Notes from Forum Theatre

The return of our big Season 4 hit, and recent winner of a DCTheatreScene Audience Choice Award for “Favorite Play”

The Last Days of Judas Iscariot

By Stephen Adly Guirgis

Directed by John Vreeke

December 5–21, 2008

Judas Iscariot returns to H Street this December, featuring all cast members from our spring production.

The Bible’s greatest villain is on trial in a town called Hope, deep in the heart of present-day purgatory. Everyone from Mother Teresa to Sigmund Freud to Satan is being called to testify. But how can a jury condemn a man for betrayal when no one in the courtroom can agree on the nature of faith, free will, or redemption? Forum takes on this challenging question in the DC premiere of this darkly funny, deeply challenging examination of faith and forgiveness. Judas is directed by multiple Helen Hayes Award nominee John Vreeke.

“The Last Days of Judas Iscariot is a moral act, which can bring grace to the stricken heart. It will both entertain you and make you think. It could save your life.”—DC Theatre Scene

“The ensemble is nearly flawless, treating this flamboyant but purposeful show like an answered prayer.”—Washington Post

p

p

p

Thoughts on the show:

Michael–

If you’ve been with the blog for the past year, you’ve seen the numerous posts we’ve put up from the cast and crew of JUDAS. If you are new to the site, take a minute to check them out. Even the playwright, Stephen Adly Guirgis, left us a nice note in the comments section of Veronica’s post.

Forum has produced 12 shows in our four, almost five, years in DC, and never has one generated so much discussion among the company and the community. From the actors, to the designers, to the backstage personnel, to the audience who came night after night, this play touched on something deep within all of us. No matter our background or belief, The Last Days of Judas Iscariot was a remarkable experience. From the back and forth e-mail discussions to the rehearsal break debates to the production meetings to the post-show discussions both in the theatre, and here online, the ideas of this play have had us talking nonstop about belief, faith, and forgiveness. With a limited schedule for the first run (and sold out houses that even provoked on-the-street ticket ask’s), we were eager to get this show back and share it with more people.

p

Our frequent audience member, consistent blog commenter, and good friend, Geoff Hatchard had this to say:

“I’ve seen every production that Forum has done in DC, and Judas was far and away my favorite, for reasons that seem pretty clear. The cast was large, and everyone put in an amazing performance. Reviewers heaped praise on everyone, regardless of the amount of time on the stage. The play was quite long, but it felt too short when it finished. I wanted to see more, to hear more, to feel more. I’m excited to see that the show will have a second run this fall, and I’ll gladly queue up to see it for the third time as soon as I get the chance!”

p

p

Stephen Adly Guirgis is a longtime member of NYC’s LAByrinth Theater Company. His plays have been produced on five continents and throughout the United States. They include: THE LITTLE FLOWER OF EAST ORANGE, the extended, sold out run of THE LAST DAYS OF JUDAS ISCARIOT, OUR LADY OF 121st STREET (10 best plays of 2003; Lucille Lortel, Drama Desk, Outer Critics Circle Best Play Nominations), JESUS HOPPED THE A TRAIN ( Edinburgh Fringe First Award, Olivier Nomination as London’s Best New Play, Barrymore Award, Detroit Free Press Best Play Award), and IN ARABIA WE’D ALL BE KINGS (10 Best of ‘99, TimeOut New York, critics pick, TimeOut London). All four plays were originally produced by LAByrinth, directed by Philip Seymour Hoffman, and are published through Dramatists Play Service and by Faber and Faber. Stephen was awarded a 2004 TCG fellowship, attended the 2004 Sundance Screenwriter’s Lab, was named one of the 25 New Faces of Independent Film by FILMAKER MAGAZINE, and appeared in Entertainment Weekly’s 2005 Summer Must List. He has received new play commissions from Manhattan Theater Club and South Coast Rep, is a member of New Dramatists and the MCC Playwright’s Coalition, and is a regular contributor to ESOPUS Magazine. Television writing credits include “NYPD Blue”, “The Sopranos”, David Milch’s CBS drama “Big Apple”, and Shane Salerno’s NBC drama “UC: Undercover”. As an actor, he has appeared in Brett C. Leonard’s GUINEA PIG SOLO produced at the Public Theatre in New York, and played leading roles in two recent films: Todd Solondz’s PALINDROMES, and Brett C. Leonard’s award winning JAILBAIT opposite Michael Pitt. Currently, he is developing a project with Mos Def and HBO, and is writing his first feature film for Scott Rudin Productions, to be directed by George C. Wolfe. He lives in New York City.