Noble Fool Theatricals Presents Picasso at the Lapin Agile

A hit comedy written by Steve Martin

. October 14, 2008

St. Charles, IL - Noble Fool Theatricals will be featuring Picasso at the Lapin Agile at the Pheasant Run Resort and Spa Mainstage Theater (4051 E. Main St., St. Charles, Ill., 630-584-6342). The comedy, written by comedian extraordinaire and actor Steve Martin, and directed by Michael Patrick Thornton, runs through November 5.

Pablo Picasso and Albert Einstein meet a rock star from the future named Elvis in this play set in 1904 at the Lapin Agile, the famous Paris bar. The hilarious Picasso at the Lapin Agile premiered at Chicago's Steppenwolf Theatre in 1993 and went on to receive rave reviews in New York, Los Angeles and throughout the world. The play won the 1995 Outer Critics Circle award for Best Play and Best Writer. The New York Times said, "Martin sends ideas onstage in baggy pants with a cigar, mixing the sublime with the ridiculous... Very good fun."

The Noble Fool production stars Chicago favorite Scott Aiello, making his Noble Fool debut as Pablo Picasso. Aiello has received accolades for his previous work in productions by the Chicago Shakespeare Theater, Timeline, Shattered Globe and Pegasus Players.

Philadelphia native David Merritt Bettino stars as Albert Einstein. He is a recent graduate of the Northern Illinois University drama program, where he appeared in numerous productions.

The director, Michael Patrick Thornton, is the artistic director and co-founder of The Gift Theatre Company. The Gift's winter production of Hurlyburly, which he is directing, will mark the first time The Gift has rehearsed a single play for an entire year.

Thornton's other directing credits with The Gift include the critically-acclaimed productions of A Young Man in Pieces (World Premiere); Language of Angels (Midwest Premiere); County Fair (World Premiere); and Orestes 2.0. Other Chicago credits include Julius Caesar for A Crew of Patches Theatre Company, Alcatraz for the A.H.D.F.O.S. Festival, Statistic for the Stockyards Women's' Theatre Festival, and The Saved, in addition to private coaching.

As an actor, Thornton appeared most notably in the Midwest Premiere of Cherry Docs at Next Theatre and the Midwest Premiere of A Skull in Connemara at Northlight. For his performance in A Skull in Connemara, Thornton received Northlight's Jack Springer Award for Outstanding Performance. Other Chicago credits include Juno and the Paycock; The Day Maggie Blew off her Head (Serendipity); Flanagan's Wake (Noble Fool Theater Company); Frankenbar! (Second City Donny's Skybox); The Zoo Story; The Dispute; as well as The Gift's inaugural production of Boys' Life, directed by Sheldon Patinkin.

Curtain times for "Picasso at the Lapin Agile" are Wednesday through Friday at 8 p.m., Saturday at 4:30 p.m. and 8:30 p.m., and Sunday at 2 p.m. Theater tickets begin at $27 Wednesday and Thursday; $37 Friday through Sunday. Dinner shows are priced at $46 or $56 respectively and overnight packages are available as well as special discounts for groups of 10 or more.

For tickets, call the Pheasant Run Box Office at 630-584-6342, or visit www.ticketmaster.com. Additional performance information may be obtained at www.noblefool.org.