WATERTOWER THEATRE ANNOUNCES CAST & CREATIVE DETAILS FOR ANN, BY HOLLAND TAYLOR

WATERTOWER THEATRE ANNOUNCES CAST & CREATIVE DETAILS for

ANN, BY HOLLAND TAYLOR

Addison (TX) – WaterTower Theatre Producing Artistic Director Shane Peterman and Associate Producer Elizabeth Kensek are proud to announce casting and creative details for the one person play ANN starring Morgana Shaw as the incomparable Ann Richards, the legendary late Governor of Texas. Written and originally performed by Emmy Award winner Holland Taylor, ANN takes a revealing look at the impassioned woman who enriched the lives of her followers, friends, and family. WaterTower will be presenting a newly updated version of the script, last premiered by Ms. Taylor in 2022. This is the second production of WaterTower’s 28th Season.

ANN is an intimate no-holds barred portrait of Ann Richards. This inspiring and hilarious play brings us face to face with a complex, colorful, and captivating character with a persona even bigger than her beloved home-state of Texas and a sense of humor to match. The first production of 2024, it will play on the Terry Martin Main Stage from February 14th through February 25th at the Addison Theatre Centre.

Reflecting on her career, Morgana Shaw shares “I’ve always been drawn to characters that challenge me, allowing me to explore the vast depth and range of human emotion and inspiration. To quote Ann Richards, ‘I’ve been tested by fire, and the fire lost’. You bet I’m on fire to play Ann! Challenging and Inspiring! Fierce, powerful, funny, and STRONG!! She made a difference. The more I learn about Ann, the more I realize how much we need her with us, today!”

Director, Susan Sargeant shared the following, “It is an honor and a privilege to direct ANN - By Holland Taylor for WaterTower Theatre. This play is a special one for me since I greatly admired Ann Richards as both a politician and a woman. Holland Taylor’s play invites us to explore and revisit some of the indelible moments of Ann Richards life and legacy.” Sargeant shared the following quote from the late Governor:
“We’re not going to have the America that we want until we elect leaders who are going to tell the truth — not most days but every day.” -Governor Ann Richards

The production also welcomes Krista Scott who is understudying the title role. The creative & production team includes Kae Styron as Set Designer, Jessie Wallace as Costume Designer, Michael B. Moore as Wig Designer, Julie Simmons as Lighting Designer, Kaitlin Hatton as Property Designer, Lowell Sargeant as Sound Designer, Davvi Solomon as the Equity Production Stage Manager, and Rebecca Bongiorno as Assistant Stage Manager.

The production has been approved by Actors Equity Association, ensuring the safety of both artists and patrons alike.

Contains adult topics. Recommended for ages 13 and above.

WaterTower Theatre’s 2023-2024 Season Sponsor is the Town of Addison.

MORGANA SHAW (Actor)

A multiple award-winning veteran of theatre, film, and television. Originally from Dallas, Texas, Ms. Shaw began her career in dance before transitioning into acting. One of her breakthrough moments came in the film “A Promise to Carolyn” with Delta Burke, Swoosie Kurtz and Shirley Knight, (1996). Where she showcased her talent for portraying complex and dark characters. ”Shaw, in cat glasses, is chilling …” John P. McCarthy -Variety magazine.

Reflecting on her career, Shaw shares “I’ve always been drawn to characters that challenge me, allowing me to explore the vast depth and range of human emotion and inspiration”.

“I’ve been tested by fire, and the fire lost”.-ANN RICHARDS “You bet I’m on fire to play Ann! Challenging and Inspiring! Fierce, powerful, funny, and STRONG!! She made a difference. The more I learn about Ann, the more I realize how much we need her with us, today!”

Shaw’s filmography is diverse, ranging from the comedy “Mad Money” alongside Diane Keaton and Queen Latifah; I Love You Phillip Morris with Jim Carrey and Ewan McGreggor; to co-starring alongside Zachary Levi and Ana Paquin as Jenny Jo in “American Underdog”. Noted television roles include her recurring role as Mab in WGNA’s “Salem”, “Friday Night Lights, Revolution, and Walker Texas Ranger, among many others.

Shaw’s award-winning theater work is extensive. Most recently seen on stage in Los Angeles at The Los Angeles Women’s Theare Festival, where she performed her one woman show, starring as the legendary film icon, Bette Davis in “All About Bette; An Interlude with Bette Davis” by Camilla Carr. Most recent performance in the DFW metroplex, she starred as LaVonda in the World premiere of “A Very Sordid Wedding” by Del Shores at Uptown Players. Other favorite stage roles include: The Goat or Who is Sylvia(Stevie); Closer to Heaven-world premiere-(Billie Trix); Will’s War(Bettie Moss King); The Royal Family (Julie Cavendish); Damn Yankees (Lola); Sweeny Todd ( Mrs. Lovett)

In 2024 Shaw can be seen in the upcoming feature films: Richard Linklater’s “Hitman” opposite Glen Powell; Director Julio Quintana’s “The Long Game” alongside Jay Hernandez and Dennis Quaid; Director Jeremy Snead’s, “Matter of Time” with Sean Astin and Ali Astin; and Paul Etheridge’s supernatural-horror film “Psychopomp” opposite Olivia Macklin.

SUSAN SARGEANT (Director)

The Founder and Producing Artistic Director for WingSpan Theatre Company, which she founded in 1997 and helmed for its 25 Year History. Most recent Directing Projects include: Tiny Beautiful Things for Circle Theatre, Cat On A Hot Tin Roof for The Classics Theatre Project, Holmes and Watson for Stage West and Samuel Beckett’s Two By Beckett (Footfalls and Not I) for WingSpan Theatre Company. Other recent Directing for WingSpan Theatre Company: On the Verge or The Geography of Yearning, Landscape, Edward Albee’s Finding the Sun, Occupant, The Play About The Baby, Counting the Ways, The American Dream and The Sandbox. Samuel Beckett’s Play and Happy Days. Dallas/Fort Worth Critics Forum Awards for Direction/WingSpan Theatre Company: Samuel Beckett’s Two By Beckett (Footfalls and Not I), Play and Happy Days. Mark Twain’s The Diaries of Adam & Eve (an original adaptation), Lydie Marland in the Afterlife and Danny and the Deep Blue Sea. Directing/Circle Theatre: A Moon for the Misbegotten (Dallas/Fort Worth Critics Forum Award), Vanities, Edward Albee’s Three Tall Women and Seascape, The Countess, The Last Night of Ballyhoo, Desperate Affection, Talley’s Folly and The Kiss at City Hall. Directing/Contemporary Theatre of Dallas: Children of a Lesser God (Dallas/Fort Worth Critics Forum Award) and The Women (Dallas/Fort Worth Critics Forum Award), Catholic School Girls, Five Women Wearing the Same Dress, The Cemetery Club, Sylvia, The Miss Firecracker Contest, and The Dining Room. Other Directing credits include: Manicures and Monuments/WaterTower Theatre, Death of a Salesman/Fun House Theatre and Film, The Cherry Orchard/Classical Acting Company, Landscape of the Body, Once in a Lifetime and Summer and Smoke/The University of North Texas and The Violet Hour/Upstart Productions. Further Directing include: Pegasus Theatre, Garland Civic Theatre and The Pocket Sandwich Theatre; among others. Susan is also an actor and a member of Actor’s Equity Association/AEA.

HOLLAND TAYLOR (Playwright)

The New Yorker has called Holland Taylor "the first vaudeville Gentile we ever saw." Her New York stage performances include Bess in BREAKFAST WITH LES AND BESS, the original productions of BUTLEY, opposite Alan Bates, A.R. Gurney's THE COCKTAIL HOUR, and more recently—David Lindsay Abaire’s dark comedy RIPCORD at The Manhattan Theatre Club and Broadway’s stellar THE FRONT PAGE, with Nathan Lane. She still holds her head high after long ago on Broadway opening the historic flop MOOSE MURDERS, having taken over for Eve Arden during previews a mere week before. Holland most notably stormed Broadway at Lincoln Center’s Beaumont Theater as both writer and star of ANN, a play about the late Texas Governor Ann Richards. ANN garnered rave reviews, bringing Holland a Tony Award nomination for Best Actress, Drama Desk and Drama League nominations, and the Outer Circle Critics award for Best Solo Performance. There is a filmed version of the 2016 ZACH Theatre production of ANN in Austin, when Holland triumphantly brought the show home to Texas as she said she would. That live performance movie of ANN now streams on BroadwayHD.com, and will be broadcast across the country on PBS on June 19th, 2020. Over the years in Los Angeles, she has performed onstage in KINDERTRANSPORT and played opposite Christopher Lloyd in Yasmina Reza's two-hander THE UNEXPECTED MAN at the Geffen Theater. Holland narrated for the Los Angeles Philharmonic in Stravinsky’s “Perséphone” for Esa-Pekka Salonen and for John Adams in Philip Glass’ “Akhnaten,” and delivered the spoken word in the “Harry Potter Suite” for Maestro John Williams with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. She has worked extensively in film, appearing in “Romancing the Stone,” “Jewel of the Nile,” “To Die For,” “Next Stop Wonderland,” “One Fine Day,” “George of the Jungle,” “The Truman Show,” “Happy Accidents,” “Spy Kids” (2 & 3), “Keeping the Faith,” “Legally Blonde,” Tina Fey and Amy Poehler’s “Baby Mama,” and “Gloria Bell,” starring Julianne Moore. On television, Holland has been nominated for the Emmy seven times, winning Best Supporting Actress in a Drama for the sexy, smart Judge Roberta Kittleson on “The Practice.” Among numerous series-starring roles: “The Powers That Be,” Norman Lear's short-lived but acclaimed political satire; “Bosom Buddies” with Tom Hanks; and the juggernaut Charlie Sheen’s “Two and a Half Men.” And now the final season has aired of “Mr. Mercedes,” a limited TV series for Audience Network, starring the great Irish actor Brendan Gleeson. It was written by Executive Producer David Kelley, run by director Jack Bender, and based on the trilogy of novels by Stephen King. While shooting “Mr. Mercedes,” Holland also worked on three movies: “The Stand In” with Drew Barrymore; “Bombshell,” the Jay Roach picture about Roger Ailes, starring Charlize Theron; and—the cherry on the cake—she played “The Great Leader” in “Bill & Ted Face the Music,” which die-hard hordes of excellent fans await in theaters this August. On Netflix last winter, Holland especially relished the role of “Stormy,” in the “To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before” sequel, a wildly popular romantic film for young adults, and this spring saw the release of creative mogul Ryan Murphy’s Netflix project “Hollywood”—a behind-the-scenes take on an imaginary movie studio from the fabled forties, in which Holland plays Ellen Kincaid, a smart, glamorous force behind the scenes at the studio, who captivates the audience with her charm and “moxie”—the word Murphy lured her with to play the role. “Hollywood” is enjoying a big success all over the world. Her play ANN was meant to have a run this summer at the Pasadena Playhouse, with Holland reprising her celebrated role one more time—but that run will have to wait until theaters can reopen. She will happily keep the play “on simmer” till then.

DETAILS:

Show Run Dates: February 14-25, 2024

Single tickets are on sale now.

This production will be staged on the Terry Martin Main Stage at the Addison Theatre Centre at 15650 Addison Road, Addison, Texas 75001.

For more information on WaterTower Theatre and upcoming productions, visit us online at www.watertowertheatre.org or call the Box Office at 972.450.6232.

2023-2024 Season Performance Schedule:

• Pay-What-You-Can performances will be the first Saturday matinee of each run.

• ASL Interpreted Performances will continue to be the final Thursday performance of every run.

• Sunday matinees feature Intersections events immediately following the show, providing audiences a chance to learn more from the cast & special guest panelists.

Ticket Prices:

Single Tickets - $49

NO FEES

*Student, Industry, and HERO (Veterans, active-duty service personnel, and educator) discounts available

*Subscribers may purchase additional individual tickets at a discount as well.

*Group discounts are available through the box office.