JUNE 2008

The Genius Of Buckminster Fuller

Cowell Theater

Hailed as one of the great thinkers of the 20th century, R. Buckminster Fuller lives again for one night at the Cowell Theater through the talents of Hill Street Blues and NYPD Blue star Joe Spano. In a gala benefit on June 20 for San Francisco’s Z Space Studio, Spano reprises D. W. Jacobs’ acclaimed one-man show, R. Buckminster Fuller: The History (and Mystery) of the Universe.

“He was a utopian thinker, but not a sentimental one,” said Jacobs about Fuller. “He predicted the accelerating use of technology, and warned that if it’s not used in the right ways, it will savage the environment. He would say that people need to take the building blocks of his ideas and use them in their own lives.”

Spano is a San Francisco native who has also appeared in 28 feature films, including Apollo 13, American Graffiti, and Hollywoodland. A veteran stage and character actor, Spano draws on all of his experience to convey the genius of Fuller, who invented the geodesic dome and the ecological concept of “Spaceship Earth.”

“The play seemed true in a way that was quite compelling to me,” said Spano.

Spano’s portrayal of Fuller unfolds in a highly condensed version of one of Fuller’s stimulating lectures, which often lasted 12 hours or more during the days when the brilliant architect traveled the world to share his insights. Jacobs studied Fuller’s books and lectures to create the play. Every line in the monologue uses Fuller’s own words. Thought-provoking set designs, lighting, and projected images add to the excitement on stage.

Since its debut in 2000, R. Buckminster Fuller has been performed nearly 600 times and is currently on tour as a Rubicon Theatre Company production. The Cowell Theater night is the only San Francisco stop on the tour. Z Space Studio’s gala features fine food and wine, a silent auction, raffle, and more.

Spend some quality time with an inspiring genius at the Z Space gala. For more information about the gala and performance, visit www.zspace.org and see June 20 in the calendar. To learn more about R. Buckminster Fuller, check out the Buckminster Fuller Institute at www.bfi.org.

— Claudia Willen


Images:
Joe Spano as R. Buckminster Fuller, Photo: Martin S. Fuentes