The Devil And Billy Markham April 23, 2011

THE DEVIL AND BILLY MARKHAM RETURNS!!!

After a hugely successful one night performance in January, Action Talks Productions returns to the JewelBox Theatre at the Rendezvous Lounge for two performances!!!

About the performer:

Jonah Weston is a professional actor living and working in Portland, Oregon. In the past five years Jonah has appeared in numerous productions in and out of Portland including: Alcestis, What Mad Pursuit, Orestes, Oedipus The King (Classic Greek Theatre) Arcadia, As You Like It, (Lakewood Theatre) By The Bog Of Cats and Live Girls! (CoHo Productions) An Evening At Stonehenge With W.B. Yeats for Maryhill Museum, and Biloxi Blues, The Sunshine Boys, Valentines Day and The Young Man From Atlanta and the upcoming production of Fortinbras (Profile Theatre Co.) As well as countless readings for Profile Theatre, Readers Theatre Rep, and Classic Greek Theatre. Jonah has performed leading roles in the short films I Love You Too, Eat Your Heart Out, Taft, and Memorabilia as well as the feature film Home And How To Break It. He can be seen in the IFC hit show Portlandia, the upcoming commercial for Blue Moon Beer, and he will co-star in TNT's hit show Leverage starring Timothy Hutton.

For more information about the show and performer Jonah Weston please visit www.jonahweston.com

Best,

Jonah Weston

Action Talks Productions presents:

THE DEVIL AND BILLY MARKHAM
By Shel Silverstein

Starring: Jonah Weston
TWO NIGHTS ONLY!!!
Saturday, April 23rd and Sunday April 24th @ 7:00 PM
The JewelBox Theatre at The Rendezvous Lounge
2322 2nd Ave.-Belltown-Seattle, WA
Only 60 seats available! Advance tickets available online at:

www.jonahweston.com/devilandbilly.html

Shel Silverstein’s The Devil and Billy Markham, which first appeared as a six-part epic poem in the January 1979 edition of Playboy magazine and subsequently as a one-act play at Lincoln Center in 1989, tells the story of Billy Markham, an unforgettable character who never met a bet he didn’t take, including that of his very own soul. Billy journeys from Nashville’s Music Row down into the fiery pits of hell and back again as he matches wits with God, the Devil and everyone in between. For Mature Audiences.

“THE DEVIL AND BILLY MARKHAM is presented by special arrangement with SAMUEL FRENCH, INC.”

REVIEWS:

Reviews for The Devil And Billy Markham
“In the role of the hell-bound country singer Billy Markham, actor Jonah Weston convinced me that if he ended up in a seedy dive with Markham, the two would swap stories, ingest bourbon in fountain soda-sized quantities, and Markham would say Weston was an "alright son-of-a-bitch"—that is to say, he's good.”
- Portland Mercury

“Shel Silverstein’s epic poem ‘The Devil And Billy Markham’ is currently recounted at the Curious Comedy Theatre. When actor Jonah Weston comes onto the stage dressed like a regular guy and begins the remarkable tale of a man who bets with the devil, the feeling is that one of those great tavern storytellers around whom everyone naturally gathers just stepped into the room for a drink.
Director Jamie Rea and performer Weston deserve credit for understanding the kind of art that people still need -- stories of life and love, and heaven and hell -- presented in a way that is funny and whimsical and that people can relate to. And they deserve applause for doing it in a way that uses all the craft and artifice of theater, and making it look easy.”
- Carol Wells, Special to The Oregonian (Original Review)

Reviews for The Devil And Billy Markham
"Weston's pleasure in reciting Silverstein's humorously witty and sometimes playfully raunchy poetry is apparent. Weston gives each character a physical reality as well as a distinct vocal quality. Whether kneeling on the floor as Billy throwing die in a fixed game of craps, writhing on a stool to capture Billy's discomfort while roasting on a spit in hell, or strutting around the stage as the cocky Devil tossing off orders to inadequate henchmen, Weston gives a concrete sense of the physical lives of the story's characters.
Throughout the piece Weston subtly varies vocal tone and pitch to accommodate the mood and intensity of the action but also takes advantage of theatrical elements like lighting to reinforce the shifts in atmosphere. Weston is an able entertainer, who knows how to engage and enchant his audiences. "
-Richard Wattneberg- The Oregonian (Revival Review)

AUDIENCE RESPONSES:

"If you missed this show the first time around you get another chance to witness greatness. Jonah Weston is fabulous as he performs this adult Shel Silverstein story."-Kay Olsen

I have now seen it TWICE in one weekend.
Get out to the show, people. This is what it's all about. Performer, words, and audience. Jonah is wonderful. -Bruce A. Hostetler

I want to echo the praise leveled at Jonah's performance. It's a damned fine rendition of one of Shel Silverstein' s greatest works. He had us falling out of our chairs laughing and riveted when we could find the self restraint to shut up and listen to all that fine prose. Everyone who likes a gritty, bawdy turn of phrase should come to see this. Don't bring the kids. -Lee Newberry

I am very happy to see the huge outpouring of acclaim for Jonah Weston's performance in The Devil and Billy Markham. He was great and I think Bruce Hostetler said exactly what was so great about it: performer, words and audience. -Lawrence Howard

Saw a great show! Jonah Weston's tour-de-force "The Devil and Billy Markham", Sweeeeeet. -Jan Powell

RUN. I am flabbergasted. Incredible performance by Jonah Weston. His work took my breath away. Several times. Very funny AND with so many rip your brain out layers. May Portland flock! Run! Drop everything and run to The Devil and Billy Markham. Jonah Weston left me agog, agape and apoplectic with his performance of Shel Silverstein's work. Brilliant comedic prose on the duality that exists within us all. -Nicole Lane

Great Work by Jonah Weston! Mesmerizing!-Cecily Overman

I just saw The Devil and Billy Markham and took my parents! They loved it! Fun for the whole family! -Bobby Bermea

Saw Jonah Weston in "The Devil and Billy Markham" last night at Curious Comedy Theatre. Great one man show. It was delightful. Go see it!
-Todd Van Voris