Photography by Jessica Lutz.
ALL ABOUT BETTE
Starlight Entertainment, Producer Michael A. Jenkins and Marfa Live Arts Presents
In collaboration with Dovetayle Productions
All About Bette: An Interlude with Bette Davis
Written by Camilla Carr
Starring Morgana Shaw
Co-produced by Ken Orman
Executive Producer of Marfa Performance Carolyn Pfeiffer and Jennie Lyn Hamilton
Saturday, October 27, 2018
7 PM (Doors at 6.30 PM - the performance is two hours with a 15 min. intermission)
Crowley Theater
Free
Marfa Live Arts brought the larger than life story of film star Bette Davis to the stage of the Crowley Theater on October 27, 2018. Morgana Shaw, an award-winning veteran of theatre, film, and television, was happy to be back on stage as Bette Davis in the role she originated in 2006. All About Bette stars Morgana Shaw (Salem, Friday Night Lights, Walker Texas Ranger) who fully embodies and becomes Bette, sharing and revealing her tumultuous ride through the male dominated golden era of Hollywood. This multiple award-winning work was written by El Paso-based playwright Camilla Carr, and produced by seven-time Tony Award recipient, Michael A. Jenkins (An American in Paris, Matilda, The Color Purple and Kinky Boots.)
“It’s an honor to get to play this legendary icon, to bring her to life and share her with the world,” said Ms. Shaw. When asked what she likes most about Ms. Carr’s script, she emphatically said, “Looking into Bette’s heart. She was a strong woman but the documentaries rarely show you the love she had for her family.”
Ms. Carr’s expansive and captivating script explores Bette’s drive, commitment, obligations, altercations, opinions, loves, fears, successes, and heartbreaks. "As an adaptor, it was deciding what not to use of the vast material available about Bette Davis,” Ms. Carr said. “Then, determining the structure, which is Shakespearean in that it often switches from horror to hilarious in a heartbeat. The play has an unravelling narrative thrust which culminates in what I hope is an unexpected and exhilarating ending."
Both Carr and Jenkins worked with local students during a free workshop at Marfa High School.
Inspired by this performance, our cultural partners in front of us film series presented a free screening of "A Stolen Life" a 1946 drama produced and starring Bette Davis on Thursday, October 25 2018 at the Lumberyard in the Adobe room (201 E. Dallas St).
BIOS:
THANK YOU
This program has been made possible through the generosity of Michael A. Jenkins, Suzanne, Paul, Ali & Celine Dipp, City of Marfa, Texas Commission on the Arts, Anonymous, Nina Martin & Paul Hunt, Roseland Klein, Liz Rogers, Evelyn Luciani, Jeremy Dominguez, Bailey Orman, and Avery MacKenzie.
Education programs supported by Texas Women for the Arts.
In-kind support provided by Hotel Saint George. Special thanks to Susan Kirr & Rusty Martin, Tim Crowley, Crowley Theater, Emily Williams, Lissa Castro, Mayor Ann Marie Nafzinger, Minerva Lopez, Cherish Robinson, Leslie Boren, Benjamin Lutz, GiANT Entertainment, Jay Witowski, Wendy Renee Searcy, Bryan S. Douglas, Hunter Douglas, Ryan McDearmont, Mia Nicole, John Erich De La Torre, and Nolan McDermott. Education programs coordinated with the collaboration of Marfa Independent School District’s Superintendent Oscar Aguero and Principal John Sherrill PhD and Sul Ross State University's Professor of Theatre Dona W. Roman. Media support from KTEP, El Paso, Big Bend Sentinel, and Marfa Public Radio. Morgana Shaw is appearing with the permission of Actors’ Equity Association. In Memoriam, this production is done in loving memory of Jac Adler (1934-2015). Having inspired so many and gifting this story with its first production and direction.
Visit Marfa is a useful resource for planning your travel and time in Marfa. The closest airports are El Paso and Midland, both approximately three hours away by car.
Poster design by Natalie Melendez.
