Picasso at the Lapin Agile
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September 20th - November 11th
In Martin’s first comedy for the stage, the popular actor and screenwriter plays fast and loose with fact, fame, and fortune as Picasso and Einstein muse on the century's achievements and prospects as well as other fanciful topics with infectious dizziness.
The Characters
Freddy the bartender, Germaine, Gaston, Albert Einstein, Pablo Picasso, Suzanne, Sagot, and some unexpected guests...
The Story
This long running Off-Broadway absurdist comedy from the mind of funnyman Steve Martin places Albert Einstein and Pablo Picasso in a Parisian cafe in 1904, just before the renowned scientist transformed physics with his theory of relativity and the celebrated painter set the art world afire with cubism.
Content
Picasso features a few instances of coarse language and some adult situations. Were it a movie, it would likely be rated PG-13.
The show is a flamboyant blast, a combination of silliness and refinement that makes clear its author’s grasp of good comedy.
Director Valerie Rachelle’s sharp intelligence shines clear in this production. The actors have honed their lines and technique to a razor-sharp edge under her coaching to create a memorable and funny production.
Albert Einstein and Pablo Picasso walk into a bar… The playful punch line to that set up is now playing at the Oregon Cabaret Theatre in Ashland. And it's a doozy. "Picasso at the Lapin Agile" by Steve Martin — yes, THAT Steve Martin — is smart and funny, clever and sly, surprising and surreal.
The play is fast-paced, expertly staged and visually delightful. There are clever devices — before the play opens Freddy the bartender serves drinks from the stage, and there's a neat twist involving the program's "order of appearance."
The results are not only funny, but also thought-provoking, and in Oregon Cabaret Theatre's current production, beautifully cast, directed, and acted.
Praise for Picasso from Facebook
"It was excellent."
"Great show!"
"already think I'm gonna see this twice"
"Picasso at the Lapin Agile" at Oregon Cabaret Theatre was hilarious, touching, and brilliantly performed. Go see this show! Do it now!"
"Great play!"
"We've been subscribers for a few years now and every season exceeds the last. We love the Oregon Cabaret."
"A must see. Laughed so much last night!"
The performance was wonderful! The cast excellent! Our server for the night was lovely also, thank you
Lovely space, every seat is a winner so close to the stage. Very intimate theater experience with high quality performances. Excellent desert offerings as well. Great value.
Stefan Espinosa
Picasso
Stefan is returning to OCT after appearing as Bob Cratchit in the 2015 production of A Christmas Carol. Other theatrical credits include PCPA Theatrefest, Arizona Theatre Company, Salt Lake Acting Company, Utah Festival Opera and Musical Theatre, Old Lyric Repertory Company, and The Great American Melodrama. Stefan would like to send his love “to my incredible wife, Vanessa, and our darling son, Sebastian.”
Stephen Kline
Einstein
At the Cabaret, Stephen has previously been seen as Actor 1 in Baskerville, Sheriff Reynolds (Bat Boy The Musical), Marley (A Christmas Carol), and as Clown 2 (The 39 Steps). He is featured on television for commercials (Merci Chocolate, Fred Meyer), drama series (Boston Public). He was a theatre professor and children’s theatre director (Charlotte’s Web, High School Musical Jr.) He has performed as Lee and Austin in different productions of True West. Other Sam Shepard credits include Petrone (Suicide in B Flat) and Henry (Eyes for Consuela). Other stage credits include Ben Braddock (The Graduate), Tony (West Side Story), and as the title role of Hamlet.
Karen Jean Olds
Germaine
Karen is appearing for the first time on the Oregon Cabaret stage. Other performance credits include Sheila Callaghan’s World Premiere- Everything You Touch– Boston Court, Dan Dietz’s World Premiere- American Misfit– Boston Court, The 39 Steps- PVPA and Coyote Stageworks, Encounters– Written/co-created with Bill Rauch, performed at UC Irvine, Don’t Dress For Dinner- Suzette–ICT, Seminar- Kate- Chance Theater, Becca Wolff’s World Premiere- The Last Days of Mary Stuart, An Electro-Opera– Son of Semele. Karen also performs as a VO/live Voice Artist- including: Disney Records, Dolby Stage, and the cult hit radio and audio book series Dark Shadows. www.karenjeanolds.com
Galloway Stevens
Sagot
Galloway was last seen on the OCT stage as Sam Phillips in Million Dollar Quartet. You may also remember him from past productions as The Emcee in Cabaret, Franklin Hart, Jr. in 9 to 5, Billy Flynn in Chicago, Dr. Parker in Bat Boy, Freddy in Noises Off. Other regional directing credits include Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Cats (Lees-McRae Summer), The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, The Andrews Brothers, and A Christmas Carol (Prather Entertainment), Grease, Ring of Fire, and South Pacific (Jenny Wiley Theatre). Feel free to follow Galloway on Instagram @thegallo_way.
Rick Robinson
Freddy
At the Cabaret, Rick has served as the director for The 39 Steps, Baskerville and Bat Boy: The Musical and he wrote the book for Cabaret’s world premiere musical, The Pine Mountain Lodge and the adaptation for the Cabaret’s version of A Christmas Carol. A founding member of Lucid by Proxy in Los Angeles, Rick has performed in L.A. with Garry Marshall’s Falcon theatre, The Company Rep, as well as City Lights Theatre and Playhouse West in the bay area and Summer Repertory theatre in Santa Rosa – where he and his future wife Valerie met performing in The Madwoman of Chaillot.
Paul Jones
Gaston
Paul is making his debut performance with Oregon Cabaret Theatre. Other theater credits include Brady in Inherit the Wind, Salieri in Amadeus, Ben Franklin in 1776, Al Lewis in The Sunshine Boys, Nixon in Frost/Nixon, Herr Schultz in Cabaret, Beatty inFahrenheit 451 at Camelot Theatre Co. Other theatres: Scrooge in A Christmas Carol, Henry in The Lion in Winter, Dysart in Equus, Richard in Richard III, Drummond in Inherit the Wind, Juror #8 in 12 Angry Jurors.
Sierra Wells
Suzanne
Sierra was last seen on the OCT stage as Mrs. T/Bad Idea Bear in Avenue Q and was Lulu in Cabaret in 2015. Other regional performance credits include The Glass Menagerie-Laura, Sense & Sensibility-Marianne,Hamlet-Ophelia (PCPA), Bullshot Crummond-Rosemary, Leading Ladies-Meg, The Tavern-Virginia (The Great American Melodrama). Sierra would like to extend, “Love forever to her family.”
Paul Garcia
Schmendiman
Paul is returning to the Oregon Cabaret. Previous OCT credits include Garry in Noises Off and Cliff Bradshaw in the musical Cabaret. Other performance credits include Oregon Shakespeare Festival’s Richard III (First Murderer), King Lear (Gloucester’s Servant),Tempest (Ariel Shadow), Romeo & Juliet(Ensemble), Twelfth Night (Ensemble). Southern Oregon University credits includeScapin (Octave), The Night Thoreau Spent In Jail(Henry David Thoreau), The Oresteia (Orestes), as well as The Crucible and The Glass Menagerie.
John Alan Hulbert
Visitor
John is appearing for the first time with OCT. Other performance credits include Moritz Stiefel (nominated for Irene Ryan Scholarship Award) in Spring Awakening, Gibson/Mr. Burns in Mr. Burns, Lord Aster in Peter and the Starcatcher, Defense Counsel/Ensemble inThe Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui at Southern Oregon University, and Eddie McCuen in The Musical Comedy Murders of 1940 at Cascades Theatrical Company. John Alan extends, “I want to thank my family, my teachers, my partner Sarah, and everybody that has gotten me where I am today with their constant support.”
The Team
Director – Valerie Rachelle
Assistant Director/Choreographer – Leah Kolb
Stage Manager – Julie Bangs
Assistant Stage Manager – Laura Crawford
Scenic Designer – Brian Redfern
Costume Designer – Mallory Prucha
Lighting Designer – Chris Sackett
Sound Designer – Elisabeth Weidner
Wig Designer – Virginia Carol Hudson (Wigs by Design)
Technical Director/Production Manager – Christopher Burkhardt
Assistant Technical Director – Nico Hewitt
Props Designer – Andrew Bangs
Costume Shop Manager – Makayla Royer
Understudies
Rhyon Engalls – Freddy, Einstein, Vistor
Mia Gaskin – Suzanne
Leah Kolb – Germaine
John Alan Hulbert – Sagot, Schmedimann
Paul Michael Garcia – Picasso
George Herkert – Gaston
