Famed documentarian Ken Burns has graced us with another fascinating exploration into the lives of iconic historical figures — meticulously detailed narratives, correspondence and photos that chronicle the lives of two of our most unconventional and accomplished presidents, cousins Theodore and Franklin Roosevelt, and our greatest First Lady, Eleanor Roosevelt, also a cousin and a Roosevelt. And once you've caught up on the insane and brilliant Teddy, you can get another perspective of the maverick leader — who truly merited that branding a century before it was used in vain by McCain — from Tampa Rep's upcoming play, The Apocrypha of Theodore Roosevelt.
The Roosevelts: An Intimate History, a seven-part, 14-hour film, follows the lives of all three famous Roosevelts and their regal-esque clan from Theodore's birth in 1858 to Eleanor's death in 1962. Their stories are rife with tragedy, triumph, humor, heartbreak, adultery, controversy and spirited bucking of the establishment — more complex and entertaining than any HBO or Netflix series and very bingeworthy. Current episodes air on WEDU Ch. 3 nightly at 8 p.m. ("Part 3: The Fire of Life 1910-1919" is tonight) with reruns throughout the night. All episode videos can be streamed at pbs.org/kenburns/the-roosevelts/watch-videos. So catch up before you watch tonight's chapter.
Tampa Repertory Theatre will present The Apocrypha of Theodore Roosevelt, written and directed by Steve Mountan, in the Smith Black Box theater at Tampa Preparatory School, 727 W. Cass St., Tampa, Oct. 10 through Oct. 19. Performances are at 8 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays and 3 p.m. on Sundays. Patrons may purchase tickets at the door or from a link on Tampa Repertory Theatre’s website at tamparep.org.
The one-man play stars famed local actor and CL Scene Breaker contributor Ned Averill-Snell is set in 1918, the year before Roosevelt’s death, when all four sons of the retired former president are serving in the “Great War” in Europe. The play is set in Roosevelt's later years, when he receives word that his youngest son, Quentin, is missing in action. As he tries to learn more about his whereabouts, his own life comes into focus as he faces how he may have played in the possible death of his son. As he ponders his son's fate, the audience becomes privy to a more private, vulnerable and reflective side of the famed bulldog.
The Apocrypha of Theodore Roosevelt is the first professional theater production to be staged specifically for Tampa Prep’s Smith Black Box theater, and the first of two plays Tampa Rep will produce in partnership with Tampa Prep in the Smith this season. Next spring, the company will produce Sophocles’ timeless tragedy Antigone.