How I Paid For College presented by The Hub Theatre at John Swayze Theatre

How I Paid For College

John Swayze Theatre
9431 Silver King Court Fairfax

Based on Marc Acito's award-winning novel, The Hub Theatre presents the world premiere of How I Paid for College, a one-man tour-de-force "monologue with songs" about a talented but angst-ridden teen actor who decides to steal tuition money for acting school when his wealthy father refuses to pay. How I Paid for College stars Broadway actor Alex Brightman (Wicked, Glory Days) plays literally dozens of characters in this new work by playwright Marc Acito, who returns to The Hub fresh from winning the 2012 Charles McArthur Award for Outstanding New Play for comedy Birds of a Feather. The show is directed by Helen Pafumi.

Presented by The Hub Theatre

Thru - Dec 30, 2012

Fridays: 8:00pm

Saturdays: 2:00pm & 8:00pm

Sundays: 2:00pm & 7:00pm

Price: $15-$30

Show Type: Musical

Running Time: 1 hour, 20 minutes with no intermission

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How I Paid For College Reviews

Average Rating based on 5 reviews

Highly Recommended
Recommended
Somewhat Recommended
Not Recommended

Washington Post - Somewhat Recommended

"... As that bit of plot summary may suggest, quirkiness abounds in “How I Paid for College,” adapted by Marc Acito from his award-winning novel of the same name. All the same, it’s a blunt and meandering piece that seems like a standard-issue, artistic coming-of-age tale souped up with extra kookiness. It lacks the resonance and emotional depth of Acito’s zany “Birds of a Feather,” which won the Charles MacArthur Award for outstanding new play after debuting with the Hub in 2011."

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- Celia Wren

DC Theater Arts - Highly Recommended

"... The Hub Theatre should be the first stop in a long run for How I Paid for College – a ‘monologsical’ written by Marc Acito, based on his award-winning novel of the same name, and starring Alex Brightman in a tour de force performance. Acito describes the story of his youth (which at times seems misspent) as “Just true enough to be embarrassing to my family.” This play definitely needs a larger theater as it was filled to capacity, partly due to the number of ex-pat New Jersey folks in the area."

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- Francine Schwartz

ShowBizRadio - Highly Recommended

"... The success of the play itself is in its delicious subversiveness. Underneath the contemporary portraits are Aristotelian buffoons bobbling around, acting atrociously; but never behaving so irredeemably as to be hopeless. But there lies the only negative rub. The narrative tootles along humorously on its way to a successful conclusion when Edward’s hateful father suddenly gets heartwarmingly paternal and affectionate in an almost ruinous architectural misstep that threatens to destroy the farcical arc that seals the play’s bona fides."

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- Genie Baskir

MD Theatre Guide - Highly Recommended

"... In this case, the answer is a resounding yes, with kudos to the fine production team who conspired to put this terrific show together. Mr. Acito has penned a fast-paced, full of detail, yet flowing stage adaptation, Director Helen Pafumi shows excellent pacing and uses the Hub’s stage dimensions well, keeping Edward front and center but with time to relax our concentration, depending on the mood and location change. In this type play, the director must let the comfort level of the actor be paramount, and let him find emotional levels and pace. Credit the team for a successful collaboration."

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- Brian Bochicchio

DCTheatreScene - Highly Recommended

Marc Acito, whose Helen Hayes Award-winning tale of bird love, Birds of a Feather, graced the Hub Theatre stage last year, now returns to do a magic act. That is to say, his one-actor play How I Paid for College, in the hands of the fabulously gifted and flexible one actor, Alex Brightman, is a festival of misdirection. Brightman’s principal character, Edward Zanni, doesn’t actually pay for college. In fact, he doesn’t really do anything at all, except tell us a story.

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- Tim Treanor

How I Paid For College presented by The Hub Theatre at John Swayze Theatre