PRESS RELEASE – FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
DATE: March 29, 2010
PRESS CONTACT: Dan Berube, 978.654.7595, Berube@MerrimackRep.org
BOX OFFICE: 978.654.4MRT (4678)
THE BLONDE, THE BRUNETTE AND
THE VENGEFUL REDHEAD
By Robert Hewett
FEATURING KAREN MACDONALD
AT MERRIMACK REP, APRIL 22 – May 16, 2010
Press Opening April 25 at 7PM
Lowell, MA – Award-winning actress Karen MacDonald stars in the regional premiere of The Blonde, the Brunette and the Vengeful Redhead by Robert Hewett at Merrimack Repertory Theatre April 22 – May 16, 2010, directed by OBIE Award-winning director Melia Bensussen. In The Blonde, the Brunette and the Vengeful Redhead, a cheating husband, a meddling neighbor and a dropped ice cream cone combine to shatter Rhonda Russell’s quiet, suburban life. Seven very different characters each offer their own perspective of the day Rhonda went berserk – all played by a single gifted performer. It is a captivatingly brilliant and heartfelt tour de force about loss and ultimate redemption. Performances begin Thursday, April 22 at 7:30PM, with Opening Night on Sunday, April 25 at 7:00PM, running through May 16. Tickets are on sale now through the box office at 978.654.4MRT or online at www.MerrimackRep.org.
“A marvelous, mysterious, and often very funny story.” – The Washington Post
Regarded as one of Boston’s finest actresses, Karen MacDonald returns to Merrimack Rep for the first time in over a decade, having performed in over 70 productions at American Repertory Theatre. She first appeared on Merrimack Rep’s Liberty Hall stage in 1989 as Elvira in Blithe Spirit, and later in Frankie & Johnny in the Clair de Lune and the 1991 production of A Moon for the Misbegotten. She won an Elliot Norton award for her performance in Merrimack Rep’s 1995 production of Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf. Excited to be returning to MRT, Ms. MacDonald states, “I’ve always had great experiences at Merrimack Rep. I'm thrilled to be back and to work on this show with Melia Bensussen and all our design team. The show is a big challenge, seven characters to play, but I'm excited to give it my all. Thanks to Charles Towers for giving us the chance to tell this story to the Merrimack audiences.”
Melia Bensussen, chair of the performing arts faculty at Boston’s Emerson College, returns to Merrimack Rep, previously having directed Something in the Air and Aunt Dan & Lemon. She comments, “I am so happy to be back at Merrimack Rep, and this is a particular pleasure because Karen MacDonald and I have wanted to collaborate on a project for years. This play will showcase her tremendous talent and does so while telling a story of surprising wit and emotional depth.”
The Blonde, the Brunette and the Vengeful Redhead is the first of Robert Hewett’s plays to be produced by Merrimack Rep. A native of Australia, and an honors graduate of Flinders University, Mr. Hewett began his career in theatre as an actor. He worked extensively in theatre, film, television and radio before switching to a career as a writer. His first play, Just...One Last Dance, premiered at Auckland’s Mercury Theatre in 1980. The Melbourne Theatre Company produced his second and highly acclaimed play, Gulls, in 1983. Gulls received the Green Room Award for Best Play, and shortlisted in the inaugural Premier's Literary Awards. Productions followed throughout Australia and Great Britain, playing Bristol’s Old Vic, Leicester’s Haymarket Theatre, Glasgow’s Tron Theatre, Shaw Theatre, London, among others. In South Africa the play toured for three years. Gulls was also produced in New Zealand, Malta, United States, Singapore, Canada and Sri Lanka. The Blonde, the Brunette and the Vengeful Redhead opened to much acclaim at The Stables, Sydney, in February 2004 and toured Australia for 4 years. Further productions occurred in Switzerland, Canada’s Stratford Festival for two consecutive sellout seasons, and in New Zealand. The Spanish language production of The Blonde, the Brunette and the Vengeful Redhead premiered in Mexico City in April 2009, while the Greek language production recently opened in Athens.
The production’s creative staff includes OBIE Award-winner Melia Bensussen (director), Judy Gailen (scenic design), Arthur Oliver (costume design), Dan Kotlowitz (lighting design) and David Remedios (sound design). Judy Gailen returns to MRT for a third time, after having designed Something in the Air and The Drawer Boy. Arthur Oliver’s costume design work was seen at Merrimack Rep earlier this season in The Flying Karamazov Brothers world premiere Fling & Eros. Dan Kotlowitz’s lighting designs have also been seen at Merrimack Rep this season in The Last Days of Mickey & Jean and Black Pearl Sings!, as well as past productions such as The Homecoming and Skylight. Elliot Norton Award-winning sound designer David Remedios makes his Merrimack Rep debut, having previously worked at American Repertory Theatre as a resident sound designer.
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.
CAST BIOS
KAREN MACDONALD (Performer) Merrimack Repertory Theatre: Frankie & Johnny in the Clair de Lune (Frankie), A Moon for the Misbegotten (Josie), Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? (Martha), Blithe Spirit (Elvira). American Repertory Theatre: Over 70 productions including Endgame (Nell), The Seagull (Arkadina), Copenhagen (Margrethe), Donnie Darko (Kitty Farmer), Oliver Twist (Mrs. Bumble), A Marvelous Party, No Exit (Estelle), The Miser (Frosine), Othello (Emelia), Island of Slaves (Euphrosine), Olly’s Prison (Ellen), Dido, Queen of Carthage (Anna), Highway Ulysses (Circe), Mother Courage and Her Children (Mother Courage). Off-Broadway: Theatre for a New Audience, Roundabout Theatre, Second Stage, Playwrights Horizons. Regional: All My Sons (Kate Keller), A Civil War Christmas (Mary Todd Lincoln), Huntington Theatre Company; boom (Barbara), New Repertory Theatre; Third (Laurie Jameson), Portland Stage; Last of the Red Hot Lovers, Gloucester Stage Company; The Misanthrope, Berkshire Theatre Festival; My Heart and My Flesh, Infestation, Boston Playwrights’ Theatre; Hamlet, Twelfth Night, Commonwealth Shakespeare Company; The Beauty Queen of Lenane, The Last Night of Ballyhoo, Vineyard Playhouse; Shirley Valentine, Charles Playhouse; As You Like It, Twelfth Night, The Taming of the Shrew, Shakespeare and Company. National: Hartford Stage, Berkeley Repertory Theatre, Long Wharf Theatre, Goodman Theatre, Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park, GeVa Theatre, Syracuse Stage, Buffalo’s Studio Arena, New Mexico Repertory Theatre, The Alley Theatre, The Wilma Theater, among others. International: Festivals in Asti, Amsterdam, Rotterdam, Edinburgh, Avignon Israel, Belgrade; Duke of York’s Theatre, London. Directing: Woman in Black, Gloucester Stage Company; Surly Girl, Dressed Up/Wigged Out!, Boston Playwrights’ Theatre. Film: Orphan, What’s the Worst That Can Happen?. Television: Law and Order, The Crucible, PBS Frontline and American Experience. Awards: Elliot Norton Awards for Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?, Olly’s Prison, No Exit; IRNE Awards for Othello, The Miser, The Provok’d Wife, The Birthday Party, A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Education: BFA, Acting, Boston University’ School of Fine and Applied Arts. Teaching: Undergraduate Acting at Harvard University, Dramatic Arts at Harvard Extension School and Acting for Singers at New England Conservatory. Other: She is a Founding Company Member of American Repertory Theatre and Co-Founder of The Next Move Theatre.
SPECIAL EVENTS FOR
THE BLONDE, THE BRUNETTE, AND THE VENGEFUL REDHEAD:
Low-Priced Previews – April 22-25, Merrimack Rep’s most affordable performances. Be a part of shaping of the show before Opening Night.
Pay What You Can – April 22, 7:30PM. Available 3 hours before curtain, in person, cash only at the Box Office. Restricted seating. Sponsored by Lowell Five.
Director’s Dialogue – April 22, 7:30PM. The director and designers field audience questions and describe how the play was staged.
Lowell Night – April 24, 8:00PM. $10 tickets for Lowell residents available 3 hours before curtain, in person, cash only at the Box Office. Restricted seating. Sponsored by Lowell Five.
Opening Night – April 25, 7:00PM. Join Merrimack Rep’s staff and cast in raising a glass of champagne to celebrate the opening of the show.
Cookie Matinee – April 28, 2:00PM. Complimentary cookies and coffee in the lobby before the show, courtesy of Brew’d Awakening Coffeehaus.
Post Show Forum – April 28, May 5 and May 12, 7:30PM. Enjoy this unique opportunity to learn the inside scoop and chat with the actors after the performance. Sponsored by Yellow Book.
SUBSCRIPTIONS: Season subscriptions for the 2010-2011 season are on sale now. Merrimack Rep offers subscription packages to fit every lifestyle and budget. With season subscription packages ranging from $46-$273, all subscriptions offer deep discounts off 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 email 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 & 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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