You've heard of the bio play, Mark Twain Tonight; now there is Lucifer Tonite, a two-person avant garde evening with the Devil and the angel, Gabriel, playing Aug. 11-Sept. 2 at The Bug Theatre in Denver.
Lucifer Tonite was written and originally performed by Denver playwright and performance artist Don Becker, playing to critical acclaim, in a world premiere at Theatre at Jack's in 1996. Becker is the current resident playwright of the Bug Performance and Media Arts Center.
The 2000 revival features Nils Kiehn (as Lucifer) with Rose Leon (as the angel, Gabriel). The show involves Lucifer setting the record straight about life. It is, roughly, the world according to Satan, laced with flinty humor.
Becker's past work includes the award-winning, autobiographical show Back on a Limb (at the Avenue Theater in 1994) and the prophetic comedy Kurt Cobain Was Right (at the Acoma Center). He was also a contributing writer for "Dennis Miller Live" (on HBO) and "Terra Infirma," an award-winning satirical environmental digest (broadcast on 85 NPR stations).
Kiehn (formerly known as Nils Ivan Swanson) was last seen at the Bug in the Hunger Artists production of Much Ado About Nothing and has appeared in numerous shows with the LIDA Project including last year's History of the Devil, Scenes from a Pretended Life and the Merchant of Auschwitz. Director Heister is the artistic director of CityStage Ensemble (CSE), where he directed and starred in many productions during their years at the Theatre At Jack's. The company was forced into hiatus when the venue was transformed into a jazz club but will stage a return in October when Heister directs Bad Money by CSE playwright David Earl Jones.
Producer Matt Berry is a former Denver comedian now living in Los Angeles. He is also the executive producer and co-creator of the NBC comedy, "Daddio." He previously worked on the "Arsenio Hall Show," "Roseanne," "Grace Under Fire" and "Ellen."
Tickets are $12-$14. Bug Theatre is at 3654 Navajo St. For information, call (303) 477-9984 or visit the website at www.lucifertonite.hompage.com.
-- By Kenneth Jones
