New season begins at Edison Theater August 29

Edison Theatre kicks off its 2014-2015 Season on Labor Day weekend with “Tied Up in Knotts,” a heartfelt and humorous one-woman show featuring actress and comedienne Karen Knotts, daughter of famed character actor and funny man Don Knotts.

“When I sat with my Artistic Council to plan this 6th season, we talked about making a big splash with the season opener,” said Mammoth Lakes Repertory Theatre’s Artistic Director Shira Dubrovner. “I met Karen years ago at the Group Repertory Theatre where we were both members.  She has been having great success with this show—it was named by L.A. Comedy Awards as ‘Best One-Woman Show.’  We both thought it was perfect timing to bring it to Mammoth for the Labor Day weekend.”

A true father/daughter story, “Tied Up in Knotts” takes audiences on a zany, revealing journey through her life, with a host of characters all portrayed by Knotts.

“When my father passed away in 2006, I wanted to pay tribute to him in the way I knew him best: as an amazing, loving dad,” said Karen.  “I try to capture the essence of Don, the man, because I always thought he was the funniest when he was just being himself.”

Don Knotts is best remembered from TV as the nervous deputy Barney Fife on the Andy Griffith Show, Mr. Furley on Three’s Company, and in film for his various performances, including in the “The Incredible Mr. Lippett.”

Next up after “Tied Up in Knotts” is another high-octane comedy, “All the Great Books (Abridged),” running September 18-28. This hysterical romp through the best stories of literature features a cast of thousands—performed by three actors.

October will see three distinctly different projects on stage. First is the annual Theatre for Young Audience’s production. This year storytellers use song, dance, and drama to bring “Aesop’s Fables” to life for the young set. Last year, 800 local elementary school children were able to take a field trip to Edison Theatre and see a free performance of the 2013 TYA production, thanks to a private donor and the Mono County Community Grant.  The goal this year is to increase that number to 900 students!

On October 17-18, Los Angeles-based actor Brian Stanton returns to Mammoth and the Edison Theatre to perform his one-man autobiographical show, “Blank,” wherein he portrays 12 characters with humor and pathos after his birth certificate propels him on a fantastic and mysterious quest for identity.  The evening includes a Q&A with Brian and writer Patti Hawn, Goldie Hawn’s sister and author of  “Good Girls Don’t,”  her personal experience as a birth mother.

The final October production takes place October 31 and November 1 when MLRT presents a live radio production of the classic thriller “Sorry, Wrong Number.” The actors and the sound effects producer are on stage, just as they were in the 1940s, recreating an old-fashioned radio show.  The evening not only provides suspense and thrills on Halloween but it’s a peek back into entertainment history.

November introduces “Twelve Angry Jurors” a stage adaptation of the well-known “Twelve Angry Men,” featuring a mixed cast of men and women, followed by a return of the “Winter Wonderettes” during the Christmas/New Year’s holiday. That is followed in January by a return engagement of last year’s hit one-man show, “Vincent,” written by Leonard Nimoy, and in February by a production of Noel Coward’s classic comedy, “Blithe Spirit.” In March, the Tahoe Adventure Film Festival tours through Mammoth on the 6th and 7th, and Magic March! plays on the 13th through the 15th with a new magician imported to enthrall and excite.  The theatrical season concludes with a dramatic, presentation of the Pulitzer Prize-winning play “Night Mother” starring MLRT’s own Shira Dubrovner.

The final event in the MLRT season is a new one: the 1st Annual Mammoth Lakes Film Festival, running Wednesday-through Sunday May 27-31st. Additional details about the entire season can be found on the MLRT’s website EdisonTheatre.org.