President Richard Nixon was not a not a fan of the power of the media. The irony of his sentiment is the extreme influence the media had on the American people as Nixon’s presidency came crashing down.
The subsequent televised interview in which David Frost, a famous British talk-show host, tried to elicit an apology from the former president left the country spellbound. “It was our country’s initiation into the powerful influence of image,” explains Director Lisa Formosa-Parmigiano. ”It was the first time the media made a big impact on politics.”
“It seemed impossible to me to approach this piece without addressing the media,” says Formosa-Parmigiano, who describes this production as a “multimedia extravaganza complete with a live-feed camera on a staged television.”
She contacted friend and colleague Joe Steiff, an award-winning filmmaker, who came on board to create a video montage spanning from 2011 back to 1977, and at the end of the play, take the audience from 1977 to 2011.
“I wanted to find a way to make what was in this piece relevant and current. Why do we need to hear this story? What does it have to do with today? I thought his idea was fantastic.”
Formosa-Parmigiano has extensively researched the Frost/Nixon interviews and has “gained clarity and a much deeper understanding of not only Nixon’s administration, but the intricacies of the issues and the angst of the country at the time.”
This play is about much more than the historic interviews. “There is behind-the-scenes information you didn’t get by just watching the interviews on TV,” she says. “The audience will get to see a side of Frost and Nixon they’ve never seen before.”
Assistant Director Kathleen Erny has been enlightened by her research for the show and is hoping for the same result with the audience.
“I hope they’ll gain a different perspective of the interviews and a deeper understanding of the motives behind both Frost and Nixon.”
Cast in the lead roles are Andy Urschel, Valparaiso, as Nixon, and Eric Brant, also of Valparaiso, as Frost.
Other cast members are: Tony Balsamo, Michigan City; Karl Berner, Valparaiso; John Evans, Valparaiso; Jim Drader, Valparaiso; Michael “Doc” Kuhn, Schererville; John Lattuada, Crown Point; Tiffany Rhoda, Chesterton; Steve Rohe, Porter; and Kirby Thomas, Valparaiso.
Tickets are available now at the CST Box Office, located at 154 W. Chicago St. in Valparaiso. Hours are 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday through Friday and two hours before each production. The box office phone number is (219) 464-1636. Tickets also are available for purchase online by visiting www.chicagostreet.org
The 56th season at CST is generously sponsored by Urschel Laboratories, UFS Corporation, Coastal Valley Water Company, Porter County Community Foundation, Indiana Dunes Tourism, South Shore Arts, and the Indiana Arts Commission.
Join us for an opening night gala with the cast and crew on Friday, May 20. Hosted at Pikk’s Tavern in downtown Valparaiso, everyone in the audience is invited to join the cast and crew for complimentary appetizers and a cash bar.
Frost/Nixon
May 20 – June 4, 2011
- Friday, May 20 – 8 p.m.
- Saturday, May 21 – 8 p.m.
- Sunday, May 22 – 2:30 p.m.
- Friday, May 27 – 8 p.m.
- Saturday, May 28 – 8 p.m.
- Sunday, May 29 – 2:30 p.m.
- Thursday, June 2 – 8 p.m.
- Friday, June 3 – 8 p.m.
- Saturday, June 4 – 8 p.m.
Prices
Adult tickets $18
Seniors (62+) $15
Students (21 and younger) $15
Veterans $15
Reservations can be made by calling the Chicago Street Theatre box office at (219) 464-1636 Monday - Friday, between 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. or you may leave a message anytime, and someone will return your call. You also may contact us via e-mail at boxoffice@chicagostret.org or you may visit the Web site at www.chicagostreet.org.
CTG is supported, in part, by South Shore Arts, the Indiana Arts Commission, and the National Endowment for the Arts.