Festival Players Guild has announced that Los Angeles actor/director/writer (and Mishawak native) Darin Dahms will bring his acclaimed production, "The Player King," to the Mainstreet Theatre in Michigan City, from March 20-29, as part of the Canterbury Winter Arts series.
"The Player King" is a one-man performance piece inspired by the lives of Edwin Booth, Junius Brutus Booth, and John Wilkes Booth. It takes place sometime during the year following the assassination of President Abraham Lincoln. Edwin Booth, perhaps the greatest Shakespearean actor in American history, has been forced to quit the stage because of his brother's heinous crime. He is questioning whether he can return to the theatre after the tragedy that has befallen his family. Part soliloquy, part memory play, "The Player King" is Edwin's personal investigation into his relationship to his art and a search for an answer to the question, "What does it mean to be an actor?"
An actor, director and writer based in Los Angeles, Dahms hails from Mishawaka, Indiana, and began his professional career at Red Barn Summer Theatre in Frankfort, Indiana. He was a winner for Best Director-Local and Best Producer at the 18th Annual NAACP Theatre awards in Los Angeles. He has a BA in Acting from Indiana University at South Bend and an MFA in Acting from the University of South Carolina. He is a member of the prestigious Actor’s Studio.
What the critics say about "The Player King": "This is a one-man show but actually, under the spell of playwright-performer Darin Dahms, there are three distinct men on stage, all fully realized and fascinating....Brilliantly written and performed, this is a must-see for lovers of Shakespeare and students of history." - Morna Murphy Martell, Theatre Spoken Here. "Four Stars. Darin Dahms, one of the unsung heroes of the L.A. theater scene, a brilliant actor/ director...." - Willard Manus, TotalTheater.com. "Dahms is a talented, engaging performer...." -Lovell Estell III, in bestowing LA Weekly's coveted "Go" designation for performances not to be missed.
Whether you are a lover of theatre, history or both, this is a rare opportunity to share in a truly mesmerizing evening.
Tickets are $20, with discounts for seniors and students. Performance times are 7:30 p.m. on March 20-21, 27-28; and at 2:00 p.m. on March 22nd and 29th, at the Mainstreet Theatre, 807 Franklin Street, in Michigan City. Call (219) 874-4269 to reserve your seats now.
Though there is a mild amount of strong language and adult situations, this show is appropriate for most ages.