This August, Woodlands High School graduate, Lance Kramer, will produce and act in David Marshall Grant’s “Snakebit” in New York. “Snakebit” will be produced by Artists In Action Productions, a production company which Kramer founded with fellow students from The North Carolina School of the Arts.

Two-time Tony award winner Joe Mantello, who took home a Tony this year for his direction of “Assassins” (See The People’s Critic — June 13, 2004 Courier review of the Tony Awards), has sampled the talents of Artists In Action, and declared the new production company, “an amazing group of artists who deal with some of the most important issues in our world today.” “Snakebit” will be performed Aug. 11 at Guild Hall in the East Hamptons, and then Aug. 19, 20, and 21 at One Arm Red Theatre in Brooklyn.

I first noted Kramer’s exceptional talent in my 1998 review of Class Act’s production of “Annie.” The enthusiastic 14 year-old actor had courageously shaved his head to add authenticity to his truly marvelous characterization of Daddy Warbucks. Kramer later captured 11 acting awards at UIL one-act play contests during his career at The Woodlands High School. These included Best Actor at the state contest. He also qualified for the National Forensic League’s national contest, and triple-qualified for the Texas Forensic Association state contest. In addition, he was awarded Honorable Mention for the ARTS Scholarship, placing him among the top 35 actors in the nation out of 5,000 entries.

In his three years at TWHS, Kramer appeared in “Into the Woods,” “The Caucasian Chalk Circle,” “A Piece of My Heart,” “The Bourgeois Gentleman,” and “The Shadow Box.” He was also featured in the Theater Department’s UIL state-winning play, “Peter Pan,” and portrayed Willy Loman in “Death of a Salesman.”

This past year, Kramer gained 35 pounds to play the role of Trotter in NCSA’s production of “Journey’s End.” “It was real easy, and kind of fun to gain the weight, but now I have to really hit the gym for ‘Snakebit.’ I have shed almost half the fat, but I still have a way to go” Kramer said. This fall Kramer will return to North Carolina School of the Arts for his senior year. Following his senior year, the actor will move to New York to pursue a professional acting career.

For more information on Artists In Action Productions, visit http://www.aiaproductions.org, or email Kramer at lkramer@aiaproductions.org.

(The Courier    6.20.04)

(The Villager    6.24.04)