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Press Release
Wednesday, October 15, 2008
Martha Wilkinson Makes Tennessee Rep Directorial Debut with Gone with the Wind Farce
Moonlight and Magnolias
by Ron Hutchinson
Nashville, TN— Tennessee Repertory Theatre will present Ron Hutchinson’s Moonlight and Magnolias, a hilarious farce based on how the screenplay for Gone with the Wind might have been written. Moonlight and Magnolias runs from November 8–22 at TPAC’s Johnson Theater. Set in 1939 Hollywood, Moonlight and Magnolias tells the story of what might have happened when legendary producer David O. Selznick shut down production of his new epic, Gone with the Wind. The screenplay just isn’t working. So what’s an all-powerful movie mogul to do? While fending off the film’s stars, gossip columnists and his own father-in-law, Selznick sends a car for famed screenwriter Ben Hecht and pulls formidable director Victor Fleming from the set of The Wizard of Oz. Summoning both to his office, he locks the doors, closes the shades, and on a diet of bananas and peanuts, the three men labor over five days to fashion a screenplay that will become the blueprint for one of the most successful and beloved films of all time.
“The great thing about this play is it’s both a tribute to the driving energies from that era of movie-making while still poking fun at the whole mentality, and you don’t have to know anything at all about Gone with the Wind to appreciate the satire,” says Tennessee Rep Producing Artistic Director René D. Copeland. “I couldn’t resist it. Witty dialogue, funny plot, larger-than-life characters, all put together nicely. You’re in for a treat.”
Nashville stage veteran Martha Wilkinson, who recently received raves for her portrayal of Mrs. Lovett in Tennessee Rep’s production of Sweeney Todd, will make her Tennessee Rep directorial debut with Moonlight and Magnolias. “I appreciate the confidence René has in me to direct this hilarious show!” exclaims Wilkinson. "Moonlight and Magnolias is truly a delightful and fast paced farce full of physical comedy which I simply adore putting together. Farce is one of my favorite genres, and with this script and the cast assembled the audience is going to have a really great time.”
Wilkinson benefits from a multi-talented cast including Tennessee Rep regulars Evelyn Blythe, Eric Pasto-Crosby, and Pete Vann. Shane Bridges makes his Tennessee Rep debut as David O. Selznick.
Since 1985, Tennessee Repertory Theatre has been a flagship regional theatre, by creating the highest quality professional productions and by serving as a prime cultural, educational, and economic resource within the Nashville and Middle Tennessee communities. Tennessee Rep produces work that is designed, built, and rehearsed in Nashville by highly skilled actors, designers, directors, and technicians. A non-profit organization, Tennessee Rep is committed to consistently delivering edgy, thought-provoking theatre each year. For more information on the Tennessee Repertory Theatre, please visit tennesseerep.org.
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Director Martha Wilkinson and actors Shane Bridges, Eric Pasto-Crosby, and Pete Vann are available for live or taped interviews beginning Monday, October 20.
Contact: Pat Patrick, Marketing Manager (615) 349-3225 or pat@tennesseerep.org