PRESS RELEASE - FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

DATE: September 4, 2009

CONTACT:  Dan Berube, berube@merrimackrep.org        

PR CONTACT PHONE:  978.654.7595                           

BOX OFFICE:  978.654.4MRT (4678)

MERRIMACK REP ANNOUNCES TITLE OF
RICHARD DRESSER COMMISSION

The Last Days of Mickey and Jean

New Original Comedy Premieres March 18 – April 11, 2010

Lowell, MA – Merrimack Repertory Theatre is excited to announce it has received the first draft and title for playwright Richard Dresser’s newest play, The Last Days of Mickey and Jean.  Commissioned by Merrimack Rep Artistic Director Charles Towers, the new original comedy is a retirement story with a twist.  Constantly on the run with his no-longer young girlfriend, an aging fugitive mobster, Mickey, is forced into early retirement, taking him away from the one thing he truly loves – his work.  Merrimack Repertory Theatre will conduct readings and workshops of The Last Days of Mickey and Jean script before its fully staged premiere, which begins previews March 18, with opening night on March 21, and runs through April 11, 2010.  Charles Towers is scheduled to direct the production.

Playwright Richard Dresser has been a favorite of Merrimack Repertory Theatre audiences for almost a decade, as the theatre has produced six of the Massachusetts native’s works since 2001, including five regional premieres.  In early 2009, while in the process of selecting Merrimack Rep’s season, Artistic Director Charles Towers asked Richard Dresser if he would be interested in writing a new comedy for the 2009-2010 season.  Dresser accepted, and in April 2009 the theatre announced the then untitled project, the first commission of Charles Towers’ tenure as Artistic Director.  Dresser has been writing throughout the summer, and the theatre received the initial draft of the script yesterday.

Merrimack Repertory Theatre’s 2009-2010 Season is sponsored by Lowell Cooperative Bank. Merrimack Repertory Theatre is funded in part by the Massachusetts Cultural Council, a state agency.

SUBSCRIPTIONS: Don’t miss a single show!  On sale now, Merrimack Rep offers subscription packages to fit every lifestyle and budget.  With season subscription packages ranging from $45-$307, all subscriptions offer deep discounts off the single ticket prices as well as exclusive subscriber-only benefits, including free parking, restaurant and theatre discounts, lost ticket insurance and free, unlimited exchanges.  For a season brochure or subscription information, call 978.654.4MRT (4678), or visit www.MerrimackRep.org.

TICKETS: Single Tickets $26-$56; Student/Senior/Group discounts are available.  Tickets can be purchased at MRT’s Online Box Office at www.merrimackrep.org, or in person at 50 E. Merrimack St., Lowell, or by calling 978.654.4678.  Groups of 6 or more save 25% off single ticket prices, and can call 978.654.7595 for more information.

For more information, bios, interviews, or photos, please contact Dan Berube at 978.654.7595 or berube@merrimackrep.org.

For MRT show times, tickets, season information, directions, or to request a brochure, please visit www.merrimackrep.org or call the Box Office at 978.654.4MRT (4678).

Merrimack Repertory Theatre is located in beautiful historic downtown Lowell at Liberty Hall, the Company’s 308-seat theatre, 50 E. Merrimack Street, Lowell, MA 01852 (adjacent to Lowell Memorial Auditorium).  Each season, Merrimack Rep presents an eclectic mix of contemporary productions, engaging the best available actors, designers and directors in the country.  Founded in 1979, Merrimack Rep’s mission is “To advance the cause of human understanding by creating theatrical productions at the highest level of artistic excellence and making them affordable to the broadest possible community.”  Its unique artistic vision is shaped by a passion for excellence and a profound commitment to its community.  Merrimack Rep strives to enhance the community’s quality of life while contributing to its economic strength, measuring success by the depth of the Company’s artistic and social contribution to the region.

Merrimack Repertory Theatre's 2009-2010 Season
Flings & Eros by The Flying Karamazov Brothers, September 10 – October 4, 2009; The Seafarer by Conor McPherson, October 15 – November 8, 2009; Heroes by Gerald Sibleyras, adapted by Tom Stoppard, November 19 – December 13, 2009; Fabuloso, A Play by John Kolvenbach, January 7 – January 31, 2010; Black Pearl Sings! by Frank Higgins, February 11 – March 7, 2010; The Last Days of Mickey and Jean by Richard Dresser, March 18 – April 11, 2010; The Blonde, the Brunette and the Vengeful Redhead by Robert Hewett, April 22 – May 16, 2010.

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