FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

FOR MORE INFORMATION:

Michael Gepner, Marketing Director

978-454-6324 ext. 222, e-mail: mrtlowell@aol.com

 PROTEST, REBELLION, IDEALISM, AND HOPE

IN THE MIDST OF THE GREAT DEPRESSION

AWAKE AND SING

 LOWELL, MA –On October 15^th Merrimack Repertory Theatre unveils the 2^nd production in its 14 show New Century Series.  AWAKE AND SING by Clifford Odets is the classic American tale of youthful rebellion and hopeful longing in the face of enormous adversity.  AWAKE AND SING begins previews on Friday October 15^th, opens to the press on October 20^th, and runs through November 14^th.  Ticket prices range from $18.50 to $32.50.  Tickets are available the MRT box office located at 50 E. Merrimack St. in Lowell or by calling 978-454-3926.

 The setting is the Bronx, N.Y., in the midst of The Great Depression.  People are starving, bankrupt men are jumping off buildings, and an oppressed labor force is beginning to organize.  Inside the Bergers’ shabby apartment the seeds of idealistic protest are taking root in the children and grandchildren of Jewish immigrants.

 AWAKE AND SING is a beautiful and sensitive story.  It has been called “rousing, absorbing, explosive, funny, and passionate. A masterpiece of the American theatre.”

 AWAKE AND SING is directed by David G. Kent, Producing Artistic Director of MRT.  Mr. Kent is currently in his tenth season at the helm of MRT.  During his tenure, he has directed dozens of plays including classic and contemporary works and two world premiere productions commissioned by Merrimack Repertory Theatre. Last season he directed the hugely acclaimed productions of Racing Demon and Twelve Angry Men.  This season he will also direct Jose Rivera’s Cloud Tectonics and the spit-fire comedy The Front Page.  Mr. Kent is also actively involved in the collaborative adaptations of next season’s world premieres: the third installment of the Lowell Trilogy (based on the writings of Jane Brox), and Rebecca’s World by Terry Nation.

        Born in Philadelphia in 1907, playwright Clifford Odets worked as an actor for some years before he took to writing.  A charter member of the famous Group Theatre, Odets’ works include Awake and Sing, Waiting for Lefty, ‘Til The Day I Die, Paradise Lost, Golden Boy, and The Country Girl.  He also authored numerous screen plays including None But The Lonely Heart which starred Ethel Barrymore and Cary Grant.  Clifford Odets is one of the most revered playwrights this country has ever produced.  “He shone so brightly,” Harold Clurman wrote, “that the glow can still be felt.”

CAST

The cast of MRT’s production of AWAKE AND SING features Sam Gray who will
be familiar to audiences from his many Broadway, film, and television
appearances.  These include the Broadway productions of Broadway Bound; A
View From The Bridge; Golde; Saturday, Sunday, Monday; and Deadfall.

 Others in the cast include Victor J. regoire,  Brandy Zarle, Ben Lipitz, Lori Wilner, Bill Cohen, Gareth Saxe, Greg Zola, and Mick Weber.

 The set is designed by Dex Edwards, lighting designs are by Annie Wrightson, and the costumes are designed by MRT resident designer Frances Nelson McSherry.

 TICKETS

Tickets for AWAKE AND SING may be purchased at Merrimack Repertory Theatre’s box office, 50 E. Merrimack Street, Lowell, MA. or by calling  978-454-3926.  Performances are Wednesday through Sunday and ticket prices range from $18.50 - $32.50.  Rush Seats may be available at half price one hour prior to curtain.

 Wednesday, October 27th has been designated as PAY-WHAT-YOU-CAN NIGHT at Merrimack Repertory Theatre.  50 seats have been set aside and may be purchased for whatever amount the customer feels they can afford.  These tickets are limited to two per person and can only be purchased at the box office.  Pay-What-You-Can tickets go on sale Monday, October 18th.

 Merrimack Repertory Theatre is this region’s resident professional theatre company and is a member of the League of Resident Theatres, working in cooperation with Actors’ Equity Association and the Society of Stage Directors and Choreographers.  Now in its 21^st year, MRT is funded in part by generous grants from the Shubert Foundation, the Massachusetts Cultural Council, The McCallum Foundation, the Theodore Edson Parker Foundation, the Ronald M. Ansin Foundation, Butler Bank and hundreds of individuals and corporations.  This production of AWAKE AND SING is sponsored by Lowell Five Cent Savings Bank.  MRT’s New Century Series Media Sponsor is MediaOne.

 MERRIMACK REPERTORY THEATRE

AWAKE AND SING

Previews:  Fri. & Sat. Oct. 15 & 16 @ 8:00 PM, Sun. Oct. 17 @ 2:00 PM & 7:00 PM, and  Tue. Oct. 19 @ 8:00 PM

 Opening Night:  Wed. Oct. 20 @ 7:30 PM

 Closing:  Sun. Nov. 14 @2:00 PM

 Synopsis: The classic American story of youthful rebellion and hopeful longing in the face of enormous adversity.  Set in the midst of the Great Depression this is one of the most beautiful, sensitive, rousing, absorbing, explosive, funny, and passionate plays you’ll ever see.

 Performance

           Times:  Wednesday through Saturday @ 8:00 PM

                         Sundays @ 2:00 & 7:00 PM

                         Wednesday matinee, Oct. 27^th @ 2:00 PM

                          Saturday matinee, Oct. 23^rd  @ 3:00 PM

  Pay-What-You-Can:   Wednesday Oct. 27^th @ 8:00 PM.  50 seats available.

                                       On sale as of  Mon. Oct. 18^th .  Cash only.  May not be reserved by phone.

 Box Office:      

Hours - 10:00 AM (12:00 Sat & Sun.) until curtain time on performance days.

10:00 AM (12:00 Sat.) until 6:00 PM on non-performance days.Closed on non-performance Sundays.

                                        978-454-3926

 Location:          50 E. Merrimack St., Lowell, MA

                          Liberty Hall at the Lowell Memorial Auditorium

 Playwright:       Clifford Odets

 Director:          David G. Kent

 Designers:       Set Designer:  Dex Edwards

                         Lighting Designer:  Annie Wrightson

                         Costume Designer:  Frances Nelson McSherry

Cast:              Schlosser:  Victor J. Gregoire               Bessie:  Lori Wilner

                         Hennie:  Brandy Zarle                       Uncle Morty:  Bill Cohen

                         Jacob:  Sam Gray                              Moe:  Gareth Saxe

                         Sam:  Ben Lipitz                                Myron:  Mick Weber

                         Ralph:  Greg Zola      

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

FOR MORE INFORMATION:

Michael Gepner, Marketing Director

978-454-6324 ext 222, e-mail mrtlowell@aol.com

MRT BRINGS DREAMS AND HOPE AND LAUGHTER TO THE STAGE FOR THE HOLIDAYS WITH

THE RAINMAKER

 LOWELL, MA – In praise of all the magic, wonder, and joy that makes us all human, Merrimack Repertory Theatre presents one of the most magical, wonder-filled, and joyous comedies ever written.  THE RAINMAKER by N. Richard Nash is the 3^rd piece in MRT’s New Century Series.  This is the delightful story of a con-man who wants to be a miracle-man and a young woman afraid to let herself dream. THE RAINMAKER begins previews on November 26^th, opens to the press on December 1^st, and runs through December 26^th.  Tickets are priced from $18.50 to $32.50 with discounts for seniors, students, and groups.  Tickets can be purchased at the MRT box office, 50 E. Merrimack St., or by calling 978-454-3926.

 Drought has struck the lush grasslands of the fertile West and a certain sense of purpose and hope has been drained from the people.  Lizzie Curry is a young woman of exceptional intelligence, great love, and a loneliness of spirit.  She also has an enormous fear of letting herself “dream the impossible dream.”  Enter Starbuck, a con-man with a gift for selling himself as a producer of “drizzles, showers, downpours, cloudbursts, and vast tornadoes.”  With a whoop and a holler this wandering vagabond brings rain to Lizzie’s parched heart and hope to the withered souls of the Curry family.

 THE RAINMAKER has been hailed as a classic American romantic comedy for more than forty years.  The film version which starred Katherine Hepburn and Burt Lancaster brought this magical story to the screen in 1956.  The musical version, 110 in the Shade, opened on Broadway in 1963, and in October of 1982 HBO released a television production starring Tuesday Weld.

THE RAINMAKER is directed by Tom Marcus who returns to MRT, where he directed the acclaimed production of Sizwe Bansi is Dead, after an absence of several years.  His work as a director and actor has been seen around the world.  Regionally, he has directed for the prestigious Roundabout Theatre, Walnut Street Theatre, and TheatreVirginia, to name but a few.  He is currently a regular director for Pioneer Theatre Company in Salt Lake City, Utah.  Mr. Marcus has taught at the Yale School of Drama, Temple University, and The University of California.

 Playwright N. Richard Nash achieved his first major Broadway success with The Rainmaker.  His other plays include The Girls of Summer, A Handful of Fire, and Echoes.  Mr. Nash also authored the libretto for the Cy Coleman musical Wildcat and The Happy Time, in addition to 110 in the Shade, the musical version of The Rainmaker.

 In Hollywood he wrote the screenplays for Porgy and Bess, Here Comes The Bride, Dear Wife, Sainted Sisters, Nora Prentiss, and Vicious Years. 

 Mr. Nash has also written four novels, East Wind, Rain; The Last Magic; Aphrodites Cave; and Radiance.

The cast of THE RAINMAKER  features John Newton as Lizzie’s father H.C. Curry.  Mr. Newton has appeared in more than a dozen Broadway shows including A Streetcar Named Desire, Abe Lincoln in Illinois with Sam Waterston, Ivanov with Kevin Kline, First Monday in October with Henry Fonda, Present Laughter with George C. Scott, and two years in The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas.  He has played in regional theatres across the country and is a founding member of Off-Broadway’s York Theatre Co.  Audiences will recognize him from his present recurring role as Judge Eric Caffey in the hit television series Law and Order.

Also featured in the cast is Peter Hermann as the swashbuckling con-man Starbuck and Amy Tribbey as Lizzie Curry.  Mr. Hermann is a featured actor on CBS’ Guiding Light and has been seen most recently off-Broadway opposite Theodore Bikel in the critically acclaimed production of The Gathering.  Ms. Tribbey’s work has been seen in theatres across the country, most recently in a critically acclaimed production of Oleanna at ACT of San Fransisco.

The set for THE RAIMAKER is designed by Peter Harrison whose work has been seen in regional theatres across the country and on PBS for the television production of Athol Fugard’s Sizwe Bansi is Dead.  The lighting is designed by Dick Devin who is currently in his tenth season as Producing Artistic Director of the Colorado Shakespeare Festival and a Professor of Design at the University of Colorado.  Costumes are designed by MRT’s resident designer Frances Nelson McSherry.

TICKETS

Tickets for THE RAINMAKER may be purchased at Merrimack Repertory Theatre’s box office, 50 E. Merrimack Street, Lowell, MA. or by calling  978-454-3926.  Performances are Wednesday through Sunday and ticket prices range from $18.50 - $32.50  Rush Seats may be available at half price one hour prior to curtain.

Wednesday, December 8th has been designated as PAY-WHAT-YOU-CAN NIGHT at Merrimack Repertory Theatre.  50 seats have been set aside and may be purchased for whatever amount the customer feels they can afford.  These tickets are limited to two per person and can only be purchased at the box office.  Pay-What-You-Can tickets go on sale Monday, November 29th.

Merrimack Repertory Theatre is funded in part by generous grants from the Massachusetts Cultural Council, The McCallum Foundation, the Theodore Edson Parker Foundation, the Ronald M. Ansin Foundation, Butler Bank and hundreds of individuals and corporations.  MRT’s New Century Series Media Sponsor is MediaOne. 

MERRIMACK REPERTORY THEATRE

THE RAINMAKER

Previews:  Fri. & Sat. November  26, & 27 @ 8:00 PM, Sun. Nov. 28 @ 2:00 PM & 7:00 PM,  and  Tue. Nov. 29 @ 8:00 PM

 Opening Night:  Wed. December 1 @ 7:30 PM

 Closing:  Sun. December 26 @2:00 PM

 Synopsis: A comedy perfect for the holidays.  The story of a con-man who brings hope and joy and love to the parched lives of the Curry family.  A romance of jubilant nonsense and moonlit sadness.

 Performance

           Times:  Wednesday through Saturday @ 8:00 PM

                         Sundays @ 2:00 & 7:00 PM

                         Wednesday matinee, December 8^th @ 2:00 PM

                         Thursday matinee, December 23^rd @ 2:00 PM

                         Saturday matinee, December 4^th @ 3:00 PM

  Pay-What-You-Can:   Wednesday December 8^th @ 8:00 PM.  50 seats available.  On sale as of  Mon. Nov. 29^th .  Cash only.  May not be reserved by phone.

 Box Office:       Hours - 10:00 AM (12:00 Sat & Sun.) until curtain time on performance days.  10:00 AM (12:00 Sat.) until 6:00 PM on non-performance days.

Closed on non-performance Sundays.

                                        978-454-3926

 Location:          50 E. Merrimack St., Lowell, MA

                          Liberty Hall at the Lowell Memorial Auditorium

 Playwright:       N. Richard Nash

 Director:          Tom Marcus

 Designers:       Set Designer:  Peter Harrison

                         Lighting Designer:  Dick Devin

                         Costume Designer:  Frances Nelson McSherry

 Cast:      Amy Tribbey – Lizzie Curry

                         Peter Hermann – Starbuck

                         John Newton – H. C. Curry

                         Tommy Day Carey - Jimmy                        

                         Joseph R. Owens – The Sheriff

                         Tony Ward – Noah

                         Jim Loutzenhiser - File

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