Director Notes:
Welcome to 1969—the end of a very turbulent decade in American history. The Vietnam War was raging, Richard Nixon had just been elected president, civil rights unrest and student protests swept the country, and in the summer of this year, the U.S. put a man on the moon and the kids went to Woodstock. The music of Janis Joplin, Aretha Franklin, and the Beatles ruled the radio, and popular TV shows included Laugh-In, Gomer Pyle U.S.M.C., and Bonanza. Oliver! won best picture at the Academy Awards, but most teenagers had fallen in love with the Franco Zeffirelli’s lavish production of Romeo & Juliet.
Coincidentally, this is the year the movie version of our play came out, directed by Gene Saks and starring Goldie Hawn (who won the Oscar for her portrayal of Toni), Walter Matthau, and Ingrid Bergman. The screenplay was adapted by I. A. L. Diamond from the 1965 play written by Abe Burrows, which in turn was based upon the French play, Fleur de cactus by Pierre Barillet and Jean-Pierre Gredy. Cactus Flower was the ninth highest grossing film of 1969.
This amazing cast and crew have been my joy to work with, and I can’t wait for you to see them in action. Thank you for supporting live theatre—we can’t do it without you!
Don't miss our Pay What You Can Performances
Cactus Flower - Thursday, March 14, 2024 @ 7:30
'Art'- Thursday, April 25, 2024 @ 7:30 pm
The Foreigner- Thursday, June 6, 2024 @ 7:30 pm
Tickets can be purchased in $5 increments at theatreknoxville.com or in any amount at the door.
All Pay What You Can Performances are the first Thursday of every production
