Canterbury Winter Arts at the Mainstreet Theatre, in association with the Purdue University North Central Odyssey Arts Series, kicks off its season with the world premiere of 'Bette Davis On the Edge', a new play written and performed by Christine St. John.
Following its opening here, the play will play dates in Illinois and Michigan, then continue to the United Solo Festival in New York City and London.
'Bette Davis On the Edge' is set in the early morning hours of Oct. 31, 1962 with motion picture legend Bette Davis waiting anxiously for the reviews of "Whatever Happened to Baby Jane?" If the picture is a success, it will hail the desperately needed comeback for the star's fading career. If not, it will provide a sad and embarrassing epitaph. As she waits, she reflects on her career, from the "talkies" to the present day.
Christine St. John has lived and worked in London for the past 24 years, where she appeared in numerous productions, and was a founding member of the touring group Act 3 Theatre Company, performing in the works of Noel Coward, Anton Chekhov and adaptations of Edith Wharton. St. John has been involved in theatre in development projects in Ethiopia and India and has been a Fellow at The Royal Geographical Society in London since 1993.
'Bette Davis on the Edge' director, Jane Brody, is an award-winning stage director, master teacher, former actress and well-known Chicago casting director. She founded the Chicago Acting Studio in 1980 and has been instrumental in casting such films as "Groundhog Day" and "A League of Their Own". Brody is currently Associate Professor of Performance at the Theatre Conservatory at DePaul University.
'Bette Davis On the Edge' will be presented on Friday and Saturday Sept. 12 and 13, and Friday and Saturday Sept. 19, and 20., at the Mainstreet Theatre, 807 Franklin Street, in Michigan City. All shows begin at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $20.
For reservations, call (219) 874-4269 or email info@festivalplayersguild.org
To celebrate the world premiere performance of 'Bette Davis on the Edge', the Michigan City Public Library is hosting a Bette Davis Film Festival featuring four films that span Davis' career. The films will be shown free of charge at the Michigan City Public Library, 100 E. Fourth St. in Michigan City.
On Saturday, Aug. 30 at 1 p.m., "Of Human Bondage" (1934) will be shown, followed at 3 p.m. by "What Ever Happened to Baby Jane?" (1962).
Saturday, Sept. 6 will feature a 1 p.m. showing of "Dark Victory" (1939) and at 3 p.m. "All About Eve" (1950) will be screened.