Studio Arena Theatre is pleased to present the world premiere of The 4th Wise Man, written by Kathleen Gaffney, Studio Arena Theatre’s artistic director and chief executive officer, and Tom Fontana, an Emmy(R) award-winning television writer and producer. The play is directed by Christopher Eaves and is based on a parable inspired by the original Christmas story. A perfect addition to the holiday season for the whole family, The 4th Wise Man runs through Sunday, December 23, 2006.
In The 4th Wise Man, Artaban, a prominent magi, sells his fortune and sets off to find the Messiah, aided by his wise-cracking servant Orontes. He dreams of presenting his three precious gifts to Jesus, but is repeatedly delayed when he stops to use his gifts to help the needy along the way.
Over the course of the play, Artaban’s journey lasts 33 years, and he worries he will have nothing left to give when he meets the Lord, but he learns he has always had possessed the greatest gift of all. (Above: Darin de Paul as Orontes and Paolo Andino as Artaban in The 4th Wise Man. Photo by Jim Bush Photography.)
(Paolo Andino as Artaban in The 4th Wise Man. Photo credit: Jim Bush Photography.)The play is adapted from a teleplay written by Fontana that appeared as a television movie in 1985. Fontana’s production was based on a short story entitled The Other Wise Man, written in 1896 by Henry Van Dyke, an American author, educator and clergyman. “The message is timeless,” said Fontana. “It is a parable about putting the needs of others ahead of ourselves, about learning to find God in unfamiliar faces and about the endurance of the human spirit.” Fontana and Gaffney, friends since their college days as classmates at Buffalo State College, worked together to create the play.
“Tom and I are thrilled to bring this world premiere to Buffalo audiences for the Christmas season,” said Gaffney. “Families and theatre lovers of all ages will be enchanted by this production, in which we have incorporated many unique elements. In addition to the professional actors on our stage playing the lead characters, Bunraku style puppets represent several other characters, creating magical realism on stage.”
The puppets were created by Michele Costa, a Buffalonian who is reknown for her unique talents in creating life-like and life-size puppets for theatrical performances. Buffalo State College students operate the puppets on stage, learning a new skill that can help them in their future careers in theatre.
The 4th Wise Man is sponsored by The Women of Studio Arena Theatre, Buffalo Spree Magazine and STAR 102.5-FM. Tickets are on sale now and range from $33 – $54. For this production, the Key Bank Family Pak is available, where a family of four can receive admission and parking for as low as $84. Single and subscription tickets can be purchased by calling the Studio Arena box office at (716) 856-5650 or (800) 77STAGE. Additional information is available at www.studioarena.org.