Actor, author to perform one-man show at Northwest

Actor, author to perform one-man show at Northwest

"The last man on Earth broadcasting into whatever" will take center stage when actor and author Tim Mooney brings his one-man show to Northwest Missouri State University this month.

Mooney will perform "Man Cave: A One-Man Sci-Fi Climate Change Tragicomedy, Volumes One and Two" at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, March 25, in the Black Box Theatre at the Ron Houston Center for the Performing Arts.

Admission is free and open to the public. Seating is general admission and limited.

Mooney also will visit acting courses and present workshops with theatre students.

Mooney created "Man Cave" six years ago. The sci-fi tragicomedy centers around Tim, burrowed somewhere in Canada, broadcasting into a microphone for anyone who might be listening. When he realizes there may not be anybody out there, he faces the inability to have any impact on humanity itself.

Mooney has since expanded "Man Cave" with a second volume that uses similar themes, costumes and ideas.

"The original 'Man Cave' ends on a bit of a cliff hanger that leaves the audience wondering 'Where could this possibly go next," Mooney said. "Well, past 'Man Cave' audiences have been waiting six years for that answer, but Northwest and the Maryville community are going to get both in just one evening."

The results of the last election inspired Mooney to inspect how people react to climate change. He hopes his show might inspire audiences to steer away from worsening the issue.

"'Man Cave 2' is still a one-man show, with me playing that 'one-man,' performed in the same location and motif as the original, but this time everything is somehow different," Mooney said. "While the first explored how the world got into the climate conundrum, the second show widens the lens a little further."

Dr. Joe Kreizinger, professor of theatre in the School of Fine and Performing Arts, said Mooney always has something fresh and unique to present when he visits Northwest.

"Students will not only enjoy the play for its plot and theme but will also see a great example of stage presence, character development and remarkable technique," Kreizinger said. "Tim's ability to connect with students is exceptional. Both the depth and breadth of his theatre knowledge is fantastic."

Mooney, of the Timothy Mooney Repertory Theatre, tours the country with nine different one-man shows. His Shakespeare work made him the recent recipient of a DeHaan Legacy Grant. He is the author of 17 popular new adaptations of the plays of Moliere, including one produced by Northwest, as well as the acting textbook, "Acting at the Speed of Life: Conquering Theatrical Style."

For more information about Mooney and his work, visit timmooneyrep.com/.

Funding support for the performance is provided by the Missouri Arts Council and the College of Arts, Communication and Social Sciences.