Author Bios for Idols of The King
Stolen with Much Gratitude from the Official Website of the Arkansas Reperatory Theatre, a grand organization indeed.
Allen Crowe
(Playwright) Allen Crowe really did meet Ronnie Claire Edwards in a parking lot in 1989. He was working for Mozark Productions as director of continuity for their hit show Designing Women, and they were having a "season wrap party" for the cast and crew. That same night in Los Angeles, there was a Museum of Broadcasting Tribute to The Waltons, and Allen had been invited. He decided that the "wrap party" was where he had to be, but he knew that Miss Edwards, who had a recurring role on Designing Women and had starred in The Waltons for years, was going to the tribute party and then was coming to the "wrap party." "She was smart -- she went to both parties! We met as she was coming into our party. I introduced myself and told her what a fan of hers I was and asked her all about The Waltons party. We bonded almost immediately and became good friends."
Idols of The King got started when we went to a production of Always...Patsy Cline, [by J. Ted Swindley] that was playing in Glendale [California]. It was produced by Arkansas Repertory Theatre. We loved the show. We had been talking about writing together, and after we saw Patsy, we decided to write a show about a celebrity and use songs that that person had recorded -- a tribute show, but much more of a play with multiple characters." "My interest in Elvis Presley was greatly influenced by my mother, Marilyn, a lifelong resident of Stone Mountain, Georgia, who upon learning of The King's passing, ceased speaking for a week and never regained the will to cook." What was the writing process like, with two playwrights working together? "Each of us would write a scene or a character monologue, and then we would get together and re-write it -- literally, we both would write on it at the same time! Honestly, all of the scenes were re-written together!" "The trick there is to make sure that each of the characters keeps his or her own voice. We had to make sure that Darla doesn't sound exactly like the Piano Teacher. I think we've done amazingly well on that score."
Is the show finished? "I think that when we get this new character Pressman worked into the show, we'll be pretty much finished with the script work. Of course, now we have to give Edna a few more lines at the top of the next scene, so that Pressman has time to change clothes and re-enter as Zig. We wrote that new Pressman character for Kevin [Bartlett]. I think it is going to be a good fit for him, for the way he talks. It's also a piece with heart, and I think Kevin will do it well." "Right now, I am working on a new series for Warner Brothers, For Your Love, so I have to get on with my life. I'd love to say 'Call us Birdseye and freeze it!' But we'll probably continue to work on it for a good long time."
Allen Crowe was raised in Stone Mountain, Georgia, in a house he shared with three generations of family. He received his Bachelor of Arts in English Literature from Valdosta State University, known primarily for its humidity. As well as teaching English Literature, he was involved in productions of GODSPELL, FIDDLER ON THE ROOF, THE CHERRY ORCHARD, THE GLASS MENAGERIE, DARK SIDE OF THE MOON, and A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC. In Los Angeles, he was assistant director on Nichelle Nichols' (star of STAR TREK) one-woman show, REFLECTIONS. For Mozark Productions, Mr. Crowe was in charge of continuity for the long running, award-winning series DESIGNING WOMEN and went on to write for EVENING SHADE and HEARTS AFIRE. He has recently sold a pilot to Fox Broadcasting. Mr. Crowe's interest in Elvis was greatly influenced by his mother, Mrs. Harold Bowman (Marilyn), lifelong resident of Stone Mountain, who upon learning of The King's passing ceased speaking for a week and never regained the will to cook.
Ronnie Claire Edwards (Playwright) played Corabeth Godsey on THE WALTONS, which continues to be a top rated program in syndication. She was a regular on the television series SARA BOONE, JUST IN TIME, and had a recurring role on DESIGNING WOMEN. She has guest starred on numerous series, including MURDER SHE WROTE, STAR TREK, THE NEXT GENERATION, and DYNASTY. Her film credits include ALL THE WAY HOME, NOBODY'S FOOL, THE 34TH STAR, PERFECT, THE DEAD POOL, WHEN EVERY DAY WAS THE FOURTH OF JULY, UFO CAFE and 8 SECONDS.
Miss Edwards began her career at the Margo Jones Theatre where she won the Protegee Award. There, she apperared in fifteen original plays, as well as classics. She was the recipient of a Ford Foundation Grant at the Cleveland Playhouse where she won raves for Blanche in A STREETCAR NAMED DESIRE and Elenya in UNCLE VANYA. Her other regional theatre credits include Violet in MAN AND SUPERMAN; Andromache in TIGER AT THE GATES; and The Stepdaughter in SIX CHARACTERS IN SEARCH OF AN AUTHOR at Arena Stage in Washington D.C. She has also performed lead roles at Pasadena Playhouse, Actors Theatre of Louisville, San Diego Old Globe, Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park, The Mark Taper Forum, Williamstown Theatre and the Berkshire Festival, as well as two seasons at Princeton's McCarter Theatre. Miss Edwards has appeared on Broadway, Los Angeles and Dallas in PATIO/PORCH. She has toured in three productions of DRIVING MISS DAISY; played the lead in SISTER MARY IGNATIUS EXPLAINS IT ALL FOR YOU; Mary Tyrone in A LONG DAY'S JOURNEY INTO NIGHT; Regina in THE LITTLE FOXES; Annie Sullivan in THE MIRACLE WORKER; Cia in AS YOU DESIRE ME; Lady Macbeth in MACBETH; Katherine in TAMING OF THE SHREW; Miss Adalaide in GUYS AND DOLLS, to name a few. She has received three Los Angeles Dramalogue Awards. Miss Edwards co-authored the musical, COWBOY, based on the Western painter, Charles Russell. COWBOY premiered at Goodspeed Opera House, toured nine states and played off-Broadway. She currently tours her one woman show, THE KNIFE THROWER'S ASSISTANT, MEMOIRS OF A HUMAN TARGET, which she wrote. She has also written a cookbook, SUGAR AND GREASE(paint). Miss Edward's philosophy has always been you can meet some of the best people hanging out in a parking lot, which is where she met Mr. Allen Crowe in 1989.
