Rubicon Theatre Company presents
Steve Martin’s
Outer Critics Circle Award-winning
Picasso at the Lapin Agile
Directed by William Keeler
"It’s really about how exciting it is when you’re on the verge of something."
March 5, 2008…Ventura, CA… Rubicon Theatre Company continues its 10th Anniversary Season of 8
great plays by presenting Steve Martin’s merry, madcap and thought-provoking PICASSO AT THE
LAPIN AGILE with a run from April 3 to 27. The screenwriter and comedy actor’s first play about an
imagined chance meeting of painter Pablo Picasso and scientist Albert Einstein at the Lapin Agile bar in
Paris won the 1996 Outer Critics Circle Award for best play and best writer .
Says Rubicon Artistic Director James O’Neil, "This zany yet profound comedy reveals the physical desires
and intellectual hunger of two smart young guys in debate over attraction, creativity and ideas—just before
their genius breakthrough discoveries of cubism and the theory of relativity—amidst the bar scene banter of
eight regulars and a final mysterious visitor from the future."
The production is headed by director William Keeler, a regular at Rubicon with his dramaturgical work,
who makes his second Rubicon directorial appearance with the show he understudied on Broadway and
throughout the National Tour.
Joining the cast is Paul Provenza, back at Rubicon after his 2005 performance in All in the Timing to
reprise the role of Picasso which he made famous off-Broadway. Provenza’s lengthy credits as a comedian
and actor include regular appearances on "The Daily Show with Jon Stewart" and "Politically Incorrect,"
starring roles on "The West Wing," "Pursuit of Happyness," "Empty Nest," and "Under the Influence," as well as
being a guest on "The Tonight Show" (with Johnny Carson and Jay Leno), "The Late Show with David Letterman,"
"Late Night with Conan O’Brien," and "Jimmy Kimmel Live." Provenza is also a regular panelist on NPR’s weekly
current events comedy quiz show, "Wait, Wait... Don’t Tell Me."
In addition, PICASSO AT THE LAPIN AGILE features a cast of Rubicon regulars, including Jamie
Torcellini (Man of La Mancha) as Einstein, Rubicon company member Joseph Fuqua (Hamlet), Nancy
Nufer (All in the Timing), and Ventura native Alyson Lindsay Schuster. New additions to Rubicon’s
stage include Cyrus Alexander as The Visitor, Amie Farrell as Suzanne, Marty Lodge as Freddy and
Mark Murphey as Gaston. Director William Keeler also appears as Sagot.
.
Martin’s play takes place in the now famous artist haunt The Lapin Agile("Nimble Rabbit")—named for a
tavern sign depicting a rabbit leaping from a skillet—in the Montmartre district of Paris. Here, the two
geniuses meet by chance on the precipice of creating works that will shock and change the twentieth
century. Einstein is 25 and a year shy of publishing his first paper on "The Special Theory of Relativity"
and Picasso at 23 is struggling to create (three years later) an eight-foot-square canvas Les Demoiselles
d’Avignon—a lineup of five nude and glaring prostitutes from a Barcelona brothel located on Calle
Avignon—twisted in cubist poses with some faces resembling African masks. What Matisse thought "a
hoax" was hailed last year during its centennial as the first and greatest masterpiece of modern art;
Picasso’s dealer thought the work must be "unfinished."
The two geniuses banter as rivals but gradually develop a bond as they share their thoughts on the century’s
achievements, prospects for mankind’s future and their ambition to discover new notions of space and time
in art and science. Yet, throughout this exploration of the sublime, Martin’s characters never lose a playful
joie d’vivre and dizzy humor.
PICASSO AT THE LAPIN AGILE opened at the Steppenwolf Theater Company in Chicago for an
almost six-month run (1994-5), followed by success at the Westwood (now Geffen) Playhouse in Los
Angeles before making its way off-Broadway (1995-6) at the Promenade Theater. Its first reading in 1993
occurred at the author’s Beverly Hills’ home with Tom Hanks and Chris Sarandon as the artist and
scientist, respectively.
About the Author
STEVE MARTIN began his entertainment career as a writer with the Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour
just out of college. He has written screenplays for Roxanne (Writer’s Guild Award, Best Screenplay), L.A. Story and
A Simple Twist of Fate. He also co-wrote the screenplays for The Jerk, Dead Men Don’t Wear Plaid, The Man with
Two Brains and Three Amigos! Steve has published a collection of short stories, Cruel Shoes. His other plays include
WASP, Patter for the Floating Lady, The Zig-Zag Woman and The Underpants. Inspiration for Picasso at the Lapin
Agile came from the author’s visit to the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City to see Picasso’s
"Au Lapin Agile" painted in 1905—perhaps in partial payment for a bar bill—that portrayed the artist as
Harlequin and his patron with his guitar. The bar owner sold the painting for $20 in 1912; it was purchased
at auction for the Met in 1989 for $41 million.
About the Creative Team
Director William Keeler is the Rubicon Theatre Company’s Dramaturg – a specialist in literary and artistic
matters who advises the theatre on particular projects. Bill has a Ph.D. degree from the University of
California at Santa Barbara and taught in the Graduate Division of the University of Kansas and at other
colleges for a number of years. He then trained as an actor at the American Conservatory Theatre in San
Francisco (the Bill Ball, Alan Fletcher and Ed Hastings administration). He began acting professionally
with the Ashland Oregon Shakespeare Festival under the artistic leadership of Jerry Turner. Bill’s roles
with the Festival include Pistol in Henry IV, part I, Hortensio in The Taming of the Shrew, the Player King
in Hamlet, Egeon in The Comedy of Errors, Uncle Sid in Ah, Wilderness!, Doc Baugh in Cat on a Hot Tin
Roof, Hector Malone, Sr. in Shaw’s Man and Superman, and Nestor in Troilus & Cressida. Bill then
worked his way across the country with various regional theatres, enjoying numerous roles. For the past 20
years Bill has lived in New York, where his work includes supporting, featured and recurring work in daytime
and evening television ("One Life to Live," "All My Children," "Remember WENN," "Law &
Order," "The Conan O’Brien Show"), and independent and feature film work ("Spanking the Monkey,"
"XX / XY," "City Hall" (with Al Pacino, John Cusack and Danny Aiello)). Bill is especially proud of his
work with CSC Rep/The Classic Stage Company in New York, including Chrysale in Moliere’s The
Learned Ladies (opposite Jean Stapleton, Nestor Serrano and Amy Brennemen) and also Steve Martin’s
New York production of Picasso at the Lapin Agile with Paul Provenza, in which Bill understudied – and
often performed – the roles of Gaston, Freddy and Sagot. He makes his second directorial appearance with
Rubicon, having previously directed George Bernard Shaw’s The Devil’s Disciple.
Rubicon’s acclaimed design team features Scenic Designer Tom Buderitz, Emmy® nominated Costume
Designer Marcy Froehlich, Sound Designer Cricket Myers, Lighting Designer Jeremy Pivnick, Resident
Property Designer T Theresa Scarano, and Hair/Makeup Designer Spanky Reynoso with production
stage manager Jenine MacDonald.
About the Cast
Leading the cast as Picasso is Paul Provenza, who returns to Rubicon after appearing in last year’s All In
The Timing. Prior to that production, Paul directed his first feature film "The Aristocrats," for which he
received the Best Director Award at the 2006 Edinburgh Film Festival and a Grand Jury Nomination at
Sundance in 2005. His theatre credits include the title role in Steve Martin’s Picasso at the Lapin Agile on
Broadway and in the National Tour, the off-Broadway hit Only Kidding (Theatre World Award and Drama
Desk Nomination for Outstanding Actor), The Chicago Conspiracy Trial (Odyssey Theatre), Diva (La Jolla
Playhouse), The Kiss at City Hall (Pasadena Playhouse), and the San Diego production of Night Out. He
recently directed the World Premieres of Dan Remmes’ comedy What Doesn’t Kill Us in L.A., Dean
Cameron’s reality-theatre production The Nigerian Spam Scam in L.A. and at the Edinburgh Fringe
Festival in Scotland, and Kumail Nanjiani’s "Unpronounceable" in Chicago and at the Revolutions Int’l
Theater Festival in New Mexico. Paul has starred in such television series as "Northern Exposure,"
Showtime’s "Beggars & Choosers," "The West Wing," "Pursuit of Happyness," Empty Nest," and "Under
the Influence." As a stand-up comedian, Paul has toured internationally, and has been featured on "The
Tonight Show" (with Johnny Carson and Jay Leno), "The Late Show with David Letterman," "Late Night
with Conan O’Brien," "Jimmy Kimmel Live" and appeared regularly on "Politically Incorrect," " and "The
Daily Show with Jon Stewart." Paul has written, produced and starred in comedy specials including "The
Incredible Man-Boy" for Showtime, "Elvis USA" for TBS, Comedy Central’s "Pulp Comics," "Lounge
Lizards," and the long-running series "Comics Only," receiving several Cable Ace Award Nominations.
He has appeared at the Edinburgh Festival several years running, the Glastonbury International Arts
Festival, Montreal’s Just for Laughs Festival, The Aspen HBO/US Comedy Arts Festival and The
Revolutions International Theatre Festival In New Mexico. Recent film appearances include the
Christopher Guest film "For Your Consideration," the critically acclaimed indie film "Fixing Frank," and
the dark comedy "Chasing Robert." He is also the producer of another upcoming comedy
documentary, "America: The Punchline." He is co-author of Satiristas! on satire and satirists, to be
published this fall from Berkeley/Penguin Press. Paul can also be heard as a regular panelist on NPR’s
weekly current events comedy quiz show, "Wait, Wait... Don’t Tell Me."
Opposite Paul as the young Albert Einstein is Rubicon favorite Jamie Torcellini. At Rubicon Theatre
Company, he has played such roles as Mr. DePinna in You Can’t Take it With You, Rosencrantz in Hamlet
and Sancho in Man of La Mancha. On Broadway, he played Mr. Mistoffelees in Cats, the Emcee in Jerome
Robbins’ Broadway, the Barber in Man of La Mancha, LeFou in Beauty and the Beast, and he was standby
for Donny Osmond in Little Johnny Jones, and for Jim Dale in Me and My Girl. Jamie’s tour and regional
credits including starring roles in Where’s Charley?, How to Succeed…, A Funny Thing Happened…,
Barnum, George M!, La Cage aux Folles, Crazy For You, Little Shop of Horrors, The Mystery of Irma Vep,
Fiddler on the Roof, The Hot Mikado, and 15 productions of Me & My Girl. TV and film credits include
"ER," "Law & Order," "Stuart Little," "The Jamie Foxx Show," "Sabrina," "Aladdin," "Tarzan," and
"Pocahontas 2." Jamie is also a member of the teaching staff at Notre Dame de Namur where he teaches
Comedy Improv.
As the third genius of the play, "The Visitor," Rubicon welcomes Cyrus Alexander. Cyrus’ extensive
theatre credits include The Caucasian Chalk Circle and A Christmas Carol at South Coast Repertory, A
Splintered Soul and This Lime Tree Bower at the Odyssey Theatre, Glengarry Glen Ross as Richard Roma,
directed by Jules Aaron, Bleed Rail at Theatre @ Boston Court directed by Jessica Kubzansky, and The
Catholic Girls Guide to Losing Her Virginity, in which he played 20 characters at the Pico Playhouse
directed by Eli Gonda. Film credits include "The Meter Man," "Chum," "The Executives," "Brutal,"
"Death Valley" and "Duel of Legends." He also works as a producer, writer, and director having several
shows and films created in Los Angeles.
Marty Lodge makes his first appearance at Rubicon playing the owner of the Lapin Agile, Freddy. Lodge
moved to L.A. a couple of years ago after spending many years acting up and down the East coast,
particularly in Washington, DC where he worked at Arena Stage, The Shakespeare Theatre, Woolly
Mammoth, The Studio Theatre, The Folger, and the Round House Theatre, where, as an Associate Artist he
performed over 30 roles. Last Spring he returned to Arena to play Scoop in The Heidi Chronicles. Since
landing in L.A. he has worked at the Mark Taper Forum and The Old Globe in San Diego. TV appearances
include "Grey’s Anatomy," "The Wire," "Boston Legal," "Las Vegas," "Cold Case," "What About Brian,"
"The Loop." Films include "Zodiac," "Cecil B. Demented," "Gods and Generals," "Something the Lord
Made," and the upcoming "Depth Charge," among others.
As the local bar fixture, Gaston, Mark Murphey makes his debut at Rubicon Theatre Company. In almost
40 years of work on the regional stage, Mark appeared most recently at the Milwaukee Repertory Theater
as Aronow in Glengarry Glen Ross by David Mamet. He has been a member of the Oregon Shakespeare
Festival acting company for 27 seasons appearing in such roles as Romeo, Hamlet, Iago in Othello, Leontes
in The Winter’s Tale, Proteus in The Two Gentlemen of Verona, Posthumos in Cymbeline, Cassius in Julius
Caesar and Friar Lawrence in Romeo & Juliet, to name a few. He also appeared as Michael Bern in The
Daughters of the Revolution, W.B. Yeats in Sailing to Byzantium, Chris Keller in All My Sons, Daniel
Pierce in The Pool of Bethesda, Duke Mantee in The Petrified Forest, and Kit Carson in The Time of Your
Life. In seven seasons with the American Conservatory Theatre in San Francisco he appeared as Ken
Talley in The Fifth of July, Lt. Yolland in Translations, Laredo in The Majestic Kid, Oscar in Another Part
of the Forest, Benedick in Much Ado About Nothing, and Horace in School for Wives. Other theatre credits
include The Alley Theatre in Houston, Texas, South Coast Repertory Theatre in Costa Mesa, CA, The
Odyssey Theatre in West Hollywood, Geva Theatre in Rochester, NY, The Intiman Theatre and ACT in
Seattle, WA, The Great Lakes Theatre Festival in Cleveland, OH, and Utah Shakespeare Festival in Cedar
City, UT.
A graduate of the Yale School of Drama and Rubicon’s first company member, Joseph Fuqua appears in
his 17th production at Rubicon as Charles Dabernow Schmendiman. His other appearances include the title
role in Hamlet, One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, Dancing at Lughnasa, The Boys Next Door (Indie
Award), Old Wicked Songs, Murder in the First (World Premiere), The Rainmaker (Robby Award and Rep
Award) and All My Sons (Ovation Award). Joseph’s Broadway and Off-Broadway credits include Brighton
Beach Memoirs and 110 in the Shade (Lincoln Center), Raft of the Medusa and Yours, Anne. Regional
credits include appearances at Actor’s Theatre of Louisville, Arena Stage, Dallas Shakespeare Festival,
Dallas Theatre Center, South Coast Rep and International City Theatre. Television and film credits include
guest-star roles on "The X-Files," "The Profiler," "Brooklyn South," "The Pretender." "Chicago Hope,"
"Star Trek: Deep Space Nine," "Becker," "Ed’s Next Move," "David Searching," "Heyday," "Gettysburg"
and "Gods and Generals."
The ladies of the piece include Nancy Nufer as Germaine, the all-knowing barmaid, Amie Farrell as the
voluptuous lover of Picasso, Suzanne, and Alyson Lindsay Schuster doubling as Einstein’s love interest,
The Countess, and the passionate Young Admirer.
Nancy Nufer last appeared on the Rubicon stage in Hamlet. Previous Rubicon productions include All in
the Timing (with Paul Provenza) and Love Letters. As Germaine, she reprises the role she originally played
at Ensemble Theatre Company in Santa Barbara where she has been a company member for over 24
seasons. Highlights at Ensemble include The Fourth Wall, The Underpants, The Country Club
(Independent Award), Picasso at the Lapin Agile (Garland Award), All in the Timing (Independent Award),
and Marvin’s Room (Drama-Logue Award). She appeared in Grease for Santa Barbara Civic Light Opera,
and graced the Garvin Theatre stage in The Waiting Room, Cabaret and On the Razzle. Other California
credits include several improv troupes; multiple performances at the Lobero Theatre, performances with
Santa Barbara’s Speaking of Stories and appearances as half of the female comedy team Evening Bags.
Amie Farrell has worked with The Geffen Playhouse, Playwrights Horizons, Shakespeare Festival LA, Milwaukee
Rep, Missouri Rep & Starlight Theater. Her theater credits include Cinderella in Into the Woods, Sylvia in Sylvia,
Olivia in Twelfth Night, Hermia in A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Annie in Over the Tavern and Polly in The
Threepenny Opera. Her television credits include "The Riches," "Whoopi," "Saturday Night Live," "Guiding Light,"
"God, Inc." and numerous commercials. She makes her first appearance at Rubicon.
Ventura native Alyson Lindsay Schuster spent part of her childhood in Rubicon’s workshops and more
recently as an understudy in Bus Stop (3 performances as Cherie), You Can’t Take It With You, Hamlet (3
performances as Ophelia) and A Time for Love (2 performances). Before returning to Rubicon’s stage, she
received her BA in Theatre (Musical Theatre emphasis) and an English minor from UCLA. Favorite past
roles include Hermia in A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Ojai Shakespeare Festival), Elinor in Sense &
Sensibility and Juliet in Romeo & Juliet (Whitfield Theatre), Anne in Anne of Green Gables and Anne of
Avonlea (Young Artists’ Ensemble), Beatrice in Much Ado About Nothing (UCLA Actor’s Crew), Cherie
in Bus Stop (Elite Theatre Company) and Amanda Banks in Arcline Entertainment’s soon-to-be-released
short film "Buttercup." Alyson will be leaving her hometown in September to pursue her master’s degree
abroad.
Schedule and Pricing
PICASSO AT THE LAPIN AGILE previews Thursday, April 3 and Friday, April 4 ($29 per ticket) at
8:00 p.m. and opens Saturday, April 5 at 7:00 p.m. Opening Night Gala tickets are $90 and include a preshow
champagne reception, the opening performance, an after-party and a tax-deductible donation to
Rubicon. Regular performances of PICASSO AT THE LAPIN AGILE continue through April 27 on
Wednesdays at 2:00 p.m. ($29) and 7:00 p.m. ($42), Thursdays at 8:00 p.m. ($42), Fridays at 8:00 p.m.
($49), Saturdays at 2:00 p.m. ($42) and 8:00 p.m. ($52) and Sundays at 2:00 p.m. ($42). Seniors ages 65+
save $5 per ticket. Student and equity tickets are available for $20 with ID.
Discounts of up to 30% are available for groups of 12 or more, and group organizers receive one free ticket.
To purchase single tickets or discounted group tickets, call the Rubicon box office at (805) 667-2900. To
purchase tickets online, go to www.rubicontheatre.org.
Special performances include:
• Opening Night Gala, Saturday, April 5: Rubicon Theatre hosts a pre-show champagne
reception before the seven o-clock curtain. Following the opening performance of the show,
guests are invited to an after-party with cast, crew and local dignitaries.
• Talkback Wednesdays, April 9th and 16th: Rubicon’s Education Outreach Director Brian
McDonald facilitates a post-show discussion with the director and performers following the 7
p.m. early-bird performances
• Audio Described Performance, Sunday, April 20th: Via headphones, audience members who
are blind or visually impaired are privy to a live description of the performance to aid in their
enjoyment
For a complete performance schedule, visit www.rubicontheatre.org. All performances are at Rubicon
Theatre, an intimate historic church built in the 1920s. The theatre is located at 1006 E. Main Street (the
corner of Main and Laurel) in Ventura’s Downtown Cultural District.
Show Run
PICASSO AT THE LAPIN AGILE previews April 3, opens April 5 and runs through April 27.
Sponsors
PICASSO AT THE LAPIN AGILE is sponsored by Micheline and Albert Sakharoff with Cynde and
Steve Magidson. The show is co-sponsored by Goldenring & Prosser and Metz Computer Services.
Rubicon’s 2007-2008 Season, the 10th Anniversary Festival Season is sponsored by Barbara Meister and
the Meister Family Foundation and Ann Deal and Fashion Forms. Media sponsors include Time
Warner Cable, Gold Coast Broadcasting, and Ventura County Star.
Location
All performances are at Rubicon Theatre, an intimate former church built in the 1920s. The theatre is
located at 1006 E. Main Street (the corner of Main and Laurel) in Ventura’s Downtown Cultural District.
For Tickets
Please call Rubicon Theatre Company’s box office at (805) 667-2900 or visit www.rubicontheatre.org
Press Information
For interviews with the cast of PICASSO AT THE LAPIN AGILE, to receive photos, or to arrange for
press tickets, please contact:
Los Angeles: David Elzer/DEMAND PR at (818) 508-1754; email: ElzerD@aol.com
Ventura and Santa Barbara County: Alyson Schuster at (805) 667-2912 ext. 232; email:
ASchuster@rubicontheatre.org