A dark comedy about brilliant people, Artefact Theatre Company presents Pulitzer Prize-nominee, Theresa Rebeck’s smart and provocative comedy, Seminar at Chapel off Chapel this November 2016.
A story of blood, sweat and tears in the writer’s den, four aspiring young writers pool their money to hire a famous novelist for a series of master classes to learn from a legendary novelist, Leonard – a hard-drinking and oversexed writer who makes ends meet with freelance jobs and pricey seminars.
Undeniably charismatic and indisputably harsh, Leonard throws the book at his students in workshops that are punctuated by professional envy, personal jealousy and sexual tension. But can his wandering eye spot real talent?
Under his recklessly brilliant and unorthodox instruction, some thrive and others flounder, alliances are made and broken, sex is used as a weapon and hearts are unmoored. Ferociously fun and fast-paced with sparkling wordplay, Seminar takes no prisoners in this biting Broadway comedy.
“Language, status, sex and honesty are used as weapons in the pursuit of a slightly better place amongst the hierarchy of one another and an ultimate goal artistic success,” says director Matthew Cox. “Given the summed intellect of the five characters on stage, the show is packed with an huge amount of wit.”
“But perhaps most impressive is Theresa Rebeck’s ability to build a meaningful rapport between her five writers and the audience in such a short space of time.”
Theresa Rebeck is an award-winning American playwright, television writer, and novelist. Her work has appeared on the Broadway and Off-Broadway stage, in film, and on television. Her plays include Spike Heels, Mauritius, The Scene, The Water’s Edge, Loose Knit, The Family of Mann, View of the Dome, Bad Dates, The Butterfly Collection, Poor Behavior, Omnium Gatherum and Our House.
Her television credits include Dream On, Brooklyn Bridge, L.A. Law, American Dreamer, Maximum Bob, First Wave, Third Watch, and she created the NBC drama Smash. As a novelist, she has written Three Girls and Their Brother and Twelve Rooms With A View, and was the author of Free Fire Zone, a book of comedic essays about writing and show business.
“Theresa Rebeck hits plenty of bull’s-eyes, so sit back and enjoy the ride.” – New York Post
Director: Matthew Cox Featuring: Cazz Bainbridge, Ra Chapman, Darcy Kent, Dion Mills, Mark Yeates Set Designer: Hugh Stephens
Seminar: A Comedy
The Loft – Chapel Off Chapel, 12 Little Chapel Street, Prahran
Season: 11 – 26 November 2016 (previews: 9 & 10 November)
Bookings: www.chapeloffchapel.com.au
For more information, visit: www.artefacttheatre.com for details.
Image: cast of Seminar (supplied)