'3rd Rock from the Sun' actor French Stewart to attend Strauss Theater production this weekend

The latest production by the Strauss Little Theater in Monroe may be a watershed moment in the theater's history.

The production of the play "Stoneface," based on the life of silent film star Buster Keaton, will feature opportunities for patrons and students to interact with actor French Stewart and his wife, playwright Vanessa Stewart.

The production will open Thursday with a VIP reception afterward, which Vanessa and French Stewart will attend.

French Stewart is perhaps best known for his iconic role as Harry Solomon on the 1990s NBC sitcom "3rd Rock from the Sun," and has dozens of screen credits in film and television.

Vanessa Stewart is a Louisiana native who learned much of her craft at the Strauss Youth Academy for the Arts, before moving to Los Angeles. She also wrote and co-starred in the hit musical "Louis and Keely Live at the Sahara." and is a working actress as well as playwright and writer for film.

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Before the performance on Friday night, the two will teach master classes, Vanessa for young actors ages 8-18 at the youth academy and French for adults 19 and older on the main stage.

Chandler Beard, the theater's box office manager, described the event as "once in a lifetime."

"We've never had an opportunity like this, as long as I've been aware, to host something like this — to be able to sit with someone who has been in the business, and is still in the business, and can tell you all the ins and outs of whatever you might want to know," Beard said.

The play itself imaginatively follows Keaton’s career by showing scenes of his work as well as his younger self confronting his older one. A performer since childhood in his family’s Vaudeville act, Keaton quickly rose to superstardom in the new medium of film. But following a decade of box office success, his star began to fade, and alcoholism and despair began to rise.

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Vanessa Stewart wrote the play as a birthday present for her husband, who originated the role of Keaton in the first production in California.

This production is directed by Cathy Airhart Webb, of CA Studio in Monroe. There will be four performances, Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights, as well as a Saturday matinee. The premiere party on Thursday will feature hors d’oeuvres, wine and preferred seating for the show.

"It's a huge opportunity for someone from around here who wants to know more about the film industry, since that is their area of expertise," Beard said.

For more information, and to purchase tickets for the performances and the master classes, go to strausstc.com/stoneface.

This article originally appeared on Monroe News-Star: Strauss Theater to host French Stewart, 'once in a lifetime' production