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Lillian Hellman’s ‘The Little Foxes’ opens 2018-19

season at Antaeus with Cameron Watson at the helm

 

GLENDALE, Calif. (Sept. 25, 2018) — Antaeus Theatre Company opens its 2018-19 season with an epic drama about a Southern family in crisis directed by Cameron Watson (award-winning Antaeus productions of Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, Picnic, Top Girls). Kristin Couture, John DeMita, Judy Louise Johnson, Mike McShane, Rob Nagle, Calvin Picou, Deborah Puette, Jocelyn Towne, Timothy Adam Venable and William L. Warren star in The Little Foxes by Lillian Hellman, opening Oct. 25 at the Kiki & David Gindler Performing Arts Center in Glendale, where performances will continue through Dec. 10. Low-priced previews begin Oct. 18.

Hellman was one of the American theater’s most provocative and masterful playwrights, and her work continues to exert a captivating hold on American culture. The Little Foxes reveals Hellman’s unrivaled ability to create some of the meatiest roles in the modern canon. Set in the Deep South in 1900, this modern classic is a dark tale of greed, deceit and betrayal about the scheming Hubbards and their single-minded pursuit of wealth; in this family, the only thing that runs thicker than blood is cold, hard cash. Regina Hubbard Giddens (Puette) and her conniving brothers, Oscar (Nagle) and Ben (McShane), plan to get rich from a cotton mill, but first they must tap into the wealth of Regina’s sickly husband, Horace (DeMita). When Horace refuses to give them the money they need, a vicious circle of intrigue, lying and cruelty spirals out of control, tearing the family apart.

“We were struck by how timely Lillian Hellman’s tale was to the current state of the world,” suggest Antaeus co-artistic directors Bill Brochtrup, Rob Nagle and Kitty Swink. “We are thrilled to have Cameron Watson helm this epic Southern tale, with his exquisite taste, deep understanding of human nature and fearless commitment to exploring the dark side of family.”

According to Wikipedia, the play’s title was suggested by Dorothy Parker, and the fictional Hubbard family was inspired by discord between Lillian Hellman’s own family and their relatives, a successful banking family in Demopolis, Alabama. Tallulah Bankhead starred as Regina Giddens when The Little Foxes premiered on Broadway in 1939, as well as in a 1941 radio adaptation. Bette Davis played the role in the 1941 film version, and Greer Garson headlined NBC’s 1956 television adaptation. In 1949, Marc Blitzstein adapted the play into an opera entitled Regina.

One of the most celebrated American playwrights of the 20th century, Lillian Hellman created incendiary and powerful plays that continue to be performed internationally, including The Children’s Hour (1934), The Little Foxes (1939), Another Part of the Forest (1946), which was a prequel to the The Little Foxes chronicling the roots of the Hubbard family; Toys in the Attic (1960) and a musical adaptation of Voltaire’s Candide with a score by Leonard Bernstein (1960). She was the recipient of numerous theatrical awards including two New York Drama Critics Circle Awards (1941 and 1960), a Gold Medal from the Academy of Arts and Letters for Distinguished Achievement in the Theatre (1964) and election to the Theatre Hall of Fame (1973). In addition to being a celebrated playwright, Hellman was also an award-winning author with three published memoirs: “An Unfinished Woman” (1969), which won the National Book Award; “Pentimento” (1973); and “Scoundrel Time” (1976). Born in New Orleans, Hellman began her career as a play reader in New York City and later as a script reader in Hollywood, where she met renowned writer Dashiell Hammett, who became Hellman’s companion until his death in 1961. Together, they also became well-known political and social activists. Lillian Hellman died on June 30, 1984 at the age of 79 at her home on Martha’s Vineyard.

Antaeus is a cooperative theater ensemble founded to empower the actor and to bring classical theater to Southern California. The company exists to create a family of artists and audiences and is dedicated to exploring stories with enduring themes. Taking their company name from the Titan who gained strength by touching the Earth, Antaeus members — many of whom are familiar to film and television audiences — regain their creative strength by returning to the wellspring of their craft: live theater. Members of the company span a wide range of age, ethnicity and experience; they have performed on Broadway, at major regional theaters across the country, in film, television and on local stages, and are the recipients of numerous accolades and awards.

The Kiki & David Gindler Performing Arts Center complements Glendale’s ongoing commitment to integrate vibrant arts space into the fabric of city life, ensuring the arts remain accessible to all. Located just a few blocks away from The Americana at Brand and the remodeled Glendale Central Library as well as the Alex Theatre, the center promises to build upon Glendale’s growing reputation as an arts and entertainment destination. The center includes an 80-seat theater, a reconfigurable 36-seat performance/classroom space, and a theater classics library.

Performances of The Little Foxes begin on Thursday, Oct. 25, with performances taking place thereafter on Fridays at 8 p.m., Saturdays at 8 p.m., Sundays at 2 p.m. and Mondays at 8 p.m., through Dec. 10. Six preview performances take place Oct. 18 through Oct. 24. All tickets are $35 except preview tickets, which are priced at $15.

The Kiki & David Gindler Performing Arts Center is located at 110 East Broadway, Glendale, CA 91205 (between N. Brand Blvd. and Maryland Ave.). The first 90 minutes of parking is free, then $2 per hour, in Glendale Marketplace garage located at 120 S. Maryland Ave (between Broadway and Harvard). The theater is air-conditioned and wheelchair accessible.

For reservations and information, call 818-506-1983 or go to www.antaeus.org.

 

Details for Calendar Listings

“The Little Foxes”

WHAT:
The Little Foxes — Opening Antaeus Theatre Company’s 2018-19 season, Cameron Watson, who directed Antaeus’ 2017 multiple award-winning revival of Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, returns to direct another epic drama about a Southern family in crisis. Set in the Deep South of 1900, where women have scant options and men seem to hold all the power, Regina Giddens will stop at nothing — even blackmail — to wrest the family business away from her scheming brothers.

WHO:
• Written by Lillian Hellman
• Directed Cameron Watson
• Starring Kristin Couture, John DeMita, Judy Louise Johnson, Mike McShane, Rob Nagle, Calvin Picou, Deborah Puette, Jocelyn Towne, Timothy Adam Venable, William L. Warren
• Presented by Antaeus Theatre Company

WHEN:
Previews: Oct. 18 – Oct. 24
Performances: Oct. 25 – Dec. 10
• Tuesday at 8 p.m.: Oct. 23 ONLY (preview)
• Wednesday at 8 p.m.: Oct. 24 ONLY (preview)
• Thursdays at 8 p.m.: Oct. 18 (preview), Oct. 25 (opening) ONLY
• Fridays at 8 p.m.: Oct. 19 (preview), Oct. 26 (opening); Nov. 2, 9, 16, 23, 30; Dec. 7
• Saturdays at 8 p.m.: Oct. 20 (preview), Oct. 27; Nov. 3, 10, 17, 24; Dec. 1, 8
• Sundays at 2 p.m.: Oct. 21 (preview), Oct. 28; Nov. 4, 11, 18, 25; Dec. 2, 9
• Mondays at 8 p.m.: Nov. 5, 12, 19, 26; Dec. 3, 10 (dark Oct. 29)

WHERE:
Kiki & David Gindler Performing Arts Center
110 East Broadway
Glendale, CA 91205
(between N. Brand Blvd. and Maryland Ave.)

PARKING:
First 90 minutes free, then $2 per hour in Glendale Marketplace garage located at 120 S. Maryland Ave (between Broadway and Harvard)

HOW:
(818) 506-1983 or www.Antaeus.org
• Join us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/AntaeusTheater
• Follow us on Twitter @AntaeusTheatre

TICKET PRICES:
• All performances (reserved seating): $35
• Previews: $15

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