Me and Orson Welles

Synopsis: Feature film. In New York in 1937, seventeen year-old Richard (Efron) meets theatre director Orson Welles (McKay), whom he convinces to give him the role of Lucius in the Mercury Theatre’s production of Julius Caesar. Welles, who is having an extramarital affair with the leading actress while his wife is pregnant, couples Richard with production assistant Sonja Jones to rehearse.
Language: English
Country: United States
Medium: Film
Technical information: Black-and-white / Sound
Year of release: 2009
Notes: To facilitate use of the film by schools, Film Education has created a website of study materials and film clips http://www.filmeducation.org/meandorsonwelles/ designed to stimulate debate, discussion and reflection on Orson Welles, Shakespeare, performance, theatrical production and filmmaking. This resource is accompanied by a free 34 minute Study DVD which can be ordered through the website.
Subjects: Drama
Keywords: drama production; theatre directors; Welles, Orson (1916-1985); Shakespeare, William; Stage directing; Rehearsals; Shakespeare on radio
Related items: Front Row [20/11/2009]; Me and Orson Welles - Study DVD; Night Waves [02/12/2009]