Newnan

Community Theater will launch its production of Steve

Martin's "Picasso at the Lapin Agile" tonight.

The theater company is known for producing some of the

more irreverent and less traditional plays, which Picasso

most certainly is.

Set in

Paris in 1904, the play deals with a fictional meeting

between Pablo Picasso and Albert Einstein while they are

in their early twenties.

The young

men discuss everything under the sun, including what they

hope to contribute to the world and the world of art

versus the world of science.

The play is

being directed by 17 year old Mike Funt, a senior at

Newnan High School.

Along with

choosing the cast, running the rehearsals, and building

the sets, Funt also did intense character development

with his actors and sought the support of the play's

author - comedian Steve Martin.

To help the

actors understand the setting of the piece and the

mindframe of the characters, Funt brought in three local

teachers to give mini-lectures on a variety of pertinent

topics.

A science

teacher discussed the contributions of Einstein, a French

teacher discussed the French language and culture at the

turn of the century, and an art teacher discussed Picasso

and his influence on art.

Funt also

invited Steve Martin to attend the production, and

perhaps assist the fundraising efforts for Newnan

Community theater as they prepare to enter their new

building.

Martin

called and thanked Funt for the invitation. He sent Funt

a letter of regret that he could not make the show, along

with an autographed poster from the premiere production

of the play in Los Angeles.

Funt then

called Martin's publicist to express his thanks and she

gave him the email addresses of several top notch

celebrities, such as Oprah Winfrey, Rosie O'Donnell, and

David Letterman who might like to show their support for

the theater.

Picasso at

the Lapin Agile will be performed Oct. 8-22 at the

Manget-Brannon Center for the Arts on First Avenue in

Newnan. Performances will be at 8 p.m. on Fridays and

Saturdays and at 2:30 p.m. on Sundays. Tickets are $8 for

adults and $6 for students. For more information, call

770-251-4848.