Mark Twain's Comedy Is he Dead? at Las Vegas Little Theatre
Las Vegas Little Theatre (Las Vegas, NV)
Rated 4.0 by 1 member who went.
An impoverished artist in 1860s France stages his death in order to increase the value of his paintings. Combining elements of burlesque, farce, and social satire, this hilarious comedy by Mark Twain and adapted by David Ives uses cross-dressing, mistaken identities, and romantic deceptions to raise questions about fame, greed and the value of art.
Event summary prepared by the Goldstar Editorial Team.
* Additional fees apply.
Most Popular Theater Event Nearby:
- Full Price:
- $101.85 - $142.00
- Our Price:
- $65.11 - $89.20
One of the biggest theatrical hits of the last two decades, Blue Man Group presents their unique and wildly imaginative stage show at The Venetian. Audiences worldwide have experienced and loved their exuberant, blissful combination of hilarious performances, fabulous visual effects, and Grammy-nominated music. Learn More
More Details About Is he Dead?
Quotes & Highlights
- "A ripely enjoyable confection! An elaborate madcap comedy that registers high on the mirth meter and reaches especially giddy comic heights!" --Variety
- "Relentlessly funny, this is a show for all ages and for all tastes… All you need to enjoy it is the ability to laugh." --The Journal News
More Information
Website: http://www.lvlt.org/current_season/IsHeDead.html
When asked to name a famous playwright, many audience members will offer up names such as Williams, Ibsen, Mamet, Shakespeare, and (perhaps begrudgingly) Neil Simon. Now there’s another name to add to the list. The name of a man whose novels have been read and loved by millions. This new playwright? Mark Twain.
In 1898, Mark Twain was suffering from financial hardships, as well as the recent loss of his youngest daughter. There were those who wondered if the famous author would ever find his humorous muse again. Twain’s response was to write Is He Dead?, a high-spirited romp that he planned on premiering simultaneously in New York and London. But the play was never produced, and remained largely unknown.
Is He Dead? was first published in print in 2003, after Mark Twain scholar Shelley Fisher Fishkin read the manuscript in the archives of the Mark Twain Papers at the University of California at Berkeley. The play was long known to scholars but never attracted much attention until Fishkin arranged to have it published in book form. She later played a primary role in getting the play produced on Broadway in 2007. And now the Las Vegas Little Theatre is giving local audiences its chance.
Is He Dead? focuses on Jean-Francois Millet, a young painter of genius, who is in love with Marie Leroux, but in debt to a villainous picture-dealer, Bastien Andre. Andre forecloses on Millet, threatening debtor's prison unless Marie marries him. Millet realizes that the only way he can pay his debts and keep Marie from marrying Andre is to die, as it is only dead painters who achieve fame and fortune. With the help of his friends, Millet fakes his death and prospers, while passing himself off as his own sister, the Widow Tillou. Now a rich "widow," he must find a way to get out of a dress, return to life, and marry Marie.
The cast features Tony Blosser as “Millet”; TJ Larsen as “Chicago”; Scott DelGuidice as “Dutchy”; Brian Scott as “O’Shaughnessy”; Ed Knutson as “Papa LeRoux”; Joel Wayman as “Andre”; Renee Valdez as “Marie”; Carla Chiron de la Casiniere as “Cecile”; Gloria Hoffman as “Mme. Bathilde”; Mary Ann Hebinck as “Mme. Caron”; and Dave Pomeroy in multiple roles. Directing this wild production is Joe Hammond.
Las Vegas Little Theatre
Las Vegas Little Theatre, an amateur theatre company founded in 1978 by Jack Bell and Jack Nickolson, is Southern Nevada's oldest community theatre. It launched performances in a converted storefront with an initial seating capacity of 48. Their mission has always been to increase the awareness of theatre arts in Southern Nevada, provide quality productions, and to offer educational, hands-on opportunities in all facets of theatre production.
