Footlight Players’ Production of Boys’ Life Opens Sixth Season of LateNight @ The Footlight

August 18, 2011

CHARLESTON, SC – August 18, 2011 – The Footlight Players are proud to open its sixth season of LateNight @ The Footlight with the Pulitzer Prize nominated comedy Boys’ Life by Howard Korder. The series is sponsored by The Charleston City Paper.

Boys’ Life is a coming-of-age story that follows the misadventures of three former college friends seeking to make their way in the big city with various women of their acquaintance. The production is a series of fast-paced, sharply etched scenes set in a present-day city that could be New York.

As the stinging chain of sketches progress, Jack, Phil, and Don, stoop increasingly lower in their attempts to woo women. Jack, already married and a father, is not above pursuing daytime adulteries and emotional affairs with women he meets while his kids play at the park. Phil, innocent and vulnerable, has grown weary of not being taken seriously and has concluded that being unhappy is the way life is supposed to be. Don, amoral and handsome, risks a solid relationship with his girlfriend by sleeping with another woman simply to see if he can get away with it.

 

Above photo: Shawn Stoner (Don), Brent Fox (Jack) with Abby Kammeraad-Campbell Photo Credits: R.W. Smith

While Korder’s sarcastic and witty comedy dissects the anatomy of male narcissism and protracted adolescence with a sometimes-brazen heterosexual point-of-view, the author is careful to give his female characters strong voices. These ladies (Karen, Lisa, Maggie) are onto the trio’s shenanigans and aren’t afraid to stand up for themselves making Boys’ Life a fun and thought-provoking exploration of the relationships that exist between women and men. 

Directing The Footlight Players production of Boys’ Life is R.W. “Smitty” Smith and features Shawn Stoner as Don, Brent Fox as Jack, Christian Self as Phil, Laura Artesi as Karen, Anne Reid as Lisa, Abby Kammeraad-Campbell as Maggie, Janet Bowler as Carla, and Nthenya Ndunda as the Girl.

Performances of Boys’ Life are September 1, 2, 3, 8, 9 and 10 at 9 p.m. Tickets for the Late Night @ The Footlight series are $10 on Thursdays and $15 for Friday and Saturday shows. All seating is General Admission. To purchase tickets, contact the Footlight Players box office at (843) 722.4487 or visit www.FootlightPlayers.net  and reserve your tickets online.

About the Director

R.W. Smith is an actor, director and playwright. He graduated from Louisiana State University where he earned his Master of Fine Arts degree. Smith’s directing credits include Killer Joe, Horse Tranqs & Carriage People, Lowcountry Boil and A Number by Caryl Churchill which was remounted for the Piccolo Spoleto Festival.

He has written or co-written five plays including Sam’s Corner, Horse, Tranqs & Carriage People, The Complete History of Charleston for Morons, and Lowcountry Boil which won The Charleston City Paper Award for Best Non-Piccolo Play of 2010.

Some of Smith’s acting credits include Race, True West, Grace, Beauty Queen of Leenane, Man From Nebraska, Jesus Hopped the ‘A’ Train, The Seafarer, Shining City, Up, The Pillowman, American Buffalo and episodes of Army Wives.

About LateNight @ The Footlight

In its sixth season, LateNight @ The Footlight offers audiences edgy and contemporary productions in a relaxing and sociable environment at a low cost.  It’s perfect for those new to theatre and seasoned theatre fans alike. So, put on your favorite pair of jeans and experience theatre from a laid back, fun perspective. Gather up your friends­ and grab a bucket of beer at concessions—LateNight theatre is cheaper than going to a movie! If it’s not LateNight @ The Footlight, it’s just not theatre.