October 23, 2009

For Immediate Release Friday, October 23, 2009
Contact: Chris Wiger 303.446.4848 cwiger@dcpa.org

Laughs are next for the Denver Center Theatre Company
with autobiographical and innovative Well and
the adult Christmas hilarity of Absurd Person Singular

Watch 10 MINUTES TO CURTAIN http://www.denvercenter.org/10Minutes


DENVER – Comedy takes over at the Denver Center Theatre Company for this pre-holiday season – Lisa Kron’s funny autobiographical comedy Well opens the 2009/10 season in The Ricketson Theatre and Absurd Person Singular, Alan Ayckbourn’s uproarious adult comedy set on three consecutive Christmas Eves warms up The Space Theatre..

Well
by Lisa Kron
Directed by Christy Montour-Larson
November 6 – December 19, 2009 (Opening Thursday, November 12)
The Ricketson Theatre

Lisa Kron wrote her autobiographical play Well – a humorous exploration of wellness and illness – as an innovative comedy of ideas in a play that knows it’s a play. Kron (Kate Levy) layers her 30-something life story with interruptions from her on-stage mother (Kathleen M. Brady) who admonishes her daughter to be honest about her intentions for the play and “lovingly” corrects her memories of the past. An ensemble of actors weave their way in and out of the scenes as mother and daughter explore the power of illness, family and community with endearing poignancy and frankness.

Director Christy Montour-Larson makes her Denver Center directing debut with Well. Her design team includes Scenic Designer Lisa M. Orzolek (The Voysey Inheritance, The Trip to Bountiful, Gee’s Bend), Costume Designer Meghan Anderson Doyle (Denver Center debut), Lighting Designer Jane Spencer (The Voysey Inheritance, Sunsets and Margaritas, Doubt) and Sound Designer Kimberly Fuhr (Doubt, Lydia, The Diary of Anne Frank). The Dramaturg for Well is Douglas Langworthy (The Voysey Inheritance, Quilters, Sunsets and Margaritas) and Fight Direction is by Geoffrey Kent (A Prayer for Owen Meany, Richard III, The Miracle Worker).

The cast is led by Kate Levy (Uncle Vanya, A Christmas Carol) as Lisa Kron and Kathleen M. Brady (Quilters, The Trip to Bountiful) as her mother Ann Kron. The ensemble includes Rachel Fowler (The Miracle Worker, Measure for Measure), Shauna Miles (A Prayer for Owen Meany), Robert Jason Jackson (Richard III, King Lear) and Erik Sandvold (Plainsong, The Diary of Anne Frank).


Absurd Person Singular
by Alan Ayckbourn
Directed by Sabin Epstein
November 13 – December 19, 2009 (Opening Thursday, November 19)
The Space Theatre

Outlandish behavior and dark, adult humor hilariously disrupt three consecutive Christmas Eves in Absurd Person Singular by Alan Ayckbourn (Season’s Greetings) – Britain’s acclaimed comic playwright.  In what Artistic Director Kent Thompson jokingly calls “the perfect adult antidote to A Christmas Carol,” three British married couples scuffle to position themselves on the ladder of social mobility.  Adding to the hilarity, Ayckbourn sets the action not in the rooms where the holiday parties are actually happening but in the three kitchens behind them.

Director Sabin Epstein, Head of Performance Skills at the National Theatre Conservatory, makes his debut with the Denver Center Theatre Company.  The design team for Absurd Person Singular includes Scenic Designer Bill Forrester (Glengarry Glen Ross, All My Sons), Costume Designer Angela Balogh Calin (The Miracle Worker), Lighting Designer Charles R. MacLeod (A Raisin in the Sun, Radio Golf, Dusty and the Big Bad World) and Sound Designer Jason Ducat (The Voysey Inheritance, Radio Golf, Dusty and the Big Bad World). Fight Direction is by Geoffrey Kent (A Prayer for Owen Meany, Richard III, The Miracle Worker) and the Vocal Coach is Michael Cobb (Noises Off, Plainsong, Pride and Prejudice).

The three couples in the cast are Chris Mixon (A Christmas Carol, White Christmas) and Megan Byrne (A Prayer for Owen Meany, Noises Off) as Sidney and Jane Hopcroft, John Hutton (A Prayer for Owen Meany, Richard III) and Jeanne Paulsen (A Prayer for Owen Meany, The Miracle Worker) as Ronald and Marion Brewster-Wright, and David Ivers (A Prayer for Owen Meany, Noises Off) and Kathleen McCall (A Prayer for Owen Meany, Richard III) as Geoffrey and Eva Jackson.

Tickets and Subscriptions
New and renewing subscribers may reserve their subscriptions now by calling 303.893.6030. TTY (303) 893-9582.

Tickets start at $34 for Well and at $18 for Absurd Person Singular (some restrictions may apply) and are on sale now. The Denver Center Box Office located in the Helen Bonfils Theatre Complex is open from 10am to 6pm Monday through Saturday. To purchase tickets by phone call (303) 893-4100 – for those outside the Denver calling area, 1 (800) 641-1222, TTY (303) 893-9582. Buy and print tickets on-line by visiting www.denvercenter.org.

Student $10 rush ticket are available one hour prior to curtain with a valid student ID subject to availability.

Groups of 10+ contact 303.446.4829 or groupsales@dcpa.org

No children under six will be admitted to any theatre.

Performance Schedule
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday performances at 6:30pm
Friday and Saturday evening performances at 7:30pm
Saturday and Sunday matinees at 1:30pm

Perspective on the Play
Complimentary pre-show discussion.

Well Friday, November 6 at 6:00pm, The Jones Theatre
Director Christy Montour-Larson and Psychiatrist Mary
Ann Levy.

Absurd Person Singular Friday, November 13 at 6:00pm, The Jones Theatre
Director Sabin Epstein with his designers and members of
the cast.

Accessibility
The Helen Bonfils Theatre Complex is fully accessible to persons with disabilities. Cordless headsets are available for patrons with hearing impairments at Patron Services.

Audio-described and ASL Interpreted Performances
Well, Saturday, December 5 at 1:30pm 
Absurd Person Singular, Saturday, December 19 at 1:30pm


Sponsor for Well is HealthONE.

Sponsor for Absurd Person Singular is Comcast.

Producing Partner for Absurd Person Singular is Keith C. Schnip.

Sponsors for the 2009/10 Season are The Steinberg Charitable Trust, Gay & Lesbian Fund for Colorado and SCFD.

Media Sponsors are The Denver Post Community and CBS4.

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