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Lawson Taitte: Lawson Taitte is the theater critic for The Dallas Morning News.
Scott Cantrell: Scott Cantrell came to The Dallas Morning News in 1999 and is the classical music and opera critic.


March 2010
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March 8, 2010


Looping the Loop 5: Chopping and dishing

3:56 PM Mon, Mar 08, 2010 |
Lawson Taitte/Theater Critic    Bio |  E-mail  |  News tips

CHOP.jpgThe second and third shows I saw Sunday at WaterTower Theatre's Out of the Loop Fringe Festival were both one-man shows written by the performer. The similarities pretty much end there.

Brad McEntire, found of Audacity Theatre Lab, did a play called Chop. It's really a play, with a story line and other characters, though the speaker does interact with the audience (and merely describes the other characters, of course). The rather extreme premise provokes rather little emotional flutter. I found myself wondering what the point of the piece was. I have to say, though, that with New York director Andrew J. Merkel's assistance, McEntire gives a fresh and impressive performance.

Seth Rudetzky -- known as the music director on MTV's star-search Legally Blonde series and as the host of Sirius Radio's afternoon Broadway show -- was one of the two headliners of the festival's first weekend. He's an immensely entertaining personality, so it was a pleasure to watch Broadway Seth Rudetzky Style. But it's not really even a performance piece. It's actually a lecture illustrated by lots of delightful recorded examples. The subject is the kind of Broadway singing Rudetzky likes best, belting. (So no mention of Barbara Cook and only a back-handed compliment to Julie Andrews.)

Really, the show is a combo of very picky criticism and gossipy complaint. Rudetzky worships the like of Barbra Streisand, Patti LuPone and Betty Buckley (who he has accompanied on local stages). But he's willing to pick apart even Streisand and LuPone.

I know quite a bit about Broadway musicals, and I learned an enormous amount from Rudetzky's show. And it was great fun. But it's still a little weird to put a classroom in a festival like that.

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The entry "Looping the Loop 5: Chopping and dishing" is tagged: Out of the Loop Fringe Festival



Big guns on the business of show business.

1:22 PM Mon, Mar 08, 2010 |
Angela Wilson/Guest Blogger    Bio |  E-mail  |  News tips

Last November the Brinker International Forum brought movie star Hilary Swank to the Winspear Opera House to speak to a well-heeled audience. Last week's Brinker International Forum's panel discussion titled "The Creative Process" also featured three big names (four, if you count moderator and CNN anchor Campbell Brown), actor-writer-producer-director Bob Balaban; producer-studio-head Peter Guber; and director Brett Ratner who discussed how their ideas become feature films. It was a one hour panel discussion, and began with promotional clips that lasted the first fifteen minutes of the hour.

One of those promotional clips was particularly cheesy, and frankly, an hour is not long enough for those of us actually interested in the creative process of filmmaking, but probably more than enough for some of the audience that night (several with tickets in the closest rows were very late, which leads me to believe those up in front might have been more interested in attending the private "meet and greet "with the speakers than in hearing what these three heavy-hitters actually had to say about filmmaking.) But I digress.


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The entry "Big guns on the business of show business." is tagged: Angela Wilson , Bob Balaban , Brett Ratner , Peter Guber


March 7, 2010


Looping the Loop 4: A punishment for gluttony

3:39 PM Sun, Mar 07, 2010 |
Lawson Taitte/Theater Critic    Bio |  E-mail  |  News tips

Rite of Passage Theatre Company has been around for the last year -- at festivals only, far as I can tell. The previous offerings were scripts by co-founder Clay Wheeler. At this year's Out of the Loop, Wheeler (a Baylor University grad) directs a piece by Baylor professor Thomas Ward.

Binge is about an overweight young man, Doug (Mark C. Guerra), who wants to have gastric bypass surgery. The scenes alternate between interviews with thecrass surgeon (James Prince) and vignettes from Doug's regular life. Co-worker Chris (Roger Schwermer), an even crasser lady's man, tries to fix Doug up with the receptionist. But Doug actually starts striking sparks with the new pizza delivery woman, Beth (Rachel Hall).

The show's first half hour is aptly described by one of the character's observations on the interminable sessions between doctor and patient: "Boring!" Things start to get more interesting when Beth comes on the scene, however. She's quirky and a breath of fresh air.

The play turns dark at the end. Ultimately we have so little empathy with any of these people that we wonder why we bothered to spend so much time with them. But the performance is pretty good all the way around. It was especially nice to see Guerra get a chance at a larger role (he frequently does bit parts around town). Here he's sensitive without being annoying about it.

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The entry "Looping the Loop 4: A punishment for gluttony" is tagged: Out of the Loop Fringe Festival


March 6, 2010


Looping the Loop 3: Sex

7:20 PM Sat, Mar 06, 2010 |
Lawson Taitte/Theater Critic    Bio |  E-mail  |  News tips

It's sometimes difficult to believe that barely more than a generation ago someone like Lenny Bruce could get put in jail for saying a certain four-letter word onstage. Especially when you see a show like My First Time, WaterTower Theatre's own contribution to its ninth Out of the Loop Fringe Festival.

Ken Davenport adapted the theater piece from many of the submissions to the famous 1990s website that invited people to share their first sexual experiences. Four actors, two male and two female, take all the roles. Sometimes they just say a word or two taken from the stories. Sometimes they give us a complete account.

As you might imagine, the level of sexual frankness is high. A time traveler from the 1960s or before would probably die of a heart attack in his or her seat.

Two years ago Mark Fleischer (the man who turned Plano Repertory Theatre into a major group before he went off to graduate school and it died) came back to town to direct WaterTower's festival show. That one was terrifically performed. So is this one.

Only for the bold and unembarrassable.

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The entry "Looping the Loop 3: Sex " is tagged: Out of the Loop Fringe Festival



Looping the Loop 2: Talking about "I Sing!"

3:59 PM Sat, Mar 06, 2010 |
Lawson Taitte/Theater Critic    Bio |  E-mail  |  News tips

Club110group.jpgTheater people -- and I suspect audiences -- have to relate a new work to something they already know in order to begin taking it in.

For the first matinee slot in this year's Out of the Loop Fringe Festival at WaterTower Theatre, I chose to see Club 119 Productions' I Sing! It's a chamber musical (music by Eli Bolin, lyrics by Sam Forman) that played New York a decade ago and vanished. I'm always eager to see a fresh small musical, and this one features some of our busiest younger actors. (Photo by Vladimir Meyman.)

After a long first act, I retreated to the lobby and had a conversation with actor Stan Graner (who's currently starring in Artisan Center Theater's Brigadoon). He asked if I thought I Sing! sounded like bad William Finn.

I said, "No, I was thinking Avenue Q -- without the jokes and the puppets."

Bach in the Studio Space, Dallas Observer and TheaterJones critic Elaine Liner piped up, "This is Avenue Q without the puppets."

Great minds.

Like I said, we all need to relate a new work to something. But actually I think Elaine and I were basically wrong. Read on to see why.

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The entry "Looping the Loop 2: Talking about "I Sing!"" is tagged: Out of the Loop Fringe Festival


March 5, 2010


That's Broadway: Twyla Tharp movin' on to Sinatra

4:44 PM Fri, Mar 05, 2010 |
Christina Huschle/Guest Blogger    Bio |  E-mail  |  News tips

I know next to nothing about dance. I must preface this entry with this piece of information, because I am about to talk about a new musical on Broadway that deals entirely with dance. Please feel free to elaborate in the comments on anything you feel I may omit here simply from dance ignorance.

Twyla Tharp, fresh on the heels of her megahit Movin' Out, centered around the music of Billy Joel, has brought her vivacious and impassioned choreography together with the songbook of Frank Sinatra in Come Fly Away, which opens on Broadway on March 25.

It is not entirely fair to critique a show while it is still in previews. Before a show opens, many concepts and missteps are still fluid and ready for changes. Especially in a show like Come Fly Away, there is room for improvement and time to fix problems.

Since I know theatre, I have two main pieces of advice and neither one has a thing to do with the incredible choreography. Twyla's got that under control.

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The entry "That's Broadway: Twyla Tharp movin' on to Sinatra" is tagged: advertising , Charlie Neshyba-Hodges , Come Fly Away , Frank Sinatra , Karine Plantadit , Twyla Tharp


March 4, 2010


Looping the Loop 1: On the way

4:59 PM Thu, Mar 04, 2010 |
Lawson Taitte/Theater Critic    Bio |  E-mail  |  News tips

Daisey3.jpgI'm about to leave for the opening night of WaterTower Theatre's 2010 Out of the Loop Fringe Festival, where I'll see the first of five different one-man shows New York-based performance artists Mike Daisey will be doing. You can read my review when it goes online late tonight. You can see my Guide advance story here, and go to WaterTower's own site for detailed information.

That's a photo of Daisey, by the way.

I'll be seeing six different shows on Saturday and Sunday and catching up with as much more as I can next week. Look here on the Arts Blog for my thoughts, written live at the theater in Addison.

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The entry "Looping the Loop 1: On the way" is tagged: Out of the Loop Fringe Festival



That's Broadway: can Jerusalem be "too British?"

2:44 PM Thu, Mar 04, 2010 |
Christina Huschle/Guest Blogger    Bio |  E-mail  |  News tips

I have been back from London over a week now. Sometimes I still cannot believe I went. When I get guilty about the amount of money I spent for what basically amounted to three days, I think of the play Jerusalem by Jez Butterworth.

An entire trip worth one play, you ask incredulously? Yes, worth it for one play; and I'm not even sure I understood the plot.

Reading reviews, discussing the play with an English friend who loved it and basically mulling it over in my mind for the last 11 days has helped me come to a conclusion about Jerusalem. The amount of work and thought about the three-act play dominated by Tony Award-winner (for Boeing-Boeing), Mark Rylance, justified my spontaneity by simply making me think.

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The entry "That's Broadway: can Jerusalem be "too British?"" is tagged: Apollo Theatre , Come Fly Away , Jerusalem , London , Mackenzie Crook , Mark Rylance , Twyla Tharp , West End


February 25, 2010


That's Broadway: somewhere over Northampton, England

2:22 PM Thu, Feb 25, 2010 |
Christina Huschle/Guest Blogger    Bio |  E-mail  |  News tips

It is easy to think of Judy Garland today and make a joke. Whether you are referring to drug addiction, gay icons or simply celebrity gone awry, she can evoke a shake of the head and a 'what a waste' attitude. At least for some people.

For others, Judy Garland represents triumph over tragedy, overcoming adversity and strength when the world pulls the rug out from under you. But there is no denying her devastating talent.

During my trip to London, I hopped a commuter train to Northampton, 67 miles to the northwest. My friend and I were invited to the Royal & Derngate, a 125 year-old theater which has been renovated into a glossy and impressive showcase. End of the Rainbow by Peter Quilter revolves around the 1969 concerts at London's Talk of the Town, which would mark the beginning of the last months of her life.

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The entry "That's Broadway: somewhere over Northampton, England" is tagged: All the Fun of the Fair , David Essex , Judy Garland , Royal and Derngate , Talk of the Town , Tracie Bennett


February 24, 2010


We were there: Cirque du Soleil in Frisco

10:50 PM Wed, Feb 24, 2010 |
Ann Pinson    E-mail  |  News tips

NG_11ALEGRIA_8307137.jpgJaw-dropping is one of those terms that people throw around, but I found my mouth gaping in amazement again and again during the opening night of Cirque du Soleil's AlegrĆ­a in Frisco. The performers just kept surprising me. A woman spinning five silver hoops on her arms, her neck, her torso, her legs, wiggling to send each of the hoops flying into the hands of another performer. A pair of acrobats more flexible than anyone I've ever seen (arch-of-foot to shoulder, rear end to back-of-head flexible). A seven-man trapeze act. It's all woven into a slightly bizarre, quick-paced dreamscape of music, elaborate costumes and circus art.

The clowns in this Cirque production are quite funny, with jokes ranging from imitations of the acts that remind the audience members of the almost-impossibility of the feats they've just seen, to horse-flatulence humor, to audience-participation bits (if you sit on the floor level, be warned, they might recruit you).

Worried about the venue being an arena? Don't. Dr Pepper Arena can be adapted to fit the performance, and one end of the arena is sectioned off with a black curtain in a way that feels intimate. When the lights come up and you see the arena-style ads (Hooters, Ikea, Texans Credit Union) on the screens around the sides of the venue and the Texas Tornado Robertson Cup Champions banner overhead, it's like waking up from a dream. The show runs through Sunday.

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The entry "We were there: Cirque du Soleil in Frisco" is tagged: Alegria , Cirque du Soleil , Dr Pepper Arena , Frisco



How much nudity in "Equus"? It's Uptown Players, so ....

11:43 AM Wed, Feb 24, 2010 |
Angela Wilson/Guest Blogger    Bio |  E-mail  |  News tips

The three productions I have seen of "Equus" did not go for nudity. But Uptown Players is never shy in going for the nudity that is either written or implied in a script.

In their upcoming production of "Equus" a scene that in the script has the young protagonist pantomiming undressing will skip the pantomime and go for full nudity. Another nude scene has been staged between the protagonist and the young woman. It will be interesting to hear from audience and critics whether the nudity added to or distracted from the production.

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The entry "How much nudity in "Equus"? It's Uptown Players, so ...." is tagged: Angela Wilson , Uptown Players


February 23, 2010


Dallas Theater Center bargain tonight only

3:53 PM Tue, Feb 23, 2010 |
Lawson Taitte/Theater Critic    Bio |  E-mail  |  News tips

Angela talks about some bargains in the previous entry, but there's another one tonight -- Tuesday, Feb. 23, only. The Dallas Theater Center offers pay-what-you-can admission to the first preview of The Shape of Things (the first in its Neil LaBut "Beauty Plays" trilogy) tonight. Hurry -- the curtain is at 7 p.m. Just walk up to the box office.

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The entry "Dallas Theater Center bargain tonight only" is tagged: Dallas Theater Center



Kitchen Dog Theater and Uptown Players ticket pricing

2:53 PM Tue, Feb 23, 2010 |
Angela Wilson/Guest Blogger    Bio |  E-mail  |  News tips

Just a reminder that Kitchen Dog Theater still offers pay what you can nights, because, as Artistic Director, Tina Parker, notes "theater without an audience is frankly, just rehearsal" and Kitchen Dog Theater believes in keeping theater accessible and affordable to everyone who wants to see a show.

I like that attitude.

Kitchen Dog Theater is the only theater that offers so many PWYC opportunities- 6 out of 18 performances are pay what you can. You don't see yesterday's theater at KDT very often, so if you fret over shelling out $20 or so to see a show, you can pay what you can on Wednesday and Thursday performances. Kitchen Dog Theater will still welcome you.

I just received notice that tickets to Uptown Players' upcoming production of "Equus" (at the Kalita Humphrey Theater) will be in the $30-$40 range. This is a pretty big jump in Uptown ticket pricing, though still not horrible pricey, and there's a good reason for the jump in price -the show is well known - people will pay it- and the space and the rights to perform the show are probably a big part of the show's budget. It's an ongoing plight - how to keep ticket prices low enough to fill seats, while rental (and other) costs escalate.

Kitchen Dog Theater produces classics and would do a really kick A production of "Equus" too, but for the most part they produce very contemporary, edgy plays that have little Broadway (or any other) word of mouth build. On the boards now is "BOOM" by Peter Sinn Nachtrieb - check it out until March 13. 214.953.1055 or www.kitchendogtheater.org

"Equus" by Peter Shaffer is helped along by a strong revival and great word of mouth - it's an old show, but it's not a waxwork yet. February 26- March 21 at Uptown Players, 214 219 2718 or www.uptownplayers.org

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The entry "Kitchen Dog Theater and Uptown Players ticket pricing" is tagged: Angela Wilson , Kitchen Dog Theater , Uptown Players



That's Broadway: in the West End with Keira Knightley

2:16 PM Tue, Feb 23, 2010 |
Christina Huschle/Guest Blogger    Bio |  E-mail  |  News tips

Back from my jaunty little trip to London over the weekend, I have so much to share with you. I am going to spread my thoughts and British adventures over three separate blogs just to fit it all in.

While I am often one who complains about the shortcomings of others, I would hardly put myself in the category of a misanthrope - a person who hates or distrusts human kind. But after living in New York City for almost 10 years, I have gained an understanding for those who are misanthropic.

My first theatrical stop was at Keira Knightley's West End debut in the adaptation of Moliere's The Misanthrope by Martin Crimp, which is breaking box office records in London. (Some of you may remember my stance on movie stars as cash cows.) My friend and I were interested in the new translation of the French classic, as well as Ms. Knightley's performance.

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The entry "That's Broadway: in the West End with Keira Knightley" is tagged: Chanel , Damien Lewis , Keira Knightley , Love Never Dies , The Misanthrope , West End



CityArts Festival to move to Fair Park

1:39 PM Tue, Feb 23, 2010 |
Ann Pinson    E-mail  |  News tips

CityArts Festival is undergoing a lot of changes this year, moving from downtown Dallas to Fair Park, as well as being held in May instead of June. This year's dates are May 7 to 9.

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February 22, 2010


We were there: Fabulous 'Phantom' at the Music Hall

6:24 PM Mon, Feb 22, 2010 |
Joy Tipping/Staff Writer    Bio |  E-mail  |  News tips

Phantom.JPGTim Martin Gleason makes a magnificent, more-vulnerable-than-typical Phantom in this "pharewell" leg of the U.S. tour of Phantom of the Opera, which has been on the road continuously since 1989 and will close in November in Los Angeles. Last week, Marni Raab portrayed Christine, the fragile soprano who becomes the tortured Phantom's muse. On Tuesday, the role will be taken over by Trista Moldovan, who'll continue till the show closes March 14. Despite Phantom's familiarity after 20 years, audiences still gasp over the special effects -- the foggy underground lake, the crashing chandelier -- and Andrew Lloyd Webber's pounding score more than holds up. Gleason, who starred as the handsome and decidedly un-Phantom-like Raoul in the show for three years, makes a winning transition to the dark side for this tour. I heard sobbing at the finale on opening night; his touching emotional fragility makes you truly root for the Phantom's redemption, despite his heinous deeds. Tickets, $21-$86, are available through Ticketmaster.

PHOTO by Joan Marcus: Tim Martin Gleason and Trista Moldovan as the Phantom and Christine

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The entry "We were there: Fabulous 'Phantom' at the Music Hall" is tagged: Andrew Lloyd Webber , Dallas Summer Musicals , Phantom of the Opera , Tim Martin Gleason , Trista Moldovan



"Little House on the Prairie" with Melissa Gilbert as Ma

10:29 AM Mon, Feb 22, 2010 |
Ann Pinson    E-mail  |  News tips

This just in on the "news that makes you feel old" front: Melissa Gilbert, who played little Laura on the Little House on the Prairie TV show in the 70s and 80s, takes on the role of Ma in a touring stage production of Little House on the Prairie, the Musical that will be at Fair Park Music Hall from May 11-23 and at Bass Hall from June 8-13.

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The entry ""Little House on the Prairie" with Melissa Gilbert as Ma" is tagged: Casa MaƱana , Little House on the Prairie , Melissa Gilbert , Performing Arts Fort Worth


February 17, 2010


Joan Davidow to retire as head of Dallas Contemporary

5:25 PM Wed, Feb 17, 2010 |
Michael Granberry/Reporter    Bio |  E-mail  |  News tips

JoanDavidow.jpgSoon after moving into its new space in the Design District, Dallas Contemporary pulled a surprise Wednesday by announcing that Joan Davidow is retiring as its executive director effective May 31. Dallas Contemporary states, in a press release, that its "national" search for a new director has already begun. Davidow, the release says, will "continue in a consulting role" until the end of 2010. Her retirement comes "after nine years of dynamic leadership under which Dallas Contemporary has grown membership, expanded programming and initiated Art Think, a nationally award-winning education program, that served more than 11,000 students last year," the release says. Dallas Contemporary also credits Davidow with spearheading the purchase of its new location at 161 Glass Street -- a location that recently endured the embarrassment of not being able to open on time because it lacked all the necessary city inspections and approvals. It is, of course, open now. "Upon near completion of our capital campaign and our move into new quarters, I have the bittersweet duty of announcing Joan Davidow's retirement from Dallas Contemporary," said board president, Jo Marie Lilly. "After nine years of dedication and the devotion of tremendous
energy, Joan has achieved her goal of moving us into the new building and positioning us for the
future, and it is now time for us to look for future leadership. Joan's legacy will inspire our
future. Her contribution to the Dallas cultural scene is significant, and we are proud we have
had her leadership and guidance." Dallas Contemporary was house on Swiss Avenue, before its move to Glass Street, as a guest of the Meadows Foundation. Dallas Contemporary purchased its Glass Street building in 2007 and raised $4 million of a $6 million capital campaign, the release says, "to redesign the site for a contemporary art space."

Photo: Joan Davidow

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The entry "Joan Davidow to retire as head of Dallas Contemporary" is tagged: Dallas Contemporary , Joan Davidow , Meadows Foundation


February 16, 2010


That's Broadway: crossing the pond

3:47 PM Tue, Feb 16, 2010 |
Christina Huschle/Guest Blogger    Bio |  E-mail  |  News tips

The snow is falling once again here in New York City. But instead of revelling in the winter wonderland, I am worried about my flight tomorrow.

When a friend of mine mentioned she was heading over to London for the weekend to see a bit of theatre, I glanced at my tax refund check. Hmm, what better way to spend a little of my hard-earned dough on expanding my horizons?

So, I am off to check out what the West End has to offer in the way of theatre right now. I will fill you in on what we saw when I return. I am completely devastated that Love Never Dies, the sequel to Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber's smash hit Phantom of the Opera, postponed the first preview to the day after we leave. Curses!

Coming soon: that will be the West End for you.

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The entry "That's Broadway: crossing the pond" is tagged: Love Never Dies , West End theate


February 15, 2010


Wojewodski to the helm at Undermain

5:37 PM Mon, Feb 15, 2010 |
Lawson Taitte/Theater Critic    Bio |  E-mail  |  News tips

wojewodski.JPGFor a tiny theater in a basement, Undermain Theatre is surely in some high cotton these days. The folks there have been talking with Stan Wojewodski, Jr., about getting together to do a show for some time. They wanted this distinguished former dean of Yale Drama School -- and recently named chair of the theater division at SMU -- to choose his own vehicle to direct. Now it's settled: Wojewodski will stage Samuel Beckett's masterpiece Endgame, to open April 10.

It was easy enough to predict that co-founder Bruce DuBose would play Hamm and current Undermain leading man Jonathan Brooks would be Clov. But Undermain has scored a real coup in signing Fred Curchack and Laura Jorgensen to play the aging parents in trash cans, Nagg and Nell. For the third show running, Tony Award winner John Arnone will design the set -- and this time the costumes as well. This show couldn't get any more all-star if it were being played at Cowboy Stadium.

File shot of Stan Wojewodski by Damon Winter

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The entry "Wojewodski to the helm at Undermain" is tagged: Dallas theater , Jr. , Stan Wojewodski , Undermain Theatre



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