The Long Now
By Beth Burns**
Directed by Beth Burns
Tish Reilly has a very special friend – Time. Tish can go back to any place where a good memory remains and enter it, reliving the moments that please her. When she reunites with the oft-remembered Larry, her first love, she finds a reason to finally begin to push forward in her life again.
But will Time, who has grown so fond of her, be willing to let her go?
The Long Now was written and directed by Beth Burns and featured original music from Grammy-nominated composer/musician Burton C. Bell and founding Shrewd T. Lynn Mikeska. Renowned puppeteer Jesse Kingsley designed shadowed backdrops and ingenious shadow puppets to represent the character "Time".
Cast
Tish - Shannon Grounds*
Larry - Mason Stewart
Sherry - Anne Hulsman
Tom - D.H. Thompson
Penny/Mom - Suzanne Balling
Time (voice) - T. Lynn Mikeska*
Time (puppeteers) - Cami Alys and Parker Dority
Production Crew
Director - Beth Burns
Production Manager - Melissa Livingston-Weaver
Stage Manager - Stephanie Delk
Set Designer - Connor Hopkins
Lighting Designer - Stephen Pruitt
Sound Designer - Buzz Moran
Costume Designer - Diane Morrison
Original Score - T. Lynn Mikeska*
Puppet Design - Jesse Kingsley*
* Award Nominated - **Award Winning
"This is a powerful, challenging evening of theatre, recommended both for its emotional impact and for thesharp edges of its concept."
- Michael Meigs - AustinLiveTheatre
"The Long Now will be one of those plays that you still mull over in your mind, several days after the cast has taken their bows."
- Rob Faubion - Austin Onstage Magazine - Full Review
"Tish, played with success across a spectrum of ages, senses, and moods by Shannon Grounds, is the heart. Grounds ranges from the sinking addict, nodding off into a fantasy or scrabbling at her chest just to feel one new sensation, to a child with all her natural wonder to the wounded adult trying to move forward. Each adds a new layer to Tish, and all are affecting...Burns has mixed fairy tale, relationship drama, and mystery into one constantly counter-balancing, turning story." - Joey Seiler - Austin American Statesman - Full Review
Production Photos - Kimberley Mead