Orson & Walt in a Bar in Rio
Based on historical events, “Orson & Walt in a Bar in Rio” is a comedy that imagines a 1941 meeting between Orson Welles, in the midst of a fight with RKO over “The Magnificent Ambersons,” and Walt Disney, reeling from the strike at his Burbank HQ. Walt has an idea to solve both their problems–he’ll sell his studio to Welles, allowing him to be independent. They draw, they drink, they discuss art, commerce, communism, magic, and movies, all fueled by Caipirinhas and guitar and climaxing in an arm-wrestling match. The experience leaves both men renewed, inspired, hungover, and remembering why they do what they do in the first place.
Brian Hohlfeld started in the theatre as an actor and playwright before beginning his career as a writer for feature films and television animation. As a producer and writer, he has been nominated for four Daytime Emmy Awards and twice for a Humanitas Award, winning once for the Disney Jr. show he created, My Friends Tigger and Pooh.
Brian’s first play, Road Movie, was produced by the Unicorn Theatre of Kansas City, followed by several musical adaptations of fairy tales commissioned by St. Louis Repertory Theatre. For the Tennessee Williams Festival of St. Louis, he had the pleasure and honor of directing a celebrated production of The Glass Menagerie, staged behind the apartment building where Williams lived. Brian’s complete film and TV credits can be found at http://tinyurl.com/Brian-Hohlfeld
Rob Brownstein is very glad to be back at The Road where he has directed and been in several readings over the years. He recently directed David Rabe’s STICKS AND BONES for Interact Theatre’ Pulitzer Prize Winners Series. Other Interact: BURIED CHILD, NICE FISH, ARCADIA, THE CASINE MUTINY COURT MARTIAL and others. He has also directed at The Skylight Theatre, The Court Theatre, The Falcon, The Hudson Guild, The Wilshire Theatre in L.A., Triangle Opera in North Carolina, North Carolina Theatre, Yale, Riverside Shakespeare, Williamstown Theatre Festival and others. He is a Founding Member of Interact Theatre Company and was a long-time member of the Circle Repertory Company Lab in N.Y.
And he has two remarkable children, Drew and Finney.
“Orson & Walt in a Bar in Rio”
Walt – Christian Haines*
Orson – Ethan Haslam*
Mary Blair – Chelsea Gonzalez*
Paolo – Jeff Torres
*Road Company Member
Stage Directions & Talkback Moderator: Juls Hoover*