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Entrees and Entrances
Aurora brings dinner theater to Loudoun: Meredith Bean McMath, of Purcellville, the artistic director of Aurora Studio Theatre, has served Loudoun a new dish, fresh off the chef's burner and seasoned with the talents of Aurora's actors, actresses, costume designers and backstage crew.
The troupe began providing Loudoun with its first dinner theater in February with the play “The Iron Skillet” by playwright Glen Bartram, of Sterling, at Grandale Farm in Purcellville. There were sellout crowds and rave reviews from the audience, McMath said.
Thus, a second production, “The Art of Dining” by Broadway playwright Tina Howe, will open at The National Conference Center in August.
According to McMath, thespian history, at least for Loudoun, is repeating itself.
“The dinner theater was huge. We sold out two weeks before we even started last time, and sales are already brisk for all the shows coming up,” McMath said.
McMath explained that affirmation for this concept came, not only from her own observations, but also from the Loudoun Visitors Association.
“Dinner theaters are big and it’s something that Loudoun clearly wants. ... The Loudoun County Visitors Association told me they had done a survey a couple of years ago and people said they wanted dinner theater,” McMath said.
McMath said the whole process began when she and Tom Sweitzer, acting director at the Hill School in Middleburg, produced Sweitzer’s play, “Porches” for a fundraising event. The dinner was catered by Tutti Perricone of the Back Street Cafe and Barn Door BBQ Catering Middleburg. McMath said the evening went very well, and Tom Orme, owner of Grandale Farm, suggested something similar at his restaurant. Orme suggested Shakespeare.
“But then I thought it would be fun to come up with things that had a food theme,” McMath said.
Howe, who authored “Coastal Disturbances,” which was nominated for a Tony award in1987, wrote “Art of Dining” in 1979. The plot is a comedy revolving around a couple’s opening night as the owners of a gourmet restaurant. McMath emphasized that the humor is risque, a humor written for adults, not children.
“It’s a very sophisticated comedy. It’s a great girls-night-out, a great couples night,” McMath said.
The background of this particular production, McMath said, is the stuff of a good play in itself. “The Art of Dining” was directed by Ike Stoneberger at Loudoun Valley High School “years and years ago.” The lead roles were played by Nate Juraschek, of Leesburg, and Carolyn Christiansen, of Philomont. After high school, the two young thespians went their separate ways, but both ways involved the theater.
Christiansen worked professionally as a stuntwoman and an actress. Juraschek worked in both film and theater.
Now, years later, they find themselves playing the same roles again.
“That’s awesome. It gives me chills just to say it. It’s so much fun for them to revisit these roles, and they get more of the humor than they did when they were back in high school,” McMath said.
McMath said that the greater population of eastern Loudoun led to the decision to change venues.
“We are still giving them the best shows ever. It’s a really winning combination. ... The National Conference Center has its own restaurant,” McMath said.
The menu, she said, includes West Belmont chicken, grilled salmon and New York strip steak. There will also be a choice of desserts. All of which may be ordered in advance on the Web site.
“It’s already starting to heat up. We are already getting a lot of notification from PayPal,” McMath said.
The play will be in one of the ballrooms that has a stage. The goal is to eventually perform in the facility’s fully equipped theater.
“But you can do a lot of things in a small venue. ... It’s just great to kick back, see the show and have a bottle of wine.”
Contact the writer at ecarlton@timespapers.com
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