Here’s what Martin Brady had to say in the NASHVILLE SCENE this week about the Naked Stages production of I AM MY OWN WIFE:

“Mark Cabus’ one-man performance in Doug Wright’s Pulitzer-winning I AM MY OWN WIFE both opened and closed last week with four performances at Belmont’s Black Box Theater. Those who availed themselves of this rare solo piece witnessed one of Nashville’s most accomplished thespians successfully enacting dozens of roles, utilizing sharply differentiated vocal styles and a keen sense of movement to keep the many dramatis personae remarkably discrete while also sensitively relating the unique story of the German transvestite Charlotte von Mahlsdorf (1928-2002).

Under the direction of Kate Al-Shamma, Cabus enunciated his English dialogue with a thick yet credibly effective German accent, intimately re-creating von Mahlsdorf’s world and using every corner of the theater to interact directly with his audience, often engaging with them individually as if they were sympathetic friends. With key scenes enhanced by Rudi Aldridge’s moody lighting, Cabus balanced warmth with the appropriate eccentricity in etching out the show’s main role, while also seamlessly working his way through the many ancillary characters.”

The article can be found here.

See what all the buzz is about!

Doug Wright’s Tony Award and Pulitzer Prize-winning I AM MY OWN WIFE starring Mark Cabus and directed by Kate Al-Shamma runs June 12-15 at Belmont University’s Black Box Theatre (2100 Belmont Boulevard on Compton Street).

Evening performances June 12-14 start at 7:30 PM with doors opening at 7 PM. The Sunday matinee on June 15 begins at 4 PM with the house open at 3:30 PM.

Adult tickets are $12 in advance and $15 at the box office (cash only). All student and senior tickets are $5 with ID (cash only). And on Father’s Day (June 15) ALL tickets are $5 with our “I AM MY OWN DAD!” special. Don’t miss the most anticipated event of the season - get your tickets now!

Please be advised this play contains mature content.

Kate Al-Shamma recently relocated to Nashville from California. She currently teaches acting, voice, and movement at Belmont University and has taught these and related performance courses at universities in San Francisco and Santa Barbara over the past fourteen years. As both a performer and a director, Kate specializes in image-driven theatre, which includes Shakespeare as well as improvisational forms of choreographic theatre. She recently made her Nashville directing debut with Actors Bridge Ensemble’s production of BLUE/ORANGE.

1. What are the challenges of directing a one-actor show as opposed to a show with a multiple cast, particularly a complex show with so many distinct characters as I AM MY OWN WIFE?

In any show, the story telling needs to connect to the audience. With a one-person show, this is a particular kind of challenge since there is the energy of only one human being on stage. My question with this piece was how to bring it quite directly into relationship with the audience, how to activate the audience kinesthetically as well as emotionally. Throughout this production, we try to “endow” members of the audience with specific characteristics, making them carry part of the story. Another challenge with this play is the need for creating specific locations quickly and clearly using only the actor’s body and limited set or props. There is a fluidity to this kind of piece; it must flow.

2. What attracted you to directing this play?

I was attracted by the theme of human survival in the face of tremendous adversity. The details associated with both Nazi Germany and the subsequent communist rule are always disturbing to me. Furthermore, this is the story of an individual who is different, inhabits the fringe of a society; she is “the other.” I believe that many artists feel that they are living a bit outside of their culture. I certainly feel this way myself. How to “succeed” when living by a different set of values, when using your own standard of measure, can be an extremely lonely endeavor. Charlotte is such a beautiful example. She doesn’t become bitter, she is never negative. She finds her own way with such sweetness. And there are signs that this sweetness spreads outward and affects deeply most of the people she meets.

3. What does the word “survival” mean in the context of Charlotte von Mahlsdorf’s story?

Survival here is physical and psychological, “psyche” being another word for soul. This is the story of an individual soul which is forced to confront the darkest side of humanity. Like Psyche’s journey through the underworld and back again, Charlotte sees the face of death and destruction, and she returns to the living and continues on to make a significant contribution. Her life is meaning-full. That is the ultimate “survival” considering the violent context of her life.

4. Is it fair to say that Charlotte as Doug Wright presents her is an elusive character, and if so, how does that element affect this play?

The audience never knows the truth. We hear different sides of the story, or rather, we hear Charlotte’s side and how her side is questioned. Those questions are never answered.

5. If there’s one thing you would hope would stay with theatergoers after they left a performance of I AM MY OWN WIFE, what would that one thing be?

A renewed sense that each individual life is precious; each of us is so delightfully unique. I hope that this play stimulates our most compassionate selves, that it encourages us to embrace one another regardless of surface differences and to love one another with all of our fabulous oddities!

Due to unexpected scheduling conflicts at Belmont University, we are presenting I AM MY OWN WIFE, starring Mark Cabus, for four performances only, June 12 through 15. In addition to the date changes, we have a new yet familiar venue as well: the beautiful Black Box Theatre on Compton Avenue (right behind the Troutt Theatre on Belmont).

A special thank you to Belmont Theater Department Chair Paul Gatrell and Technical Director Don Griffiths for their efforts to make this possible. Thanks, guys.

We’re offering special discounts for these four performances too. Adult tickets are $12 in advance and $15 at the box office. To purchase online, click the TicketsNashville icon to the right of this article, and purchase the number of tickets you wish. And for students and seniors with ID, we’re offering $5 anytime tickets for any show.

And if that’s not enough … for our Sunday, June 15, matinee, we’re offering a special “I AM MY OWN DAD!” discount. ALL tickets for that 4 PM performance are just $5. That’s right! Now anyone can see quality theater for a low low price. Just $5 for this special Father’s Day show.

Order your tickets now for the Most Anticipated Event of the Season … Mark Cabus in the Pulitzer and Tony-winning play, I AM MY OWN WIFE.

 

 Podcast Video [3:14m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Downloads 9

Yet another exclusive online look into our recent production of Twelfth Night! You’ll see exclusive video of the rehearsals and hear interviews with the actors!

Featuring Claire Syler (Viola/Cesario)

If you missed Twelfth Night at Belmont University, you can still see the show as part of the Valhalla Shakespeare Project’s season!

 

 Podcast Video [3:14m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Downloads 4

An exclusive online look into our recent production of Twelfth Night! You’ll see exclusive video of the rehearsals and hear interviews with the actors!

Featuring Brian Webb Russell (Malvolio/Antonio)

If you missed Twelfth Night at Belmont University, you can still see the show as part of the Valhalla Shakespeare Project’s season!

 

 Podcast Video [3:40m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Downloads 2

An exclusive online look into our recent production of Twelfth Night! You’ll see exclusive video of the rehearsals and hear interviews with the actors!

Featuring Denice Hicks (Olivia/Captain)

If you missed Twelfth Night at Belmont University, you can still see the show as part of the Valhalla Shakespeare Project’s season!

 

 Podcast Video [2:58m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Downloads 1

Enjoy the first of our exclusive online look into our recent production of Twelfth Night! You’ll see exclusive video of the rehearsals and hear interviews with the actors!

If you missed Twelfth Night at Belmont University, you can still see the show as part of the Valhalla Shakespeare Project’s season!

Only two more Twelfth Nights left! Buy your tickets now for Friday or Saturday night’s performances by clicking on the “Tickets Nashville” link on the right-hand side of this page. Make sure you enter the code “GRP12″ for the special online discount price of $15 per ticket!

If you miss the show at Belmont’s beautiful Black Box theatre, you can always catch the show at the Valhalla Shakespeare Project at the end of May.

A special thanks to those of you who hung around for our talkback last night! Remember you can post your thought and comments right here on the website!

Also, become a fan of Naked Stages on Facebook! Not on Facebook? Sign up today!

Did you like the music?  Check out the Twelfth Night iMix in iTunes!

Tonight’s the night! William Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night opens at Belmont’s new Black Box Theatre tonight, May 8, at 7:30p.

And for you, our Naked Stages patrons, we’re offering a special discount. Click on the TicketsNashville icon to the right and, when prompted, write into the discount blank “GRP12″ and receive $10 off our box office ticket price.

That’s right! For $15, you can see quality theatre performed by some of Nashville’s finest: Denice Hicks, Brian Webb Russell, Claire Syler, John Mauldin and Mark Cabus; directed by Tee Quillin.