Trustus Theatre is bringing German wartime filmmaking to Columbia as Amazons and Their Men opens in the intimate 50-seat Trustus Black Box Theatre. A darkly comedic look at the role of artists during wartime, Amazons and Their Men is inspired by the life and work of controversial Nazi propaganda filmmaker Leni Riefenstahl. The show opens January 26th at 7:30pm, and runs through February 4th, 2012.
About the show: "Amazons and Their Men introduces audiences to “The Frau” – a powerful woman who used to direct beautiful films for a fascist government. Now she’s trying to make a film that’s simply beautiful. The Frau casts herself in the lead role of the Amazon queen Penthesilea, who falls in love with Achilles on the battlefield of the Trojan War. She recruits a man from the Jewish ghetto to play her Achilles. Her own sister, a long-suffering extra, plays every single Amazon who’s killed in the background. With chariot crashes and longing close-ups, it all has the makings of a glamorous war. However, when telegrams start to arrive from the Minister of Propaganda it becomes impossible for the Frau to ignore the real war outside her own sound stage. The controversy surrounding her new work brings even more undesired attention from higher-ups who refuse to be disobeyed."
Director Larry McMullen assembled a group of talented actors to bring this challenging production to the Trustus Black Box. Playing The Frau is popular Trustus Company Member Elena Martinez-Vidal, last seen in the wildly acclaimed August: Osage County and known for her performances in The Kathy and Mo Show. Playing the Jewish actor taken from the ghetto is Trustus Company Member Jason Stokes, last seen as Roger in the hit Trustus musical RENT. Amy Brower, known for her recurring performance as Junie B. Jones with the Columbia Children’s Theater, will be playing the Frau’s sister. Tyler Jones will round out the ensemble as another member of The Frau’s film cast.
Trustus Company Member Baxter Engle, known for his media work on such shows as Trustus’ Assassins and Town Theatre’s Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, is creating a media design for the show complete with videos of historical archive footage – a first for the intimate 50-seat house at Trustus.
Amazons and Their Men opens Thursday, January 26th at 7:30pm and runs through Saturday, February 4th, 2012. All Thursday shows start at 7:30pm, and Fridays & Saturdays start at 8pm. The doors and box office open thirty minutes prior to curtain, and all Black Box tickets are $15. Reservations can be made by calling the Trustus Box Office at (803) 254-9732.
Trustus Theatre is located at 520 Lady Street, behind the Gervais St. Publix. Parking is available on Lady Street and on Pulaski Street. The Black Box Theatre entrance is through the glass doors on the Huger St. side of the building.
For more information or reservations call the box office Tuesdays through Saturdays 1-6 pm at 803-254-9732. Visit www.trustus.org for all show information and season info.
