I have the honor of being dramaturge for an upcoming production of Boris Vian's absurdist play, The Empire Builders, to open at MadLab Theatre on June 13th. From now until then, I will try to post something interesting on the man behind this exceptional play.
The Empire Builders is to be performed at the MadLab Theatre in
Columbus, Ohio June 13 through June 22, 2013 with the following cast:
Father Jim Azelvandre
Mother Molly St. Cyr
Zenobia Mary Beth
Griffith
Mug Audrey Rush
Neighbor Travis Horseman
Schmurz Stefan Langer
Executive Producer: Michelle Batt
Director: Andy Batt
Stage Manager: Angela Cutrell
Dramaturge: Kevin Lōttes
Set/Costumes: Deb Dyer
The first production of The Empire Builders in English was by
the Royal Shakespeare Company, under the direction of David Jones, at the New
Arts Theatre Club on July 31, 1962. Settings by Sally Jacobs assisted by Daphne
Meade, schmürz's costume by Ann Jaye, sound effects by Harvey Wing, and with
the following cast:
FATHER Hugh Burden
MOTHER Lally Bowers
ZENOBIA Katy Wild
MUG Freda Dowie
NEIGHBOR Edward Palmer
SCHMURZ John Preston