Welcome to Meeting of Minds . . . . words not often heard since the 1970s when Steve Allen’s brilliant PBS
show aired nationally with teleplays featuring dynamic historical characters from different eras first aired
nationally. And, now, well-known actors are once again portraying these intriguing historical figures in live
stage performances and readings. So prepare to meet President Teddy Roosevelt, Galileo, Cleopatra,
Attila the Hun, Charles Darwin, Emily Dickinson, Marie Antoinette, Empress Tz'U-His, Oliver Cromwell
and many more portrayed by such acting luminaries as Ray Abruzzo, Ed Asner, Ian Buchanan, Gary Cole,
Steven Culp, Bruce Davison, Frances Fisher, Robert Forster, Richard Gilliland, Harold Gould, James Handy,
Meeghan Holaway, Ernie Hudson, Stana Katic, Dan Lauria, Sharon Lawrence, Joe Mantegna, Wendie
Malick, Jack Maxwell, Danica McKellar, France Nuyen, Ron Perlman, Penny Peyser, Charles Shaughnessy,
Jean Smart, Bill Smitrovich, Joe Spano, and many other wonderful actors who believe in giving back to
our society by inspiring the curiosity and passion of whole new generations and by igniting a desire for
education and knowledge that comes from understanding the great men and women of history.
It is our particular mission to perform at colleges, high schools, universities and other educational or
cultural venues. Through the insight of Steve Allen, the dry and dusty history of textbooks becomes an
exciting, timeless exploration of humans and their quest for understanding -- of each other, their worlds and
the universe.
Host a Meeting of Minds production and make a difference in your community!
To learn more or to schedule one or several performances of historical dimensions, please email us
or call Diana at 310.210.1860 or Bob at 217.494.5610.
Meeting of Minds makes you think by presenting ideas through the flesh and blood
interaction and dialogue of historical figures, like this:
STEVE: Well, you’d think that simple common sense would –
GALILEO: Ah, no, sir. Beware of common sense. Our senses, you see, can both inform us
and lead us astray. Demonstration. Attila, my friend –
ATTILA: Yes?
GALILEO: Would you say that the sun and the moon are approximately the same size?
ATTILA: Yes, of course they are.
There are 24 episodes, with 12 sets of historical characters playing in two parts. Each one
hour episode comes to life through a remarkable connection to contemporary themes and
issues. They are well-suited to be followed by a Q&A discussion with scholars, teachers
from a number of disciplines, writers, theater instructors and perhaps the cast.
show aired nationally with teleplays featuring dynamic historical characters from different eras first aired
nationally. And, now, well-known actors are once again portraying these intriguing historical figures in live
stage performances and readings. So prepare to meet President Teddy Roosevelt, Galileo, Cleopatra,
Attila the Hun, Charles Darwin, Emily Dickinson, Marie Antoinette, Empress Tz'U-His, Oliver Cromwell
and many more portrayed by such acting luminaries as Ray Abruzzo, Ed Asner, Ian Buchanan, Gary Cole,
Steven Culp, Bruce Davison, Frances Fisher, Robert Forster, Richard Gilliland, Harold Gould, James Handy,
Meeghan Holaway, Ernie Hudson, Stana Katic, Dan Lauria, Sharon Lawrence, Joe Mantegna, Wendie
Malick, Jack Maxwell, Danica McKellar, France Nuyen, Ron Perlman, Penny Peyser, Charles Shaughnessy,
Jean Smart, Bill Smitrovich, Joe Spano, and many other wonderful actors who believe in giving back to
our society by inspiring the curiosity and passion of whole new generations and by igniting a desire for
education and knowledge that comes from understanding the great men and women of history.
It is our particular mission to perform at colleges, high schools, universities and other educational or
cultural venues. Through the insight of Steve Allen, the dry and dusty history of textbooks becomes an
exciting, timeless exploration of humans and their quest for understanding -- of each other, their worlds and
the universe.
Host a Meeting of Minds production and make a difference in your community!
To learn more or to schedule one or several performances of historical dimensions, please email us
or call Diana at 310.210.1860 or Bob at 217.494.5610.
Meeting of Minds makes you think by presenting ideas through the flesh and blood
interaction and dialogue of historical figures, like this:
STEVE: Well, you’d think that simple common sense would –
GALILEO: Ah, no, sir. Beware of common sense. Our senses, you see, can both inform us
and lead us astray. Demonstration. Attila, my friend –
ATTILA: Yes?
GALILEO: Would you say that the sun and the moon are approximately the same size?
ATTILA: Yes, of course they are.
There are 24 episodes, with 12 sets of historical characters playing in two parts. Each one
hour episode comes to life through a remarkable connection to contemporary themes and
issues. They are well-suited to be followed by a Q&A discussion with scholars, teachers
from a number of disciplines, writers, theater instructors and perhaps the cast.
| Opening Minds Productions in association with Meadowlane Entertainment presents: Steve Allen's Meeting of Minds Performed at the Steve Allen Theater, 4773 Hollywood Blvd., LA Sunday, March 21st, Show #4, Directed by Frank Megna: For tickets and more information Click Here Dan Lauria as Ulysses Grant, Meeghan Holaway as Marie Antoinett, Jack Maxwell as Steve Allen, Ed Asner as Karl Marx and Bruce Davison as Sir Thomas More. For Tickets Click Here |
Working Stage Theater
1516 N. Gardner St.
West Hollywood, CA 90046
Map to us
(323) 851-2603
Email: info@workingstage.com
1516 N. Gardner St.
West Hollywood, CA 90046
Map to us
(323) 851-2603
Email: info@workingstage.com
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| Plays by episode: EPISODES 1 & 2 Pres. Theodore Roosevelt – (1858-1919); U.S. President (1901-09) Queen Cleopatra – (69-30 B.C.); Queen of Egypt Father Thomas Aquinas – (c. 1225-74); theologian Thomas Paine – (1737-1809); British political writer; wrote Common Sense in America EPISODES 3 & 4 Pres. Ulysses S. Grant – (1822-85); Civil War general, U.S. President (1869-77) Queen Marie Antoinette – (1755-93); Queen of France; beheaded Sir Thomas More – (1477-1535); English lawyer & scholar; beheaded; A Man for all Seasons Dr. Karl Marx – (1818-83); German philosopher & economist; Das Kapital EPISODES 5 & 6 Charles Darwin – (1809-1882); English naturalist, father of evolution Emily Dickinson – (1830-86); U.S. poet Galileo Galilei – (1564-1642); Italian mathematician, physicist & astronomer Attila the Hun – (c.406-53); King of the Huns; “Scourge of God” EPISODES 7 & 8 Frederick Douglass – (c.1818-1895); black American abolitionist Empress Tz ‘u-hsi – (1835-1908); Dowager Empress of China Marchese di Bonesana Cesare Beccaria – (1738-94); Italian philosopher & politician Marquis Donatien Alphonse Francois de Sade – (1740-1814); French revolutionary EPISODES 9 & 10 Martin Luther – (1483-1546); German protestant reformer Voltaire – (1694-1778); French writer, philosopher & moralist Plato – (429-347 B.C.); Greek philosopher Florence Nightingale – (1820-1910); British hospital reformer; founder of nursing EPISODES 11 & 12 Sir Francis Bacon – (1561-1626); English lawyer & philosopher Socrates – (469-399 B.C.); Athenian philosopher Emiliano Zapata – (?1877-1919); Mexican revolutionary Susan B. Anthony – (1820-1906); U.S. Civil and women’s rights leader EPISODES 13 & 14 St. Augustine of Hippo – (354-430); North African theologian; wrote The City of God The Empress Theodora of the Byzantine Empire - (c.500-48); Byzantine Empire empress Thomas Jefferson – (1743-1826); statesman; U.S. President (1801-09) Bertrand Russell – (1872-1970) ; British philosopher and writer EPISODES 15 & 16 Aristotle – (384-322 B.C.); Greek philosopher and scientist Niccolo Machiavelli – (1469-1527); Italian statesman & political philosopher; The Prince Elizabeth Barrett Browning – (1806-1861); British poet Sun Yat-Sen – (1866-1925); Chinese statesman, provisional president (1911-12) EPISODES 17 & 18 William Shakespeare – (1564-1616); English poet and playwright His characters: Woman, Hamlet, Romeo, Ghost of Hamlet’s Father, Othello, Iago EPISODES 19 & 20 Margaret Sanger – (1879-1966); American birth control activist; founder of Planned Parenthood Mohandas (Mahatma) Gandhi – (1869-1948); Indian nationalist and spiritual leader Adam Smith – (1723-1790); Scottish moral philosopher, pioneer of political economy EPISODES 21 & 22 Niccolo Paganini – (1782-1840); Italian musician and composer William Blake – (1757-1827); Englsih poet, painter, & printmaker Leonardo da Vinci – (1452-1519); Italian painter and scientist EPISODES 23 & 24 Daniel O’Connell – (1775-1847); Irish political leader; campaigned for split with England Oliver Cromwell – (1599-1658); English general and statesman; opposed Charles 1 Catherine the Great – (1729-96); German Empress of Russia; attempted reforms |
