From New York, Kathleen Chalfant stars in Beethoven's Nephew, November 20,2005

Stage and screen actress, and political activist - Kathleen Chalfant brings to life the drama of Ludwig van Beethoven's family relationships and takes the audience on a journey of court drama, attempted suicide and Beethoven's 9th Symphony.

Beethoven's Nephew is a compelling musical portrait of "family" as told by Johanna van Beethoven, (Kaspar's wife) starring Kathleen Chalfant, soon after Beethoven's burial in Vienna.
In 1815, Ludwig Beethoven's brother died at the age of 41, leaving behind his widow, Johanna and their 9-year old son Karl.
He wanted his brother, Ludwig, to have joint custody of his son with his mother, Johanna. For the following 10 years, in an attempt to relive his youth and creating another child prodigy, Ludwig battled Johanna personally and through the courts, finally winning the 3rd court case. But Beethoven was 45 years of age, could no longer hear and found it difficult to live with and understand a child and then a young man. In 1826, Karl, in utmost desperation, attempted suicide to free himself from the impossible demands made of him by his uncle. During this turbulent time, Beethoven composed some of his most famous works, including the 9th Symphony. Beethoven died one year later heralded as the most famous composer of his age.

Complementing the original script created by Harry Clark is an all Beethoven program. The production is designed and directed by
Susan Claassen, Managing Artistic Director of the Invisible Theater.
A pre concert chat with the audience starts at 2:30 PM.
Ms. Chalfant will grant a limited number of interviews on first come first serve basis. To Schedule an interview
Contact Harry Clark: harry@chambermusicplus.org or tel. 860-888-5621
Ticket Information
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This is an assigned seating event.
Single tickets are $28/ in advance and $30 the day of the event.
Student Tickets are $12 advance and $15 at the door. Valid Student ID required.
Subscriptions for Star Studded Sundays PLUS are $100and may be purchased by calling 520-400-5439 or visit our website www.cmpsouthwest.org and click on Tickets.
Call 520-400-5439 for additional information and reservations.
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Kathleen Chalfant - bio
Kathleen Chalfant is a politically active actress who has appeared in over thirty movies, television productions, and off-and on Broadway. Her outstanding performances have received a Tony nomination (for Tony Kushner's Angels In America), two Drama Desk nominations and one Drama Desk Award, the Outer Critics Circle, Drama League, Lucille Lortel, and Los Angeles Ovation awards, as well as two Obie awards, including Sustained Excellence in Performance and Outstanding Performance.

Kathleen Chalfant is best known for her portrayal of Vivian Bearing in the Off-Broadway, Los Angeles and London productions of the Pulitzer Prize-winning Wit. For that performance she received the Drama Desk Award, Lucille Lortel Award, Outer Critics Circle Award, Drama League Award, LA Ovation Award, Connecticut Critics Circle Award, as well as her second Obie Award. She was also acclaimed for her Tony-nominated performance as Hannah Pitt in Tony Kushner's Angels in America on Broadway. This fall she can be seen in 5 By Tenn at the Manhattan Theater Company and in Guantanamo: Honor Bound to Freedom.

Chalfant's recent films include Walter Salles' DARK WATER, KINSEY, and George Wolfe's upcoming LACKAWANNA BLUES, RANDOM HEARTS, a Sydney Pollock film starring Harrison Ford; Boaz Yakin's A PRICE BELOW RUBIES, Whit Stillman's THE LAST DAYS OF DISCO, and the critically acclaimed SIDE STREETS. Other recent film work includes COMPANY MEN and THE PORNOGRAPHER.

Chalfant's television work includes her role as Laurie Solt on CBS' drama The Guardian, as well as co-starring in the Steven King mini-series Storm of the Century, The Laramie Project, Voices from the White House (PBS) and A Death in the Family (American Masterpiece Theatre/PBS). She has had recurring roles on the critically acclaimed Prince Street and is a frequent guest on Law & Order, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, Law & Order: Criminal Intent, Spin City and New York Undercover.

In 1996, she made her Shakespearean debut in the Public Theater's Henry V as Mistress Quickly, which garnered her the 1996 Calloway Award for Best Classical Performance of the Year. Other stage credits include: Bloomer Girl at City Center Encores!, The Vagina Monologues at the West Side Arts Theater in New York and the San Francisco production, The Last Letter at Theatre for a New Audience, Savannah Bay at Classic Stage Company, True History and Real Adventures at the Vineyard Theatre, Nine Armenians at the Manhattan Theatre Club; the premiere of David Hare's new play Racing Demon at Lincoln Center, Twelve Dreams directed by James Lapine, M. Butterfly opposite John Lithgow, The Crucible as Anne Putnam, Sister Mary Ignatius… and The Party.
Ms. Chalfant is on the advisory board of THAW (Theatres Against War). She was a cast member in the reading of Lysistrata, at the Brooklyn Academy of Music, on the International Theatre Day of Protest against the war in Iraq in 2003. She is on the board of trustees for Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS.