theatre chronology

DRAMA/COMEDY/MUSICALS

1776 (Rev. Witherspoon) (2003)

All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten (2000)

      Laster is “the standout of the show… his natural and care-free

      attitude captivates the audience every second he is on stage.”

      Winchester Star

As You Like It (Corin) (2017)

Black Coffee (Sir Claud)  (2006)

Breathing Ash (Harris Ruckman) (2006)

Brigadoon (Mr. Lundie) (1989; 2003)

Camelot (Pelinor) (1995)

Carousel (Starkeeper) (1990)

A Christmas Carol  (Scrooge) (2000)

A Christmas Carol (Neville, Business man) (1996; 1998)

A Christmas Carol: the musical (Scrooge) ( 2003; 2008; 2010)

The Christmas Schooner (Gustav) (2004)

City of Angels (Werner/Luther) (1993)

A Clockwork Orange (F. Alexander) (2001)

Crazy for You (Eugene Fodor) (1996, 2013)

The Cross Town Bus (Rider, AA, Director) (2016)

Curtains (Christopher Belling) (2011)

      ”Laster looks the part--tall, distinguished, impeccably clad, dulcet timbre to the voice, and just the right amount of snobbery. . .”

The Explorers Club (Sir Bernard Humphries) (2018)

The Fantasticks (Bellomy) (2002)

Five Variations on the Art of Aphrodite (Poseidon)(2007; 2009)

Foxfire (Hector) (2002)

1. “James Laster relishes the chance to embody an acerbic, old school patriarch with small dollops of tenderness under his hard outer shell.”  Northern Virginia Daily
   

The Gin Game (Weller Martin) (2009) 

     “Laster seamlessly runs the emotional gamut for Weller Martin from confidence to despair, from humor to rage.”  K. Ball Winchester Star

     “Laster’s character is a blister all the way . . .effectively revealing Weller in all his ‘the hell with it’ glory.” M. Lawrence, Culpeper Star Exponent

Harvey (Judge Gaffney) (2010)

The Importance of Being Earnest (Rev. Chausuble) (2004)

Indian Ink (Resident) (1999)

Into the Woods (Narrator/Mysterious Man) (2013)

    “The charming Dr. James Laster captivates with perfect timing and intriguing timbre to his voice - -both speaking and singing. . . A chance to see Laster on stage is worth the price of admission.”  G. White, Winchester Star

It’s a Wonderful Life–a live radio play (Freddie Fillmore)(2007)

King & I (Sir Edward) (2000, 2014)

Kismet (Omar Khayam) (1991)

Kiss Me Kate (Trevor/Baptista) (2001)

Loot (McLeavy) (2003)

Marvin’s Room (Marvin) (1997)

    “Laster has few intelligible lines but considerable impact upon the story line.” Willis-Stokes. The Winchester Star.

Measure for Measure (Provost) (1999)

Midsummer Night’s Dream (Peter Quince) (2015)

Mikado (Pooh-bah) (1964)

Miracle on 34th Street (Mr. Macy, 2002); (Judge Harper, 2009)

The Mousetrap (Major Metcalf) (2008)

    “(James) Laster, who is able to keep the audience guessing as to his character and identity, worked the stage and the audience with great ease.”  Warren Sentinel

My Fair Lady  (Col. Pickering) (1985; 1987; 1994; 2002)

My Name is Lewes (Lewes) (2006)

Mystery of Edwin Drood (Chrisparkle) (1989)

Oliver (Mr. Brownlow) (1986; 1997)

On Golden Pond (Norman) (2001)

1. “In Wayside’s ‘four-star production,’ Laster gives one of his best performances in years … He was meant to play a grumpy old man.”   Valley Herald
   

Othello (Duke/Clown) (2006)

Singing in the Rain (B. F. Simkins) (1995)

SKY (premier, Mr. Sinclair) (2007)

Spider’s Web (Elgin) (2015)

The Sunshine Boys (Willie Clark) (2004)

Ten Little Indians (Wargrave) (2003)

Tenderloin (Rev. Brock) (1984)

Third (Jack Jameson) (2016)

Tuesdays With Morrie (Morrie) (2007; 2008)

1. “James Laster charms the audience…He creates a mentor, a teacher, a friend and a father figure that every man and woman in the audience would want to have had. When the script has Morrie being witty, Laster has a gleam in his eye that doubles the pleasure of the line. When the script has him in pain, Laster hints at it … And, when the script has him openly expressing emotions, he does so with an honesty that is appealing.”  Potomac Stage
   

The Underpants (Klinglehoff) (2005)

Unnecessary Farce (Mayor Meekly) (2008)

Visiting Mr. Green (Mr. Green) (2005)

White Christmas (General Waverly) (2010)

Wit (Dr. Kelekian) (2011)

Wizard of Oz (Wizard) (2006)

Yes, Virginia, There is a Santa Claus (Mitchell) (2001)

You Can’t Take It With You (Grandpa) (2017)