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Previous Productions
Surprise Theatre |
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Previous Productions |
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Nothing is as it seems in this unusual piece of “theatre of the mind”. Supposed roles of power in society are challenged as more a matter of perception than of reality. Balagula will present two one-act plays contained in the work, including “The Way of All Fish”, about a bizarre office exchange between a business executive and her meek secretary, and the darkly absurd “Virtual Reality”, a comical glimpse into the seedy lives of two men pantomiming an illegal warehouse transaction. Both one-acts are farcical examinations of the reversal of power in two seemingly opposite worlds of business culture.
Power Plays Photos Tickets: $12.00 |
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April 25-26
"Surprise Theatre" RATED 'R' Well sort of rated 'R." There
isn't an actual rating body for theatre like
there is for music and movies, but there
have always been scripts which made us go:
"hmmm...is this too much for a surprise?" So
now is our chance to try them out! Join us
for a night of theatre a little farther out
and a little more wild.
Read the "Surprise Theatre" essay about
content |
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March 7th-16th The Dresser by Ronald Harwood
Cast “I hate cinema. I believe in living things”, -says Sir, an old actor manager of a Shakespearean touring troupe to his actress wife. His reference to theatre as a living thing is especially relevant to the latest production of the The Balagula Theatre Company – "The Dresser," a Tony award winning play by Ronald Harwood. Though this play has appeared on several stages and was immortalized in a movie, the new production at The Balagula Theater proves yet again that a good script is a living thing that can be discovered and rediscovered time after time in a new way. Staged before mostly as a farcical tragedy or even a comedy The Dresser appears in its new rendition as a true drama bringing the audience both laughter and sorrow … |
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February 14-16 "Surprise
Theatre: a night of love 2-CUPID'S REVENGE" |
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December 14-16 "Surprise Theatre: Guaranteed to be 100 % HOLIDAY FREE"
“Surprise Theatre” is the culmination of the “intimate theatre” idea that developed over three years of doing theatre at Natasha’s. One-act plays hidden in restaurant service with no advertisement of story or cast, intending to “spring up” suddenly during an evening of dining taking their audience off guard first occurred in July 2005 |
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Cast Director's Notes
Herald Leader Review
Herald Leader Article |
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Thur. Oct. 12th @
MIDNIGHT
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Sept. 26-28 & Oct. 1, 3-5 Copenhagen Starring: Ryan
Case, Adam Luckey, & Natasha Williams Video clip from the show (Windows Media Player) |
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July 12-14, 16, 19-21 The Complete Works of William
Shakespeare (abridged)
Starring: |
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Herald-Leader Culture Critic Rich Copley wrote: "...one of the most unusual theater experiences in Lexington."
If you haven't seen Surprise Theatre, you've been missing out big time. It is
the most innovative thing we do here at Natasha's, and we do a lot! |
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Fri. & Sat. Feb. 10th-11th @ 7:30 "Surprise Theatre: a night of love"
If you haven't seen Surprise Theatre, you've been missing out big time. It is
the most innovative thing we do here at Natasha's, and we do a lot!
This month's installment of Surprise Theatre is all about love. Bring your |
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On the most romantic night of the year bring your loved one here to Natasha's Cafe for a banquet feast of sensuous food and drink. While you're gazing into each other's eyes with each delectable bite, "Surprise Theatre" will pop up around you with the most romantic one-act plays we could find. This is a night of love and laughter. A night for lovers and lovers of food.
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Thurs., Fri., & Sat Jan. 12-14 @ 7:30pm "Surprise Theatre"
If you haven't seen Surprise Theatre, you've been missing out big time. It is the most innovative thing we do here at Natasha's, and we do a lot! We're packing in the crowds and filling up fast so get your reservation as soon as possible.
“Surprise Theatre” comes down off the stage, tosses aside the curtain, and
removes the boundaries an audience is prepared for and anticipating. It takes
them from their normal safe point of observation. “Surprise Theatre” does not
come with a warning, does not notify the audience to what will be seen and who
is participating. Lights do not dim to announce the beginning, no one takes the
stage for a welcome or an introduction speech. The story might beanything; the
performer might be sitting at the next table. Our plays unfold; almost always
serendipitous, unplanned, and surprising. |
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Thurs. & Fri. Dec. 15-16 @ 7pm "Surprise Theatre"
“Surprise Theatre” comes down off the stage, tosses aside the curtain, and removes the boundaries an audience is prepared for and anticipating. It takes them from their normal safe point of observation. “Surprise Theatre” does not come with a warning, does not notify the audience to what will be seen and who is participating. Lights do not dim to announce the beginning, no one takes the stage for a welcome or an introduction speech. The story might be anything; the performer might be sitting at the next table. Our plays unfold; almost always serendipitous, unplanned, and surprising. Of our July 20th-22nd installment Herald-Leader Culture Critic Rich Copley wrote: “…one of the most unusual theater experiences in Lexington.”
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Nov 8-10 & 15-17 Harold Pinter's Family Voices
The play explores issues of blind faith and organized religion through the characters of Reverend Eddie and Brother Lawrence, survivors of an apocalypse who have taken shelter in their church. As Reverend Eddie prepares his final sermon, his grip on reality and his faith are challenged by the unseen presence of the Illuminati. Starring:
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July 20, 21 and 22 "Surprise Theatre:" Three One-Act Plays by David
Ives Read Review
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 September
21-29, 2004 Death and the Maiden by Ariel Dorfman directed by Alkioni Valsari and starring Lew Bowling, Pamela Perlman, and Mike Van Zant. A powerful political drama
and psychological thriller by the noted Chilean writer Ariel Dorfman.
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 May
23-26, 2004 Accidental Death of an Anarchist by Dario Fo directed by Alkioni Valsari and starring Ryan Case, Marcie Crim, Adam Luckey and Julie Smead. Accidental Death of an Anarchist is a Staged Reading performance. Following the success of “Phyro-Giants!” Balagula Theatre presents a thought provoking political farce by Dario Fo.
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 March
9-17, 2004 Phyro Giants!a play by Michael Blieden directed by Alkioni Valsari and starring Anitra Brumagen, Ryan Case, Marcie Crim, Adam Luckey and Julie Smead. This sharp-witted and comical play allows the audience to eavesdrop on some scintillating dinner conversation. Four virtual strangers explore everything from religion to relationships to ghosts in the course of a single meal, with surprising revelations throughout.
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 February
14, 2004 "Acts of Love"featuring Adam Lucky and Anitra Brumagen directed by Noni Valsari with Natasha Williams, narrating. You'll see three romantic vignettes
performed after dinner: |
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Kissing Christine premiered at the 1996 Humana Festival of New American Plays. Set in a Thai restaurant, this funny and provocative one act play reveals how two people reconnect to the flow of life by sharing a kiss. |
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Mission Statement Our mission at Balagula Theatre is to provoke thought and communication about social issues while simultaneously educating and entertaining our audience through community theatre. We want to challenge attitudes, stereotypes, and preconceived notions about society and theatre by exposing our audience to international plays, addressing issues such as peace and justice, race, sexual politics, war, immigration, and contemporary concerns. We will attempt to make theatre accessible to all by offering “Donations Only” performances in addition to regular performances. We will collaborate with other individuals and organizations to assist in achieving mutual goals. We will work with local schools and offer the local talent a community in which to thrive artistically. We are a collective of theatre professionals and community activists utilizing the space donated by Natasha’s Café LLC. We view every performance as an individual project. All money earned from ticket sales and donations, after expenses, is paid directly to participating artists. |
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Current Production
Previous Productions
Surprise Theatre |
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Power
Plays
The
sequel to last year's smash hit "a night of love." Join us at the cafe for a
slightly surreal take on love and affection. A night for all that love affects:
the happy, the bitter, the hopeful, & the forlorn.
"Surprise Theatre" has something for
everyone.
The
Holiday season getting you down, just can't
watch "It's a Wonderful Life" anymore? Then
"Surprise Theatre" is the place to be this
December with a night of imbedded theatre
guaranteed to NOT be about the holidays!
It's the gift you give yourself.
Nov.
14-17 American Buffalo 
"Surprise
Theatre" returns for his second season of embedded theatre with a special night
of shows entitled "TALES OF THE MACABRE." Indulge
your dark side with a twisted evening of theatre perfect for a Friday the13th in
October.
life and the physicists' friendship? What could possibly have been
so urgent? 
A
“Python-esque” mixture of pratfalls, puns, willful misreading of
dialogue, and absurd female impersonations, featuring both broad and
subtle humor. Three actors condense a lifetime of the Bard’s work into
one evening, spoofing it and praising it at the same time. This
production by The Balagula Theatre embodies one of comedy’s most
essential impulses: the adolescent urge to take a sledgehammer to the
culturally revered. If you’re a fan of Shakespeare you’ll like this
show, if you hate Shakespeare you’ll like this show.
Herald-Leader Culture Critic Rich Copley wrote: “…one of the most unusual
theater experiences in Lexington.”
Herald-Leader Culture Critic Rich Copley wrote: “…one of the most unusual
theater experiences in Lexington.”
The
Balagula Theatre is pleased to announce that due to popular demand “Surprise
Theatre” returns this December at Natasha’s Café with all new installments!
September 6th, 7th & 11th – 14th
Why
watch reality TV? Is there not enough reality? But, of course, reality
is messy, three dimensional, unresolved and demanding of our
participation…we really are basically lazy. Try this: Reality does have
all the components of theater, it’s just curtain less and lacking a good
artistic director. It runs hundreds of unwritten scripts all around (and
within us) making it hard to concentrate on just one thing at a
time…Unlike reality theater provides a frame for easy viewing and allows
script writers, actors and directors to make statements. What if you
move theater right into the midst of an ordinary day…say in a restaurant
and not tell anyone…would anyone notice?
June
7 – 9 & 12–16, Bash, By Neil LaBute
April
30, 2003 Kissing Christine