Round House Theatre presents the DC-area premiere of Austin Pendleton Off-Broadway hit Orson's Shadow, a fictional account of real events that re-imagines the drama accompanying a 1960 production of Ionesco Rhinoceros. Jerry Whiddon, Round House Theatre Producing Artistic Director Emeritus the production, directs. Orson Welles, Laurence Olivier, Vivien Leigh, and Joan Plowright come to life in this clever comedy, chronicling the play that should have been a hit, but turned out to be a legendary bomb. The real fireworks exploded backstage where fragile egos, inflamed nerves, and a love triangle collided in an uproarious clash of the theatrical titans.

Sponsored in part through the generous support from Donald and Janet Boardman and Frank and Joanne Lavin, Orson's Shadow runs January 31—February 25, 2007 at Round House Theatre Bethesda. Tickets are $25-$55 and may be purchased at the Round House Theatre box office, 240.644.1100, or online.

In Orson's Shadow, celebrated critic Kenneth Tynan urges Orson Welles to collaborate with Olivier for the production of Rhinoceros. Welles agrees to do the project to fund his next film, Chimes at Midnight.

Olivier, just ending a successful run in John Osbourne's The Entertainer, is at a personal turning point. His marriage to actress Vivien Leigh has been unraveling for years, but due to his deep affection for her, Olivier is unable to leave her. Matters are further complicated when Olivier's new love, Joan Plowright, is cast as his co-star in Rhinoceros. Along with Welles's assistant and young Irish stagehand Sean, Tynan and the four larger-than-life celebrities congregate at the Royal Theatre in London.

Playwright Austin Pendleton creates a unique scenario but manages to keep his characterizations real and true, capturing each illustrious actor to perfection. Filled with witty humor, Orson's Shadow is a slice-of-life depiction of talent plagued by insecurity and envy. Writer Robert Simonson says that "anyone inside or outside the theatre who has casually or earnestly wondered why the names listed in any given program put themselves through hell for a few magic hours in the dark can find a few dozen answers (there has never been one single answer) in this delightful and discerning text."

Orson' Shadow received its world premiere at the Steppenwolf Theatre in Chicago, and subsequently premiered in New York City at the Barrow Street Theatre in March of 2005.

Director Jerry Whiddon says, "Each time that I read this script, I am genuinely touched by these people?for nearly 100 years, these individuals were powerfully at the center of our art. It is a joy and honor to direct the physical representations of these celebrities on stage".

Producing Artistic Director Blake Robison adds, "There is a certain voyeuristic element to this clash of the titans...Pendleton strips away the mask of celebrity to expose the terror and insecurity that fame engenders. And maybe, if we look a little harder, we will see ourselves."