Man's Cell Phone,” “The Birthday Party,” “Alice in Wonderland,” “Boy Gets Girl,” “Rocket Man,” “The Real Thing,” “Seagulls in a Cherry Tree” and “Bosoms and Neglect.”

Martinez graduated from Oñate High School, where his theater teacher was Sherry Aland. He went on to study at Santa Fe University of Art and Design and Bath Spa University and received a BFA in acting from Columbia College Chicago. Martinez has appeared in LCCT's productions of “Recreational Living,” “Subpoena” and “The Shape of Things.”  His most recent credit is “You, Me and the Cat” with Perceptions Theatre Company in Chicago.

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Auditions for "Daddy Long Legs" 

Black Box Theatre will hold auditions for the “Daddy Long Legs" at 7 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 26 and Monday, Sept. 27, at BBT, 430 N. Main St. Downtown.

The musical, with book by John Caird and music and lyrics by Paul Gordon, is based on “Daddy-Long-Legs,” a 1912 novel by Jean Webster. The book was adapted into a 1955 movie starring Fred Astaire and Leslie Caron.

The BBT production will be directed by Nikka Ziemer.

Those auditioning must be fully vaccinated and wearing face masks.

Auditions will consist of cold readings from the script as well as a prepared vocal piece. Auditioners are asked to bring a backup recording or be prepared to sing selections a cappella.

Two parts will be cast: Jerusha, a female age 18 to 25, with a vocal range G3 to Bb5; and Jervis, a male age 30 to 40 with a vocal range G3 to G#4.

Performances will be Nov. 19 to Dec. 5. The show may be extended through Dec. 12.

For more information, contact Ziemer at nziemer@hotmail.com

Black Box Theatre, Laughing Wild

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