What better way to inaugurate a brand new theatrical space than with a play that masterfully and humorously takes on a theatrical classic. Thinking Cap Theatre moves into the Vanguard on February 19th with Dave Hanson’s critically acclaimed Waiting for Waiting for Godot. The production will run through March 1st.
A winner of the Overall Excellence Award for Overall Play at the 2013 New York Fringe Festival, Waiting for Waiting for Godot was described as ‘gleefully absurd’ by TimeOut New York, ‘delectable’ by the New York Times, and ‘damn near perfect’ by Theatre is Easy.
Hanson’s comedy about two understudies who are waiting to ‘go on’ in a production of Samuel Beckett’s classic Waiting for Godot – itself a play about two men who wait for a man they’ve never met, who never arrives – is not in any way an adaptation or interpretation of Beckett’s work, but rather a brand new play that examines theatre, acting, and art in a unique, clever, and extremely funny way.
Thinking Cap Theatre’s artistic director Nicole Stodard is directing the production:
“It’s not all that often that you read a script and laugh out loud,” she says “But that was the case with Waiting for Waiting for Godot. Combine that with its smart, reverential winking at Beckett, one of the greatest experimental authors of all time, and of course the added irony of how long TCT has been ‘waiting’ to go on at The Vanguard, and I knew that the play would be a fun way to kick off TCT’s 5th season.”
Thinking Cap Theatre’s new home, The Vanguard is an intimate, versatile, 99-seat black box performance space located in the heart of downtown Fort Lauderdale. Formerly a church when first erected in 1939, the freshly remodeled venue will be a modern sanctuary for the arts. Founding Executive Director, Nicole Stodard, and her creative team have given the space a mid-century flair with a mod color palette, Sputnik chandeliers and pop art reminiscent of Warhol adorning the lobby lounge. However, they have preserved the original 30-feet Dade County pine ceiling in the central room that is now the performance area. The Vanguard will serve as the permanent residence for Thinking Cap Theatre, and as a creative hub to showcase a range of artistic offerings, including the work of other local and visiting theatre companies, stand-up comedy, dance, film screenings, art installations, and live music. The venue’s soft opening will take place the weekend of February 20th; its grand opening will follow in the spring upon completion of the building’s facade by Glavovic Studios, the firm that designed the Young at Art Museum. vanguardarts.org
Tickets for Waiting for Waiting for Godot are $30 ($20 for students with ID) and are on sale now. Tickets can be purchased by calling 813-220-1546 or on line at http://wfwfg.brownpapertickets.com The Vanguard is located at 1501 S. Andrews Ave, Fort Lauderdale, 33301. There is free street parking surrounding the building and a metered municipal lot just south of The Vanguard on Andrews Ave. For more information about Thinking Cap Theatre/The Vanguard visit http://www.vanguardarts.org or contact Nicole Stodard at nicole@thinkingcaptheatre.com / 813-220-1546.
