Contact Robert for information about this and future productions of Vincent John Doe.

313-689-2993

Vincent John Doe, a new play by Charleston artist, playwright and actor, Robert Maniscalco will be presented in the final weekend of the 2019 Piccolo Spoleto Festival* at the Cannon Street Arts Center, home of PURE Theatre (134 Cannon Street, Charleston).

• See Testimonials from Audience members.
  
• See Review in Post and Courier
  
• Wrap up of the Piccolo Spoleto “concert” production
  
• A brief video teaser created from the 2018 “Concert” Production.
  
• GoFundMe Campaign 2019
  
• Explore other stories about Robert and his mission.
  

Performances are June 6,7, 8 @ 8:00 pm with a Sunday, June 9 Matinee at 2:00 pm $25/ticket. Call: (866) 811-4111

MEDIA Program Description:
Enjoy a fascinating visit with Vincent Van Gogh, who is caught in a time vortex and sees firsthand the impact his work has had on the world of today. Acclaimed performer and visionary artist Robert Maniscalco brings Vincent to life, even painting a couple “Van Goghs” right before our very eyes. Get into the brilliant mind of one of the greatest artists the world has ever known in this multi-disciplinary, interactive production, combining live piano music and live painting into a uniquely moving new theatrical experience.

Playwright Robert Maniscalco and Dramaturg/Director Barbara Pitcher, who is traveling from New York City to direct, continue their collaboration on VJD. The play enjoyed three magical “Concert” performances at City Gallery in Charleston, as part of the 2018 Piccolo Spoleto Festival, where it was met with lots of laughs, tears and standing ovations. Also, the play earned some fantastic audience response.

We are also graced with a true southern gentleman, author, designer and controversial regular on Southern Charm, Kevin Cooper Ray.

Other performers include top Charleston actors, Lorilyn Harper, David and Susan Hallett, Fred Hutter, Brooke Watkins, Bradly Tarr, Anthony Parenti, Mary Maniscalco and Rob Maniscalco as Vincent. Live musicians are integral to the show, featuring Danny (violin) and James Maniscalco on piano, performing classic music as well as new music composed for the show by the playwright. Two “Van Gogh” paintings will be created on stage as well, making VJD a completely new theatrical event. Audience members may purchase paintings created during the production, or by donating to the Gofundme Campaign, to help support the production.

The action of Vincent John Doe, an original full length (120 minutes), multi-media play, follows Vincent, as he is committed to a mental hospital, fighting for his “truth.” It is not a biopic, but rather a fantasy love story around the character of Van Gogh, set in a modern context, borrowing heavily from Vincent’s own words. “It’s sort of an Alice in Wonderland where the wonderland is us.”

We never quite know for sure if this character really is Van Gogh or just another delusional. As Vincent longs for a return to his own time he finds he must also fight for validation in the present. The more Vincent insists upon his identity the more trouble ensues. Eventually, he comes to realize the battle over his identity is not the real issue he must face. Meanwhile, as the audience wonders whether the play is a piece of science fiction or a psychological thriller, they have become embroiled in a high stakes existential battle about the real meaning of freedom, identity and truth.

The play explores these important themes while telling a compelling story about love and redemption. Robert says, “the important thing is we are getting people talking about truth, alt truth, identity, the meaning of insanity, the cost of fame, authenticity and artistic purity, the nature of existence, the commodification of art, the responsibility of the artist, overcoming creative blocks, childhood trauma and of course, the creative process itself.”

VJD is a deep reexamination of the character of Van Gogh, who has been marginalized by our society as the ultimate “crazy artist.” Here, using his own letters as source material, VJD mines the depth of the great artist’s thinking, bringing to light his great insight and wisdom.

One unique feature of VJD is that it requires the actor playing Van Gogh to create two actual Van Gogh paintings in real time, during the course of each performance, blurring the lines between the theatre and visual art disciplines.  The world premiere “concert” production featured renowned Charleston artist/actor Robert Maniscalco painting in the style of the great art legend.  He and eight other local actors performed all the roles.

________

Character Breakdown:

At first, VINCENT VAN GOGH is what we might expect of the great artist, who believes he has been transported to the future. He is disoriented but addement in his convictions and intentions. Is he really who he says he is or just another delusional?  Is anyone really who they think they are?  The real existential question for Van Gogh, however, is not who he is but why he is here? VJD is a portrait of the thoughtful, insightful man behind the legendary “mad genius.”

DR KEN FISHER is a published psychiatrist who has developed idiosyncratic methods to help delusional patients in finding their true identity. Though he is never convinced that he is sitting across from the actual Vincent Van Gogh, he is hard-pressed to accomplish his goal of convincing his patient.

MS. MINDA is an ardent art therapist who believes sincerely in the power of creativity to unblock those struggling with mental illness, even someone as far gone as Vincent seems to be. She has absolute faith in art as the key to breaking through to the truth.

RONNIE is a fellow patient. He is a brilliant sociopath with a sardonic wit, troubled by anger, who seems to have a remarkable grasp of reality, as long as it conforms to his skewed world view.  If not, it is fake news and must be destroyed.

ANGEL is a floor nurse who does not believe in medicating those who has lost faith in the effectiveness of the mental health system. Carrying a secret connection to Van Gogh from childhood, she makes it her mission to help Van Gogh in his quest to understand his role as an artist and his place in society, past and present. Is she an agent sent by God, just one of millions of well-meaning fans, or a disturbed young lady with her own nefarious agenda?

YOUNG ANGEL is the essence of the Angel, before the fall from grace, before her loss of innocence.

TURTLE is a resident/graffiti artist, wanting to make his mark on the world, though he has remarkably little to actually say about it, through his art.  He longs for celebrity.  The only problem is that his work is anonymous.

PATSY SIMMONS is a highly influential art dealer, who knows how to spin an effective narrative and capitalize on the talents of others.

ART CRITIC is cynical yet deeply sincere in his longing to discover something deeper than the next flash in the pan.

______________

We are continuing our a GoFundme campaign to assist in paying the director, actors, musicians and other theatre practitioners who are collaborating to create this first fully produced premiere production of “Vincent John Doe” at the beautiful Cannon Street Playhouse in June 2019.  We are about $1,500 shy of our goal.

An earlier version of this play received a Concert production at Charleston City Gallery as part of the 2018 Piccolo Spoletto Festival. A public staged reading took place at Threshold Theatre in Charleston in 2013.

Let Robert know if you would like to receive a free  pdf of the entire play for review. Please stipulate the purpose of the review.

__________

*This 2019 Piccolo Spoleto production of VJD will be partially funded by the City of Charleston Office of Cultural Affairs and the City of North Charleston Cultural Arts Program through their joint administration of the Lowcountry Quarterly Art Grant Program and the SC Arts Commission which receives support from the National Endowment for the Arts and the John and Susan Bennett Memorial Arts Fund of the Coastal Community Foundation of SC.

Audience members win their choice of paintings created during the production Painting created during the production.