THE HARD BARGAIN Opens at the Overtime Theater

January 2010 - SAN ANTONIO, TX - THE HARD BARGAIN: World Premiere “Stage Noir” at the Overtime Theater

Now ensconced in its new home in the Blue Star Arts Complex, the arts center of San Antonio, the Overtime Theater will stage even more original works by San Antonio playwrights and directors. As our grand opening show in the Blue Star space, the Overtime presents "The Hard Bargain," a “stage noir” detective story written by Scott McDowell and directed by Andrew Thornton.

Staged with the feeling of a classic film noir movie, "The Hard Bargain" brings back gritty detectives Blake and Winters from the hard-boiled detective play "The Good Samaritan," which played at the Overtime Theater in August 2008. Andrew Thornton directed The Good Samaritan as well.

This time the detectives return to solve a seemingly impossible murder that leads them into the smoky world of jazz, nightclubs, and sensuous femme fatales. The murder tests the limits of their own worlds and morals in a play that can only be seen at the Overtime.

"The Hard Bargain" opens on Friday, January 8, 2010 and runs until Saturday, January 30. Opening night will feature a beer-and-whiskey reception after the show for the audience, cast and crew, and friends of the Overtime.

The cast for "The Hard Bargain" includes: Sarah - Christie Walheim; Winters - Michael Burger; Mrs. Altman - Caralyn Snyder; Blake - Scott McDowell; Candace / Landlady - Sciovahn Lydston; Deckard / Nightclub Owner - Rhys Sanchez; Doctor - Sophia Bolles; Councilman Lawrence - Kevin Black; and, Anna - Rigel Nunez.

Scott McDowell (Playwright) has been an active member in the S.A. theatre scene for almost 10 years now and is loving every minute of it. Only recently has he found a new passion in playwriting ("Pirates Vs. Ninjas," "The Good Samaritan," "Frankenstein in Love") and is blessed to have his shows produced by the Overtime Theater. When not acting, doing improv comedy or playwriting he can be found at his "normal" job as a firefighter for the city of San Antonio.

Andrew Thornton (Director) holds a BFA in Drama from the University of North Carolina School of the Arts and a Diploma in Directing and Russian Language from GITIS, the Lunacharsky Institute in Moscow. He was a founding member of the Knights of Indulgence Theatre United States (KITUS), which had its homes in Delaware and Northern California. Andrew directed the theatre program at Churchill High School, where his favorite directing projects were "Red Noses," "One Hundred Demons!," and his own adaptation of Chekhov’s "Seagull." More recently, he directed an acclaimed version of "Uncle Vanya" at the Classic Theatre in August 2009 and "The Good Samaritan" at the Overtime Theater in August 2008. Andrew is also an actor and has received honors for his roles in "Rabbit Hole," "The Pillowman," and "Lincolnesque." He is a company member of AtticRep.

Showtimes are 8 pm Fridays-Saturdays. Two Sunday matinees (3 pm) are scheduled for Jan. 10 and Jan. 17, and two Thursday shows (8 pm) are on Jan. 14 and Jan. 21. Ticket prices are $12 general admission, and $9 for teachers, students, seniors 65+, and SATCO members.

For more information or to arrange interviews, please contact Jon Gillespie, Overtime Theater Development Director, at (210) 557-7562 or jgillespie@theovertimetheater.net.

In business since 2006, the Overtime Theater was founded by John Poole, a San Antonio theater veteran who sought to create a theater “for people who don’t usually go to theater” (San Antonio Express-News). The Overtime is dedicated to providing innovative and accessible entertainment at an affordable price. The shows are all new, original works, or new adaptations of old classics. The Overtime Theater specializes in world premieres of works never before seen on stage! In just three years, the Overtime has produced two dozen new shows.

In the past year alone, the theater has produced three original musicals: "Sheer Bloody Lunacy!," "Pirates Vs. Ninjas," and "The Brain That Wouldn’t Die: A New Musical." Other productions in 2008-2009 have included "The Good Samaritan," "Poet Faustus," "Sob! Choke…LOVE!," "Lear," "What Will Happen," and most recently, the world premieres of "Buddha Swings" and "Action Philosophers!"

The Overtime Theater is making the transition from a for-profit, single-proprietorship business to non-profit status. This decision has been made to extend the Overtime’s mission of “art for people’s sake” to the greater community, including through planned, low-cost classes in acting, comedy improv skills, and art workshops by working professionals.

The Overtime Theater
@ the Blue Star Art Complex
Jon Gillespie, Development Director
1414 S. Alamo St., Suite 103
San Antonio, TX 78210
www.theovertimetheater.net

This release was published on openPR.