Newnan Theatre group presents ‘American Buffalo’

“American Buffalo,” a David Mamet play, opens at the Newnan Theatre Company on April 16 and runs through Sunday, April 26.

In the play, junk shop owner Don has sold a buffalo nickel to a coin collector for $90, but regrets the sale because he thinks the coin is worth more.

Don and his two friends, Teach and Buddy, plan to steal the coin back. The story is ostensibly about a burglary, but the real story is how the characters deal with each other when their plans start to fall through.

“The thing that made me fall in love with the show is the use of language,” said Director Justin Jessel. “David Mamet uses language in amazing ways in this, his very first play. It’s easy to see and hear why the show has received so many awards. It is a phenomenal script, and my actors are incredible in this modern classic. Teach is one of the greatest characters ever put to stage. He’s been played by actors such as Al Pacino and Dustin Hoffman.

“We have taken an almost musical approach to the script, focusing on rhythm, tension, pacing,and emphasis as well as emotion, movement, and character motivation,” Jessel added. “From cursing to repetition to silence, there is an enormous amount said within this script that transcends the words themselves.”

Well-known NTC veteran Jeff Allen plays Don. With more than 20 years on the Newnan stage, Allen has proved himself to be a jack of all trades and master of them all.

Most recently, he directed “Twelve Angry Men,” which opened in February at NTC.

Paige Mikles, also familiar to Newnan audiences, is the assistant director.

“Nikolas Carleo, playing Teach, is a seasoned actor even at his young age,” Jessel said. Carleo has performed in Columbus and is now returning to the Newnan Theatre Company after finishing up a run in “The Producers.”

Josh Hendricks, in the role of Bobby, has come to Newnan Theatre Company recently and is getting a lot of exposure. He was the Foreman in “Twelve Angry Men.”

“American Buffalo” will be staged in NTC’s Black Box.

“Something I really wanted to provide for the audience was two different perspectives for the show, so we are using a unique seating structure: stadium seating in one area where the audience will be separated from the actors by space and height; and a second area where an audience member becomes ‘a ghost’ in the shop, sitting amongst the characters and experiencing everything with them,” Jessel said.

Tickets are on sale now and can be purchased through the NTC website, www.newnantheatre.org, or via phone by calling 770-683-6282.

Performance times are as follows:

April 16, 17 and 18 at 8 p.m.

April 19 and 26, 3 p.m.

April 23, 24 and 25 8 p.m.

The show has mature language and some violence and may not be appropriate for children.