Trinity Rep Announces 2014-2015 Season

Curt Columbus, Artistic Director Michael Gennaro, Executive Director 201 Washington Street Providence Rhode Island 02903 www.trinityrep.com 

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: FEBRUARY 20, 2014 CONTACT: Marilyn Busch, Director of Marketing & PR (401) 453‐9228 mbusch@trinityrep.com Myah Shein, Public Relations & Advertising Manager, (401) 521‐1100 ext. 226 mshein@trinityrep.com

2014‐2015 SEASON ANNOUNCED AT TRINITY REP Ivanov, Barefoot in the Park, Glass Menagerie, A Flea in Her Ear and more

PROVIDENCE, RI: Tony Award‐winning Trinity Repertory Company, under the leadership of The Richard L. Bready Artistic Director Curt Columbus and Executive Director Michael Gennaro is pleased to announce their 2014‐2015 season line‐up of plays.

“In putting together our upcoming season, we wanted to take audiences on a dramatic voyage courtesy of some of the world’s greatest playwrights, “ explains Columbus, “And of course, bring their work to life with that inimitable “Trinity Rep” flair — with performances that are electric, immediate, funny as anything, and daring to chart new territory.”

Trinity Rep’s 2014–2015 season starts in Russia with the world premiere of Curt Columbus’ new translation of Ivanov by Anton Chekhov. Columbus and Trinity Rep’s resident acting company have been working on this new adaptation for a few years. "Although a lesser known Chekov play, Ivanov is often referred to as the ‘comic Russian Hamlet’, “ says Columbus, “In the talented hands of director Brian McEleney, the show promises to bring the same dramatic punch as his stunning production of The Grapes of Wrath.”

Back again after a sold‐out run is the holiday classic – Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol – now available on sale to subscribers. A Christmas Carol will start performances in November and has been extended through New Year's Eve.

Meanwhile in the downstairs Dowling Theater, the theater unwraps Neil Simon’s delightful romantic confection, Barefoot in the Park. From one of the funniest, most beloved playwrights of his generation, Barefoot in the Park is the hilarious and sweet story of two newlyweds making a life together in 60s New York.

Columbus then stages the bittersweet metaphysical gem Middletown by Massachusetts‐born playwright Will Eno. “Eno is a great contemporary American writer,” states Columbus, “while Middletown takes its themes from Thornton Wilder’s Our Town, his style is very contemporary, and very funny.

The dramatic highlight of the season promises to be the poetic masterpiece The Glass Menagerie about longing, unfulfilled dreams and the power of memory. Considered by many to be one of the greatest American plays ever written, this classic from the brilliant Tennessee Williams will be directed by Brian Mertes (Crime and Punishment, Clybourne Park) and performed in the upstairs Chace Theater.

No theatrical journey would be complete without a large dose of laughter, and no play tickles audiences more than the wildly funny French farce A Flea in Her Ear by Georges Feydeau. “A Flea in Her Ear is just flat out funny,” proclaims Columbus “Feydeau’s plots are so precisely constructed, yet there is a huge to degree of mayhem.”

Trinity Rep closes their season with the highly anticipated world premiere of a musical adaptation of Sarah Ruhl’s Melancholy Play with a new score by Todd Almond. “What’s interesting about this play is that people will say, “Oh no, Melancholy Play, it must be sad,” says Columbus, “but its title is part of the joke. The play is about a woman so beautifully sad that everyone falls in love with her. But what happens when their love actually makes her happy?”

Featuring one of the last permanent resident acting company in America, Trinity Rep’s subscription season presents a balance of world premiere, contemporary, and classic works for an estimated annual audience of 145,000. In its 50‐year history, the theater has produced 63 world premieres, mounted national and international tours, and, through its MFA program, trained hundreds of new actors and directors.

Full season subscriptions for all six plays are now on sale by calling the box office at (401) 351‐4242.

Subscribing now also gives you immediate access to pre‐sale tickets for A Christmas Carol. Subscribers receive tickets up to 30% off regular single ticket prices. Subscriber benefits also include free ticket exchanges, parking and dining discounts, and invitations to special backstage events. Flex Pass Subscriptions and special discounted packages are also available for seniors, military and students. The Trinity Rep box office is located at 201 Washington Street, Providence, RI, 02903, and can be reached by calling (401) 351‐4242.

2014‐2015 Season | September 2014 – June 2015

Ivanov by Anton Chekhov A world premiere translation by Curt Columbus directed by Brian McEleney September 4 ‐ October 5, 2014 in the Dowling Theater In this fascinating early work by Anton Chekhov, we see the union of humor and pathos that would become his trademark. In a sparkling new translation by Curt Columbus (whose Chekhov translations have been proclaimed by Variety as “savvy, clear, fair‐minded and right‐headed”) and helmed by Brian McEleney (Grapes of Wrath.)

Barefoot in the Park by Neil Simon November 20 ‐ December 21, 2014 in the Dowling Theater Hilarious, sweet, and ultimately moving, Barefoot in the Park tells the story of two newlyweds: Paul, a buttoned‐down lawyer, and Corie, his free‐spirited wife, as they learn to love each other for who they are. From one of the funniest, most beloved playwrights of his generation, Barefoot in the Park is romantic delight not to be missed.

Middletown by Will Eno directed by Curt Columbus January 22 ‐ February 22, 2015 in the Dowling Theater “Middletown. Population: stable; elevation: same. The main street is called Main Street. The side streets are named after trees. Things are fairly predictable. People come, people go. Crying, by the way, in both directions.” This is how we are introduced to the eponymous town in Will Eno’s bittersweet gem, which has universally been hailed as one of the best plays of the past few years. “Middletown glimmers from start to finish with tart, funny, gorgeous little comments on big things: the need for love and forgiveness, the search for meaning in life, the long, lonely ache of disappointment.” – The New York Times

The Glass Menagerie by Tennessee Williams directed by Brian Mertes February 26 ‐ March 29, 2015 opening in the Chace Theater Perhaps one of the greatest American plays ever written, this classic from the brilliant Tennessee Williams is Trinity Rep’s Project Discovery Centerpiece production. Directed by Brian Mertes (Clybourne Park), The Glass Menagerie is a dazzling, poetic masterpiece about longing, unfulfilled dreams and the power of memory.

A Flea in Her Ear by Georges Feydeau March 26 ‐ April 26, 2015 in the Dowling Theater Slamming doors. Mistaken identities. Rendezvous gone awry. When the wife of an insurance magnate thinks her husband is cheating on her, she decides to catch him in the act…only to turn their world hilariously upside down. Prepare to be delighted by this wildly funny French farce. “Where does one begin in praising Feydeau? Perhaps with the thrift and beauty of his plotting…the result is a heartlessly funny evening of whirlwind insanity.” The Guardian

Melancholy Play: a new chamber musical A world premiere by Sarah Ruhl, music by Todd Almond May 28 ‐ June 28, 2015 in the Dowling Theater Meet Tilly. She’s depressed. She’s so fantastically, alluringly depressed, in fact, that everyone can’t help falling in love with her, including her therapist and her bank teller. But what happens when their love actually makes Tilly. . .happy? Trinity Rep is proud to premiere this new musical comedy from Sarah Ruhl, with beautiful music by Todd Almond.

Non‐subscription Holiday Programming

A Christmas Carol

by Charles Dickens, adapted by Adrian Hall and Richard Cumming November 8, 2014 ‐ December 31, 2014 Trinity Rep’s annual production of this holiday classic has completely sold out the past three years.

Titles, dates and directors are subject to change.

The State Theater of Rhode Island, Trinity Repertory Company is currently celebrating its 50th Anniversary Season. Since its founding in 1963, Trinity Repertory Company has been one of the most respected regional theaters in the country. Featuring the last permanent resident acting company in America, Trinity Rep presents a balance of world premiere, contemporary, and classic works for an estimated annual audience of approximately 145,000. In its 50‐year history, the theater has produced 63 world premieres, mounted national and international tours, and, through its MFA program, trained hundreds of new actors and directors. This season marks the 47th year of Project Discovery, Trinity Rep's pioneering educational outreach program. Last season, Trinity Rep’s educational programs reached nearly 15,000 Rhode Island, Massachusetts and Connecticut students through matinees as well as in‐school residencies and workshops. Brown University/Trinity Rep offers professional training for actors and directors in a three‐year MFA program. Trinity Rep's 2013‐2014 season continues with Lionel Bart’s Oliver!, the world premiere of Veronica Meadows by Stephen Thorne and A Lie of the Mind by Sam Shepard. For more information, call the box office at (401) 351‐4242 or visit Trinity Rep's website at www.trinityrep.com.

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