Press



	The Virginia Gazette (Dec. 3, 2008) THE GHOSTS OF CHRISTMAS, FAST by Ann Efimetz "This manic version of the play hits all the high points of the plot in slpastick 78 rpm." "But what was so amazing to me was Whitacre's command of this scripette. he bounced from one thing to antoher with incredible energy and over-the -top histrionics that really got the audience behind him. Yes, after seeing this performance, I think he can wear that grandiose moniker "master Thespian" with Pride. So if you are in Merchants Square and you need a laugh, stop by the travelling trailer theater and take in Whitacre's performance. Schmaltzy and exaggerated, yes. But it is also very funny."

	Portfolio Weekly (Dec. 23, 2008) One-Man Dickens The Master Thespian's A Christmas Carol is fun sideshow by Montague Gammon III "The delightfully tongue-in-cheek The Master Thespian’s A Christmas Carol, a one act, more or less one-actor, comedy that is adapted from Dickens’ warhorse. It’s a promising first production for The Virginia Theatre Machine, a unique company whose hallmark is the tiny 8-foot-square, 11-foot tall, sound and lighting equipped trailer out of which they play. The whole play-within-a-play structure creates a clever and genuinely funny show, filled with small sruprises, self-referential humor and well timed gags. Lerman perfectly enacts the part of the dutiful servant and stooge to the unreasonalbly demanding egotist. Whitacre plays all the outward bravado and internal insecurities of his character just broadly enough to be funny, with a fine sense of when to use self-parody and when to play a straightforward, comic character. Inspired by the "paegeant wagons" of medieval times, he (Lerman) and designer Jeremy Woodward came up with the idea of an easily portable playing space that could take professional shows to all sorts of locations. Whatever comes next, this new troupe on wheels is off to a good start, inverting the old idea of a show "coming to a theatre near you", into that of a theatre, coming to a place near almost anywhere. "

	The Virginia Gazette (June 3, 2009) AND THE WINNERS... by Ann Efimetz "So now, a hush falls over the crowd as I announce my picks for the EFFY Awards, 2008-09. "Best Actor- Ed Whitacre- " (Master Thespian's) A Christmas Carol", Virginia Theatre Machine. Whitacre's 20-minute monologue featuring every character in the Dicken's Classic was brilliant."


	OTHER NEWS

	Latest News @ High Output (March 13, 2009) High Output System Sales Departments' Smallest Theater Install Sometime back in June of 2008 Lerman brought his ideas for the Virginia Theater Machine, which was already well into the fabrication stage, to High Output System Sales Department Manager Mark Shore seeking his assistance in the design of the sound, lighting and control system. "This is definitely the absolute smallest theater install we have been involved in. But you know?", Shore pauses, "it's really a very interesting and unique thing! It truly did capture our imaginations. This little theater rolling down the road from performance to performance. How cool is that?"