Guthrie Theater nominates actor Bob Davis for accolade, one of only nine awarded

By Quinton Skinner Thu., Apr. 22 2010 at 8:00 AM

Categories: Theater

Michal Daniel

Bob Davis (R) in "Betrayal" (2006)

Twin Cities stage veteran Bob Davis is being lauded as one of America's best actors with the receipt of a 2010 Lunt-Fontanne Fellowship (nominated by the Guthrie). The fellowship program is designed to recognize actors in American regional theaters, and Davis's extensive range and track record in a variety of stages and venues render him abundantly qualified.

A few trips down (recent) memory lane: Davis's work in Pinter's Betrayal at the Jungle; his rotten Richard III for Ten Thousand Things (so vile that I saw an audience at a women's correctional facility ready to cause him harm); another gleeful killer in Jeffrey Hatcher's Murderers at Illusion Theater; A Thousand Clowns; Spider's Web; and the lovely, moving Peter Pan at Children's Theatre Company.

In addition to a cash prize, Davis will join a number of other actors at the historic estate of Alfred Lunt and Lynne Fontanne this summer for a week-long master class and retreat. In addition to the Guthrie, other nominating theaters include such regional houses as Goodman Theatre, California Shakespeare Theater, and San Diego's the Old Globe.

The Guthrie can claim another connection to the class of nine actors receiving Lunt-Fontanne Fellowships: Andrew Long, another recipient, is appearing in the production of M. Butterfly opening there tomorrow night.