Download Virtual Press Release - Seattle

PRESS RELEASE
For Immediate Release
Kill date: February 11, 2000.
VIRTUAL SOLITAIRE
Contact: Dawson Nichols – 206/523-8933
[email protected]
Who:
Dawson Nichols, Seattle’s internationally renown performer and playwright of
such works as I Might Be Edgar Allan Poe, Escher’s Hands, Three Descents of
Darwin, The Ant Play, Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, and The Fetch.
What:
Benefit Performance — Virtual Solitaire, a solo play which has won accolades
across North America, including being hailed as Best Play at two International
Fringe Theatre Festivals, now tours to Australia. First though—hometown shows!
When:
2 shows only! — Thursday, February 10th and Friday, February 11th at 8:00 pm.
Where:
ACT Theatre’s Cabaret. 700 Union Street in downtown Seattle.
Reservations: $12 advance/$15 at the door. (206) 523-8933 or email [email protected]
The Play:
Virtual Solitaire is a play-for-one-person about Nathan, a man lost in a fullimmersion virtual entertainment. The game is a murder-mystery, and as Nathan
tries to find his way out he begins to realize that this might be more than a game –
someone might be intentionally forcing him to stay online. He surfs through more
than two dozen characters of the entertainment, searching for the shifting line
between VR (virtual reality) and RL (real life). And perhaps this is the mystery of
the murder-mystery. And if that’s the mystery, perhaps the murder is his own.
The Playwright:
Dawson Nichols has written more than a dozen original plays and
adaptations, including Escher’s Hands, which in 1997 was nominated for the
national New Play Award of the American Theatre Critics Association. He is best
known for his solo works which have toured extensively throughout North
America and abroad, winning awards at seven international theater festivals.
Among his full-length plays-for-one-person are I Might Be Edgar Allan Poe,
Three Descents of Darwin, Virtual Solitaire, and Meet Brian Boomer. Dawson
has received commissions from Seattle Children’s Theatre, ACT Theatre, and
Aha! Theatre. He has also received a fellowship from Artist Trust, a grant from
the King County Arts Commission, and in 1997 he was nominated for ATCA’s
national Emerging Playwright Award.
“A shamanlike performance.” - The Seattle PI
“A nimble theatrical gamester!” - The Seattle Times
“A work of tremendous imagination formed by edgy, poetic writing and acted with awesome skill.” - Saskatoon StarPhoenix
(Named Best Play at the Saskatoon Fringe Festival)
“This show fits into that rare category of 100% successful.” - KSER Radio, Seattle
“Theatre at its best! Bravo!” - InSight Magazine
“Redefines the ubiquitous solo show… an electrifying performer!” - Edmonton Journal (Named Best Play at the Edmonton
Fringe Festival)
“Nichols again pushes the envelope of the one-man show in an intriguing direction. Leave the vid-screen behind tonight and take
a real trip.” - The Seattle Weekly