First Run Theatre Announces Shows BROOKLYN BAGATELLE by Neville Mur, SPECTRUM Short Play Festival & More for 2012-13 Season

First Run Theatre has announced the line up of its tenth season, which includes BROOKLYN BAGATELLE by Neville Mur, the SPECTRUM short play festival, OPEN SUNDAYS, ALL MAKES REPAIRED by Gerry Mandel and PREDICAMENT by Patrick Conroy. First Run theatre is the only professional theatre company in St. Louis dedicated to producing new plays by St. Louis regional playwrights.

The first production will be ‘Brooklyn Bagatelle’ by Neville Mur. The play centers around the Marr family who live in Brooklyn New York, just after World War II. Jacob and Sarah own a large Mom and Pop store that has seen the family through good times and bad for two generations. The two oldest boys Ira and Ronnie, having returned from the service are beginning lives of their own, but not in the family store. It falls to the youngest Nathan to carry on as he is about to have his Bar Mitzvah. However he has other ideas for his future. It’s the story of a family in generational change and the conflicts it brings.

Brooklyn Bagatelle will open June 22 and run till July 1.

Our next production will be our highly popular Spectrum short play festival in October. Spectrum consists of up to eight new short ten minute plays by St. Louis writers on a variety of subjects and styles. Every ten minutes a new story and a new world. Something for everyone with new surprises around every turn.

Our season closes in January 2013 with two one act plays, ‘Open Sundays, All Makes Repaired’ by Gerry Mandel and ‘Predicament’ by Patrick Conroy.

Courtland Mississippi has only one service station open on Sunday is the scene for ‘Open Sundays All Makes Repaired’. Two travelers, Ed and Michael, heading in opposite directions on I-55 find they need repairs. Both are heading in opposite directions in life as well and both are in a hurry for different reasons. Lewis, the mechanic on duty, does his best to make the repairs and keep everyone on an even keel. Lewis is joined by his female tow truck driver friend, Jake and between them keep things moving. Jake gives some sage advice that may help the two men in a rush, if they are willing to listen to her.

Jake, Malloy, Pat, Sean, and O’Bryan have had enough of the presence of British Black and Tan soldiers in their small Tipperary Irish village which is the setting of Patrick Conroy’s ‘Predicament’. They plan to blow the barracks up despite the fact that the last time they went hunting they managed to shoot a foot, wound a cow, and kill a blind donkey. The simple plan begins to turn complicated as it becomes necessary to steal explosives, learn their use, block the roads into town, keep from blowing up the neighboring church and pub, and obtain confessions and absolutions from a priest. Can they liberate their town without blowing it up or coming to blows with each other?

The two one acts will open January 11 2013 and run to the 20th. Brooklyn Bagatelle and the two one acts will be performed in the Thomas Hunter Theatre at DeSemt Jesuit High School. Spectrum 2012 will be staged at the Chapel Theater near Skinker.

For more information: www.firstruntheatre.com

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