Staged Reading - Copenhagen

By Michael Frayn

A staged Reading

Directed by Bruce Coughran,

Assisted by Alecks Rundell

Tuesday - August 14, 2012 8 p.m.

ONE NIGHT ONLY

The Tony-Award winning COPENHAGEN (1998) represents the later stage of Frayn's career, and explores the historic meeting between the physicists Werner Heisenberg and Niels Bohr (accompanied by his wife Margrethe Bohr) in Copenhagen in 1941.

In the meeting, the two physicists dance around the possibilities of nuclear weapons, their use, the moral consequences, and what each side knows.  The play is of intense interest both for its historical content and for its experimental style, written as a series of flashbacks and re-flashbacks.  Directed by Bruce Coughran (Anouilh's Antigone)  assisted by Alecks Rundell (Journey of Light).  COPENHAGEN plays Tuesday August 14th at 8 p.m.

2012 Summer Staged Reading Series

COPENHAGEN

A staged reading, by Michael Frayn

Directed by Bruce Coughran, assisted by Alecks Rundell

ONE NIGHT ONLY - Tuesday, August 14th, 2012, 8 p.m.

Cast

Niels Bohr -             Robert Ernst

Werner Heisenberg - Michael Cassidy

Margarete Bohr -      Karol Strempke

Bruce Coughran (Director) was last at AE directing the very successful premiere of A Hot Day in Ephesus (his first musical).  He also directed Antigone for AE, and recently directed the short plays Carwash and the premiere of Hickory Miles (by Berkeley playwright Paul Heller) for Novato Theater Company.  He likes to work on new plays, classics and modern classics (of which Copenhagen may be one.)  In the bay area he has directed numerous staged readings and directed the workshop premiere of Bad Connection? at West Valley College in Saratoga.  He has been an assistant director at such theaters as ACT, The Old Globe in San Diego, the Kirk Douglas Theatre in LA, La Jolla Playhouse and Berkeley Opera.  He is a TBA ATLAS fellow, was awarded a SDCF Observership (with Chay Yew), and attended Directors Lab West and Directors Lab Chicago.

Alecks Rundell (Assistant Direction) I am happy to be working with Bruce and the talented cast. I am grateful to Actors Ensemble of Berkeleyfor supporting fabulous live art, especially Journey of Light, a Glo-Opera, coming to the SF Fringe Festival this September. Please support AE for their contributions to community art. And Love to Priscilla.

Cast

Michael Kern Cassidy* (Werner Heisenberg) is happy to be making his debut at Actors Ensemble of Berkeley. Previous credits include: Much Ado About Nothing, directed by Mr. Coughran (Subterranean Shakespeare); Sugar, Three Sisters, Nymph Errant (42nd Street Moon); The Pride (New Conservatory), Pride and Prejudice (Ross Valley Players); Cabaret (Pacific Coast Rep); Paint Your Wagon (Woodminster), Guys and Dolls (Mountain Play); The Best Man (Aurora Theatre Company); The Full Monty (Broadway By the Bay), and productions with Berkeley Rep, Berkeley Opera, and Ray of Light Theatre. www.michaelkerncassidy.com

Robert Ernst* (Niels Bohr) is a co-founder of the Berkeley-based Blake Street Hawkeyes and the Iowa Theater Lab. Theatre. He last appeared at Theater Works in Proof. Other selected stage roles include: The Time of Your Life at ACT and Seattle Rep. Theater, Speed of Darkness and People’s Temple at Berkeley Rep, Red State at The S.F. Mime Troupe, and Play-land and The Joy of Going Somewhere Definite at The Magic Theater.  Robert is the author of a number of well-received pocket operas - The John (Intersection for the Arts), Catherine’s Care, and his latest, Changer (Alter Theater of San Rafael).  He received Dramalogue awards for Best Director and Best Production for Tokens. Robert performed non-stop for twenty-four hours and one minute, besting the existing record for longest play. Selected television and film credits include: Hill Street Blues, Valley of the Heart’s Delight, Jumpin’ Jack Flash and Surefire (Caligari Film, Berlin Film Festival) He teaches playwriting and acting at CTE, Tamalpais High School and is also a member of the band, Smooth Toad.

Karol Strempke (Margarethe Borh) began acting in Bay Area theatres over thirty years ago - through the years she has performed at Contra Costa Civic, Masquers, Hillbarn, Ross Valley Players, Altarena, Chanticleers, Marin Shakespeare Festival, Pacific Coast Repertory Theatre and Theatre First.  She has trained at ACT, University of Washington and received her MFA from the University of Wisconsin where her studies focused on classical theatre.  Most recently she performed the roles of Fraulein Schneider in Cabaret, and Matron Momma Morten in Chicago! for PCRT, and Madge in the Bay Area premier of Welcome Home Jenny Sutter for TheatreFirst.  Karol’s day job is as a corporate Facilities and Property Manager.

$5-$10 sliding scale.  Cash or check only at the door.  Box office/will call opens 1/2 hour before start of show - Box office located inside the lobby.  Wheelchair accessible - use the north side lobby entrance.