Speakeasy Dollhouse: The Brothers Booth, Exploring Legends of John Wilkes and Edwin Booth, Haunts The Players Club Starting March 1 | Playbill

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News Speakeasy Dollhouse: The Brothers Booth, Exploring Legends of John Wilkes and Edwin Booth, Haunts The Players Club Starting March 1 Speakeasy Dollhouse: The Brothers Booth, an immersive theatre experience by Cynthia von Buhler about the legends of John Wilkes and Edwin Booth, begins performances March 1.

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Cynthia von Buhler Photo by Maxine Nienow

Directed by Wes Grantom, the production is presented on the first Saturday of the month at The Players Club. Following the March 1 opening, performances will be held April 5 and May 3 at 8 PM. 

Speakeasy Dollhouse: The Brothers Booth is set in 1919 in The Players Club — the former home of Edwin Booth — and features Eric Gravez as Edwin Booth, Ryan Wesen as John Wilkes Booth and Tansy (Eager to Lose) as the Hostess. 

The cast also includes Jonas Barranca, Victor Barranca, Chrissy Basham, Daniel Burns, Laura Epperson, Russell Farhang, Chris Fink, Katelan Foisy, E. James Ford, Skyler Max Gallun, Ashley Grombol, Jenny Harder, Silent James, Lord Kat, Alexandra Kopko, Delysia LaChatte, Justin Moore, Travis Moore, Dan Olson, Erin Orr, William Otterson, Natalie Rich, Hannah Rose, Samantha Rosenrater, Sarah Vogt and Allen Wilcox.

The production also includes live jazz, moonshine and burlesque.

"Speakeasy Dollhouse: The Brothers Booth brings von Buhler's unique brand of immersive theater to the legends of John Wilkes and Edwin Booth," press notes state. "Speakeasy Dollhouse: The Brothers Booth is an immersive time-traveling theatrical experience, set in the renowned Players Club, which explores the sibling rivalry between Edwin and John Wilkes Booth."  "Edwin Booth, a staunch Lincoln supporter, was honored by the president -- and even saved Lincoln’s son Robert from being crushed by a train shortly before the president’s assassination," von Buhler said in a statement. "Edwin, the more successful actor, divided the map allowing John Wilkes the opportunity to only perform in the South, while he ruled in the more desirable North. Every book I read on the family claimed that John Wilkes was his parent's favorite. Their mother, Mary Ann, constantly told the boys of her prophesies about their destiny, leading them to become self-fulfilling. My research has led me to believe that Abraham Lincoln may have been murdered as a result of sibling rivalry, and not because of John Wilkes’ great love of the confederacy. The Brothers Booth encourages audiences to roam Edwin Booth's former mansion in search for the truth. Utilizing Shakespearean themes, longtime conspiracy theories, and surreal vignettes, Speakeasy Dollhouse: The Brothers Booth weaves together a story of the brothers' troubled lives." 

Speakeasy Dollhouse: The Brothers Booth is the first show of its kind to be staged at The Players Club, which was founded in 1888 by Edwin Booth and 15 other incorporators (including Mark Twain and General William Tecumseh Sherman).  

Von Buhler is the creator of the Prohibition-era immersive theatre experience Speakeasy Dollhouse, which explores the murder of her grandfather Frank Spano.

For tickets and more information, visit speakeasydollhouse.com.

 
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