The inspiration for this production, and historical inforamtion presented, is due largely to the book, "Banned Plays" by Dawn B. Sova. Interval introductions compiled by: Charlie Van Eman

UPCOMING PERFORMANCES: Friday, Nov. 3rd and Saturday Nov. 4th!!

Censorship is an important issue, and very relevant at this time, however, GuerriLA Theatre makes no statement and takes no particular position on the issue with this production. We are honored to give our audience a taste, an introduction, to this beautiful and relevant writing and hope to inspire others to search out what has been hidden, liberating the authors and thereby nullifying the intentions of those who have said "No" on our half.

We welcome you to BANNED PLAYS.

Salome demands the head of John the Baptist from a flustered Herod.
Salome by Oscar Wilde 1896
The censor condemned Salome as blasphemous and pornographic.
Few of Wilde's friends or enemies felt sympathetic toward him.

Mrs. Alving welcomes her son, Osvald, home under the critical eye of the family pastor.
Ghosts by Henrik Ibsen 1882
Ghosts was banned in England for failing to show respect for the institution of marriage and it's public discussion of venereal disease.

Based on his suicidal comrade in WW1 Edouard Bourdet brings the first play regarding a lesbian relationship to the United States.
The Captive by Edouard Bourdet 1926
A New York City politician arrested of the cast of The Captive for offending public morals.

The "boys" eagerly await the arrival of the one that got away in: ~
Boys in the Band by Mart Crowley 1968
Boys in the Band first appeared at a time when homosexuality was classified as a
mental illness.

Philip returns to his wife in Margaret in America's first play portraying an
adulterous relationship.
Margaret Flemming by James Herne1890
The audience was shocked by Herne's sympathetic treatment of Philip, Margaret's unfaithful husband.

Billy the Kid and Jean Harlow debate their divinity with brutal sexual tactics.
The Beard by Michael McClure 1965
In San Francisco, the two lead actors were arrested and charged with
obscenity and conspiring to commit a felony.

The true story of a young, able and ambitious officer of the Austro-Hungarian Imperial Army who was, through his homosexuality, blackmailed into counter spying for Tsarist Russia. Spy confronts spy in:
A Patriot for Me by John Osbourne1965
John Osborn was asked by authorities to remove any references to homosexual behavior and any scenes in bed with a man or woman. He refused.

Joe comes home to no furniture, no food and an earful from his wife, Edna.
Waiting for Lefty by Clifford Odets1935
Anti-union propaganda and the suggestion of communist sympathies resulted in officials banning the play.

Sister Mary reconnects with her old catechism students and is shocked at their report.
Sister Mary Ignatius Explains It All To You by Christopher Durang 1979
The play was condemned as "a vile diatribe against all things Catholic."

BANNED PLAYS Cast:

MICHAEL DONOVAN, Casting Director/Director
BIO: Perhaps best known as a casting director, Michael has cast 45 films, 9 TV series, and over 1,000 commercials. Michael also casts extensively for the theatre, and his productions have received numerous honors from the L.A. Drama Critics' Circle and the N.A.A.C.P., as well as Backstage West Garlands, L.A. Weekly and Ovation Awards. Michael is also a two-time nominee for the Casting Society of America's Artios Award. Having started in the business as an actor/director, Michael is happy to be returning to his roots and delighted to be directing for GuerriLA Theatre. Michael has directed multiple theatre productions on both coasts, as well as three short films. His teaching credentials include the American Academy of Dramatic Arts, the America Film Institute, the Stella Adler Academy and he will be a guest lecturer at U.C.L.A. in the spring of 2006. A former president of the West Coast Ensemble, Michael is proud to be the Artistic Director for the newly-formed Culver City Playhouse.

Oh! Calcutta!: by Stanley Walden - Entire Company

Salome: by Oscar Wilde
Patrick Hancock (Herod), Dayna Cussler (Herodias),
Kelly Ann Ford (Salome), Jennifer Lamar, Andrew MacBeth (Slaves)

Ghosts: by Henrik Ibsen
Tim Karasawa (Osvald), Billy St.John (Manders),
Caroline Westheimer (Mrs. Alving)

The Captive: by Edouard Bourdet
David Goryl (Jacques), Jennifer Lamar (Irene)

The Boys in the Band: by Mart Crowley
Jerry Weil (Michael), David Goryl (Donald), Billy St.John (Larry),
Andrew MacBeth (Hank), Tim Karasawa (Emory)

Margaret Fleming: by James A. Herne
Andrew MacBeth (Phillip), Dayna Cussler (Margaret)

The Beard: by Michael McClure
Jodi Bianca Wise (Harlow), Tim Karasawa (Billy the Kid)

A Patriot for Me: by John Osborne
Patrick Hancock (Redl), Jennifer Lamar (Countess Delyanoff),
Andrew MacBeth (Kupfer), Tim Karasawa (young man)

Waiting for Lefty: by Clifford Odets
Jerry Weil (Joe), Kelly Ann Ford (Edna)

Sister Mary Ignatius Explains It All For You: by Chistopher Durang
Caroline Westheimer (Sister Mary), Dayna Cussler (Philomena),
Patrick Hancock (Gary), David Goryl (Aloysius), Jodi Bianca Wise (Diane)