Hamner to present 2 productions

The Hamner Theater announces the opening of “Nixon’s Nixon,” by Russell Lees and “All Is Always Now,” by Robert Wray, in repertory, from Feb. 25 through March 20.

Opening Feb. 25, and running through March 13 will be “Nixon’s Nixon” by Russell Lees. The night before becoming the first and only American president to resign, on Aug. 7, 1974, Richard Nixon met with Secretary of State Henry Kissinger at the White House. There are no tapes of this meeting. In Russell Lees’ political satire, Nixon has not yet decided to resign, and both men are determined to secure their place in history. They drink, they talk. Directed by Marcello Rollando, with Chris Patrick as Richard Nixon and Chris Baumer as Henry Kissinger.

Lees has also written a play about another American President, “Monticel,” about Thomas Jefferson and the machinations at Monticello. He is the creator of” The Dark Eye,” a videogame based on the life of Edgar Allan Poe, voiced by William S. Burroughs. He worked on the game “Full Spectrum Warrior,” sponsored by the U.S. Army, intended to assist veterans from Iraq in overcoming post traumatic stress disorder. In 2004, he provided the commentary for a DVD release of “Richard III.”

Also onstage at the Hamner Theater, from March 4 through March 20, will be “All Is Always Now,” written by Charlottesville playwright Robert Wray. Wray’s comedy about actors and acting, loss and moving on was developed, in part, at the Hamner’s Virginia Playwrights Initiative, a workshop for new plays. Elements of Shakespeare, Melville and Chekhov combine to create a story about a group of theater friends who gather together for one last night in New York. Directed by Hamner Theater Co-Artistic Director Peter Coy, with Kevin O’Donnell, Chris Patrick, Anya Scott and Ryan Wender.

Wray is a graduate of the Iowa Playwrights Workshop and has had plays produced all over the country. He has won the Marc A. Klein Playwriting Award and was a Kennedy Center/American College Theatre Festival and a Heideman Award finalist.

“Nixon’s Nixon” will preview Feb. 24 and open Feb. 25, with a final performance March 13; “All Is Always Now” will preview March 2 and 3 and open March 4, with a final performance March 20. Opening night

performances Feb. 25 and March 4 will be followed by a free champagne reception with cast and crew. Performances will take place at 7:30 p.m. Wednesdays through Saturdays and at 2 p.m. Sundays. Admission is $10 per person. Reservations are suggested, by calling (434) 361-1999. Visit www.thehamnertheater.com for more information.