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The Dead Guy
Eric Coble
Opening Date:
February 15, 2008
Closing Date:
March 8, 2008
What would you do for a million dollars—and fifteen minutes of fame? Unemployed slacker Eldon Phelps jumps at the chance to star in the ultimate reality show: spend a million dollars in one spectacular week while cameras follow his every move. There's just one catch: at the end of the week, he must die, and America gets to vote on how. As the cameras roll and the ratings soar, Eldon discovers that fame comes at a terrible price. Directed by Terry Veal, Eric Coble's wickedly funny satire targets reality television, celebrity obsession, and media exploitation.
Cast & Crew
CAST
Gina Yaweth — Lilli Bassett
Eldon Phelps — Chad Alan Baker
Dougie — Gravelly E. Finley III
Virgil, Security Guard, Leon — Eric Z! Nazim
Roberta, Woman #1, Sheila — Caprice Woosley
Christy, Woman #2, Nancy — Jennifer Wells
CREW
Director — Terry Veal
Costume design — Danyel Siler, Jason McMurray
Lighting design, sound engineer, video setup — Kyle Watson
Stage manager, lightboard — Bob Cross
Sound operators — Alyson Colin, Cody Paulk
Videotaping, editing, video setup — Eric Z! Nazim
Video operator — Tessa Dillman
Scenic artist — Nick Backes
Properties — Rhonda Clark
Running crew — Jason Moore, Roger Oxford
Poster and advertising design — Jonathan Siler
Website photography — Rhonda Clark
CST webmasters — Don Lusk, Phil Carlton
CST STAFF
Artistic Director: Rhonda Clark; Box Office Manager: Vicky Zipf; Technical Director: Josh Cain
Production Notes
Presented February 15–March 8, 2008, directed by Terry Veal. Six actors played fourteen credited role designations. Original cast: Lilli Bassett (Gina Yaweth), Chad Alan Baker (Eldon Phelps), Gravelly E. Finley III (Dougie), Eric Z! Nazim (Virgil, Security Guard, Leon), Caprice Woosley (Roberta, Woman #1, Sheila), Jennifer Wells (Christy, Woman #2, Nancy). A supplemental account describes Finley as a cameraman, but the original CST cast credits him as Dougie. Gina, a producer desperate for a Sweeps Week hit, offers an unemployed man a million dollars to spend in seven days before his televised death, with the audience voting on the method. The comedy satirizes voyeurism, ratings pressure, and the exploitation of ordinary people. The production's video work is documented in original credits: videotaping/editing by Eric Z! Nazim, video setup by Nazim and Kyle Watson, and video operation by Tessa Dillman. No set designer or set construction crew is listed on the original page. CST previously produced Coble's Bright Ideas in 2006. Opening-night sponsors: Asset Servicing Group and The Heritage Group. Cast sponsors: Kimberly and Scott Weaver. Special thanks: Cox Media, Jon Womastek, Doobie Potter, Classen SAS Drama Department, Christina Sanders, Travis Bassett. Ten linked original photos (01–07, 09–11), credited to Rhonda Clark; photo 08 was not linked. Review lead: Oklahoma Gazette, 'Carpenter Square's Dead Guy Satirizes Reality TV with Caustic Comedy.' No verified attendance or box-office figures.
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