Arts & Entertainment
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DOUG LOTHES CELEBRATES OVER 26 YEARS of GWTW20 PERFORMANCES What is "Gone With The Wind in 20 Minutes?" (GWTW20) Doug Lothes takes his audience through the highlights of the Technicolor spectacle based on the Pulitzer Prize winning novel by using his vocal impersonations, facial expressions, and physicalizations without the use of sets or costumes. Doug enacts scenes between the major characters such as Scarlett and Ashley in the library at Twelve Oaks where Scarlett discovers Ashley's intentions toward the goodly Melanie and the concealed Rhett Butler who has no good intentions. Then there’s Melanie welcoming Scarlett to Atlanta where Scarlett learns from Ashley of his and Melanie's forthcoming child, after whose birth, Melanie, her new baby, Prissy, Rhett, and Scarlett flee the Yankee army and the burning of Atlanta. In the second half of this epic, the role of Scarlett is not only played, through Doug's interpretation, by Vivien Leigh, but also by Bette Davis and Katharine Hepburn (who were the two top winners in a public-voted poll to determine which actress should play the role). This one-man parody is moving as well as funny. Doug makes an effort not to sacrifice the pathos of the story through his humorous retelling. See a clip of Doug's performance on YouTube.com by clicking the link listed under "Favorite Links." On December 13, 1989, Doug had the honor of entertaining the international press and the returning cast members of the motion picture "Gone With The Wind" as part of the 50th anniversary celebration of the film's release. The cast members were bowled over. Butterfly McQueen (Prissy) asked to meet him to express her admiration for all the work he put into his fine performance. Evelyn Keyes (Suellen) and Ann Rutherford (Careen) joined Cammie King (Bonnie Butler) in giving him a raving "Bravo!" Rand Brooks (Charles Hamilton) said, "At first I was laughing, of course, then I realized I had tears in my eyes. It was so moving as well as funny." What's the buzz on "GWTW20?" "one man with a fast tongue" -- The New York Times "Hi Doug, Words can not express how wonderful you were at our Atlanta Luncheon in Houston. You were just what we needed to bring the entire event together. Everyone loved you! The true test was having a 'captured audience' and you accomplished this. You sounded more like the actors in the movie than they did and the Bette Davis and Katharine Hepburn renditions of Scarlett were priceless. Thank you so much for making our Luncheon for Meeting Professionals International (MPI)a wonderful memory. "On behalf of everyone at the ACVB, THANK YOU! Bette" -- Bette Sammons, Creative Director, Atlanta Convention & Visitors Bureau Doug Lothes made his Atlanta debut with GWTW20 at the Theatrical Outfit. WAGA-TV said, "Tonight's show stopper was a one-man rendition of 'Gone With The Wind' complete with appropriate accents and an arched eyebrow Vivien Leigh would have killed for. That's Doug Lothes, folks." "Creative Loafing" added, "the audience was amazed by Doug Lothes." Doug has also been featured in the Atlanta Journal/Constitution's "Best Bets" for his performance at 7 Stages theatre. He's been featured in the Atlanta Journal/Constitutional's "Access Atlanta" and the "Northside Neighbor" for his performance at the Margaret Mitchell House celebration of the 70th anniversary of the publication of "Gone With The Wind" on June 10, 2006, and for "Sunday in the Park" at Historic Oakland Cemetery, the final resting place of Margaret Mitchell, in October 2006 and 2007. On November 3, 2007, Doug performed twice during the world premier party for "Rhett Butler's People," the compaion novel to "Gone With The Wind." Doug has also been hired by AT&T, Texaco, BellSouth, Amoco, Westinghouse, Coca-Cola Enterprises, Solomon Bros., Home Box Office, and the Colonial Dames of America, plus a host of professional trade associations. Doug will appear at the "Battle of Atlanta Festival" on Saturday, July 17, 2009 with performances in East Atlanta Village Library at 12:30 and 4:30 p.m. and in Kirkwood Library at 2:30 p.m. Please join him for one of these rare free public performances! Contact Doug today... or tomorrow ... after all, tomorrow is another day! gwtw20@bellsouth.net 404-210-2122 |
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