For Immediate Release: January 3, 2005
Media Contact: Tom Kirkpatrick, Delaware Theatre Company, 302.594.1104 x228

Television has opened America's eyes to what goes on in the West Wing. Now, Delaware Theatre Company offers regional audiences a peek down the hall into the President's residence with their production of James Still's Looking Over the President's Shoulder. Previews begin January 19 and the play runs through February 6, 2005.

In a one-man tour de force, David Alan Anderson portrays Alonzo Fields, the first African American to be named Chief Butler for the White House. Fields first came to the White House temporarily to earn a stable income while he pursued his quest to become a professional opera singer. But before long, he was managing the staff that catered to the needs of Presidents and their families.

In his 20-plus years at the White House, Fields “held the chair” for four presidents—Hoover, Roosevelt, Truman and Eisenhower—and came in contact with Kings, Queens, rabble rousers and movie stars. He witnessed history as few others ever have—events both momentous and mundane. Now his stories can be told.

Who never took a drink? What was the staff's nickname for Eleanor Roosevelt? Which Presidents took an interest in the lives of their staffs and who stood aloof? James Still's illuminating true-life drama answers these questions and many, many more with warmth and wit.

David Alan Anderson who single-handedly fills the stage as Alonzo Fields, makes his Delaware Theatre Company debut. Anderson has worked extensively with Indiana Repertory Theatre in Indianapolis, where he makes his home. Appearances with IRT include He Held Me Grand, (also written by James Still), Hamlet, Crumbs from the Table of Joy, Julius Caesar, Fences, The Taming of the Shrew, The Cherry Orchard, Macbeth, Romeo and Juliet and A Christmas Carol, as well as many others. He has also directed The Color of Justice and Most Valuable Player for IRT. Other directing credits include Two Trains Running and Topdog/Underdog for the Phoenix Theatre in Indianapolis.

Looking Over the President's Shoulder is directed by John Grassilli, the Theatre's Resident Director. Grassilli has directed numerous DTC productions including this season's highly acclaimed production of The Glass Menagerie, as well as Dracula, Proof and The Beauty Queen of Leenane. He has also appeared on stage at the theatre in Diva, Stinkin' Rich and As You Like It, among others. Grassilli has 30 years of theatre credits as an actor, director, producer and artistic director in theatres throughout the U.S.

Playwright James Still's award-winning plays have been produced throughout the United States, Canada, Europe, and Australia. He is a two-time recipient of the prestigious TCG-Pew Charitable Trusts National Theatre Artist Residency Grant (with the Indiana Repertory Theatre, where he begins his seventh season as the IRT's first-ever playwright in residence). Still has been nominated for two Emmy Awards, the Humanitas Prize, and a Television Critics Association Award. He is producer/head writer for the series Paz, airing daily on both TLC and Discovery Kids. For Nickelodeon he was a writer and story editor for Maurice Sendak's Little Bear and the Bill Cosby series Little Bill. He also wrote The Little Bear Movie and the feature film The Velocity of Gary.

The set for Looking Over the President's Shoulder was designed by Nick Embree who also designed the set for DTC's first show of this season, Partners. Nick has designed award-winning sets for productions throughout Philadelphia and the region and still finds time to teach design at the University of the Arts in Philadelphia.

This is Costume Designer Theresa Harkin's first time designing for the Main Stage at the Delaware Theatre Company. Her most recent designs include Hay Fever (Gretna Theatre) and the DTC's Young Playwright's Festival. Two-time Philadelphia Weekly "Best Lighting Design" winner (plus another honorable mention), Mark O'Maley, designed the lighting—as he has for numerous DTC shows, including this season's Forever Plaid.

Sound Designer, John Mock, is also making his Delaware Theatre Company debut, but his work is well-known to area theatre-goers as he's worked for several of region's leading companies and earned two Barrymore nominations in the process. Stage Manager Sara J. Tantillo is following up on her success as Stage Manager of DTC's production of The Glass Menagerie earlier this season and two years as the company's Assistant Stage Manager.

Preview performances for Looking Over the President's Shoulder are January 19, 20 and 21 at 8PM. The play opens Saturday, January 22 at 8PM and runs through February 6. Evening performances are Wednesday through Saturday at 8PM, and matinee performances are Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday at 2PM. Ticket prices are $23, $33, $40, and $43, depending on the performance day and time, with special discounts for students, seniors, and groups of 10 or more.

To order tickets call (302) 594-1100 or online at http://www.delawaretheatre.org.

Delaware Theatre Company's season is sponsored by Bank One. AstraZeneca is the show's Corporate Producer. This program is made possible, in part, by grants from the National Endowment for the Arts and the Delaware Division of the Arts, a state agency committed to promoting and supporting the arts in Delaware. The Delaware Division of the Arts provides technical and financial assistance to artists and arts programs and serves as a clearinghouse for information on the arts.

Delaware Theatre Company, 200 Water Street, Wilmington, is Delaware's only resident professional theatre company, located on Wilmington's exciting new Riverfront within walking distance from the Amtrak station. Delaware Theatre Company is a member of the League of Resident Theatres, Theatre Communications Group, Theatre Alliance of Greater Philadelphia, and the Arts Consortium of Delaware.

Go to News Releases»