Horizon Theatre Blog

Third Country was developed through Horizon’s New South Play Festival program, dedicated to creating new plays from, for, and about the contemporary South. The play is part of Horizon’s decade-long journey of producing new plays that connect our community to the world through theatre, including plays about Afghanistan, Iraq, South Africa, Darfur and the Muslim community here in Atlanta.

The idea for a play about Clarkston and the refugee community began percolating when Horizon Co-Artistic Director Lisa Adler was introduced to the community through a friend and then read about Clarkston and the refugee boys soccer team, The Fugees, in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution and the New York Times in 2006 and 2007.  Then the book about the same subject, Outcasts United by Warren St. John, was published and became a best-seller. Its compelling story of long-time residents facing thousands of newcomers from different cultures was read by communities and schools around the country. This seemed like the perfect opportunity for Horizon to move forward with a story about Clarkston.

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The winners of the 2013 Atlanta Theater Fan Awards were announced this week. Horizon has been honored with 5 awards this year. Congratulations to our winners!

Best Play, Time Stands Still
Best Direction of Play, Lisa Adler for Time Stands Still
Best Leading Actress in a Play, Carolyn Cook for Time Stands Still
Best Scenic Design, Isabel A. Curley-Clay & Moriah Curley-Clay for Time Stands Still
Best Holiday Show, The Santaland Diaries

Check out all of the winners here.

The excerpts below are from the article “Paging the Playwright: A Conversation with Karen Zacarias” published by Arena Stage. To read the full article click here.

The Books and Questions in the Play

David: How many books are read in the course of the play?

Karen: There are six meetings, so there are six books that are supposed to be read, but about 30 books are mentioned.

Pablo: How did you choose the books read in the play?

Karen: First, they couldn’t be unknown. The popular ones are The Da Vinci Code – one of the top ten most popular books in the world. Even if it’s old, a lot of people have read it. Twilight is not just a book, it’s a phenomenon, like Harry Potter. I also knew I had to find a book about people feeling trapped and not being able to breathe and when I came across Age of Innocence, I knew it was perfect. Moby Dick because it’s a dense, hard read, and everybody feels they know Moby Dick. It’s a great American classic, but if you ask who has read Moby Dick, very few people have. They’re all American books. It took a lot of time to figure out, and there’s still a part of me that’s thinks, “Oh, is Twilight too current. In ten years will this play be irrelevant?” But I’ll worry about that later.
Pablo: What are the questions that the film maker asks in the play?

Karen: “What had the biggest impact on you as a young kid?” I find that to be a great blog question. Everybody has an answer for that – or “What book that changed your life?”Because oddly enough The Da Vinci Code changes Will’s life.
Amrita: What other questions do you think the play raises?

Karen: Why do people come to theater? What’s the last good book you read? A good book will do two things – it will make you feel connected to the characters and it will make you feel connected to real people. Continue reading →

A few years ago on the way to Florida, I stopped at a Waffle House and ordered a waffle — specifying that I wanted it very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, extra light.  The waitress gets a plate, scoops some batter on it, and sets it in front of me asking, “Is this light enough?”

– Clyde B.

Want to submit your Waffle House story? Email it to marketing@horizontheatre.com.

My wife and I were traveling south on I-75 in Florida somewhere near Live Oak and decided it was time for a waffle. We stopped in, got the usual friendly service, and were soon happily eating away https://edaslav.com/ua/.

This Waffle House sat next to a motel. In the midst of our meal two beefy guys came sprinting from the motel – one chasing the other. Was it a friendly race to the Waffle House? No, but they did come crashing through the doors throwing punches. Somehow a third guy, dressed like Crocodile Dundee, appeared as a very interested spectator. He watched intently for the outcome while perched on the edge of a table. We were all too stunned (or smart) to say a word. Within 2 or 3 punches and a shove thrown in for effect it was over and with a look from Dundee they ran back outside. Crocodile Dundee followed at a more leisurely pace while the other two fishtailed out of the parking lot in their separate vehicles to resume their chase. Continue reading →

Chris Kayser returns to Horizon Theatre as Richard in Time Stands Still after his exciting performance in last season’s Superior Donuts.

Horizon patrons might remember you from?

Quills, The Lonesome West, Skylight, The Drawer Boy, and Superior Donuts.

What has been your favorite role at Horizon?

Arthur in Superior Donuts.

Who are you playing in Time Stands Still?

Richard Ehrlich, the photo editor the magazine Jamie and Sarah often work for. But he has also had a long and personal relationship with both of them.

What drew you to this role?

A great sort of confluence of my relationship with Carolyn Cook and the richness of the script. Continue reading →

Carolyn Cook returns to Horizon Theatre in Time Stands Still running through October 14th. In this play she takes on the challenging role of photojournalist Sarah.

Horizon patrons might remember you from?

The 13th of Paris, The Clean House, 9 Parts of Desire, The Syringa Tree, Homebody/Kabul, Madame Melville, and Skylight.

What has been your favorite role at Horizon?

The 20 characters I played in The Syringa Tree. It was a fantastic script and wonderful production experience. We created a really moving relationship between the actor and audience, and that is something I really treasure.

Who are you playing in Time Stands Still?

I play Sarah Goodwin, a photojournalist who is passionate about capturing the truth through images particularly in situations of war and disaster. Continue reading →

Robin Bloodworth appears in his eighth production at Horizon Theatre. In this quick interview, he gives us some insight into his career and character in Time Stands Still.

Horizon patrons might remember you from?

The world premieres of This Passion Thing and The Algae Eaters, True Love Lies, Legacy of Light, The 13th of Paris, End Days, and Voir Dire.

What has been your favorite role at Horizon?

It’s a tie between Chris in This Passion Thing and Arthur in End Days.

Who are you playing in Time Stands Still?

I am playing James Dodd (Jamie), a reporter who has done a lot of stories in war-torn and Middle Eastern countries. He’s thinking about making a change.

What drew you to this role?

I had heard about it from friends in New York City who saw the Manhattan Theatre Club production and said it was great.

What is your favorite line in the show?

“He was a scrappy opportunist just like everyone else you meet over there.” Continue reading →

Ann Marie Gideon makes her Horizon Theatre debut in Time Stands Still. Though new to Horizon, Ann Marie should be a familiar face for many Atlanta theatre-goers.

Who are you playing in Time Stands Still?

I play Mandy Bloom, a young energetic 25 year old event planner. She is open, excited about life, and eager to make friends and to please. She is smart and kind with no ill intentions.

What drew you to this role?

I thought it was a fabulous play to begin with. I loved Mandy’s innocence and thought, “I’m nothing like her.” But as I’ve grown into the role, I’ve found I’m more like her, and I want to be like her.

Horizon patrons might have seen you around town in?

Either at Georgia Shakespeare for the past three summers playing Cecily in The Importance of Being Earnest and Hero in Much Ado About Nothing or in The Bachelorette with Pinch ‘N’ Ouch. Continue reading →

As part of our preparation for Time Stands Still opening September 14, we have been reading interviews with playwright Donald Margulies. Learn more about the Pulitzer Prize winning playwright in excerpts from these interviews.

TCG

Like many of your previous plays, your latest work Time Stands Still delves into the complexities of a relationship—and in this case, the couple is a photojournalist and print journalist, in the aftermath of covering the war in Iraq. What was the spark for their story? How did the political backdrop shape the personal story?

I’m leery of plays with political agendas. My plays always start with the personal. As Time Stands Still took shape, the backdrop of the current world of foreign correspondence provided a rich, high-stakes context for what is essentially a love story. I set out to dramatize the effects of time and circumstances on partnerships built on shared passions. What happens when people who love each other no longer want the same things? I suppose Time Stands Still  is as much about marriage as Dinner with Friends. Continue reading →