THEATRE + COMEDY

Mildred’s Umbrella Theater Company presents the world premiere of The Third Side, by Tom Vaughan, May 15-30, 2009 at DiverseWorks Art Space.  This production commemorates the 200th anniversary of Charles Darwin’s birth and the 150th anniversary of his work “On the Origin of Species”, a landmark work in evolutionary biology that introduced the theory of evolution to the modern world.

After being pressed by a student, Biology Professor Henry Darden admits that he finds Darwin's emphasis on natural selection as the means of evolution "unconvincing". This public confession thrusts Professor Darden into a culture war he wanted nothing to do with. As different sides claim him as their own, the collisions of science, faith and intellectual intolerance take a toll even on his family life as the controversy opens up both old and new wounds at home.

The Third Side examines the difficulty in pursuing the truth when individuals have their very identities invested in the conclusions. It is a painful lesson to Professor Darden as he realizes that simply being "right" may not be nearly as important as he always thought.

About the playwright:
Tom Vaughan(playwright) is a proud member of Mildred’s Umbrella Theater Company. He originally studied at the University of Houston with Broadway legend Jose Quintero and three-time Pulitzer Prize winner Edward Albee. He began his professional career as the Artistic Director of the short lived but critically acclaimed West-Mon Repertory Theatre in Houston. It was his work there as a playwright and director that got him recognized by Hollywood.

His screenplays include BLACKOUT with Jane Seymour for CBS, and CRITICAL ASSEMBLY with Katherine Heigl (Grey's Anatomy, Knocked up) for NBC. He served as writer as well as Co-Producer on ATOMIC TWISTER with Sharon Lawrence and DEAD IN A HEARTBEAT with Penelope Anne Miller and Judge Reinhold, both for TBS. His feature film debut was UNSTOPPABLE, starring Wesley Snipes. His script, BRONWYN & CLYDE, which he co-wrote with Kristy Dobkin will be filmed later this year with Barry Sonnenfeld (Get Shorty, Men In Black) directing. UV Pictures, Tom’s partnership with Chris Uettwiller, is producing. They are fighting hard to have it filmed in Houston.

His stage plays have been seen in both Houston and Los Angeles, including Private Property directed by Jamie Callahan and Closed For Repairs, directed by the author.

As an actor, he was last seen as Uncle Howard in the Mildred’s Umbrella production of A Murder of Crows directed by Jennifer Decker.

Since returning to Houston Mr. Vaughan has dedicated himself to small organizations aimed at expanding Houston’s theatre and film community.