Media Contacts: Jennifer Rice Rice Public Relations LLC (206) 285-5175 rice1234@yahoo.com Jacquelyn S. Rardin ACT A Contemporary (206) 292-7660 x1327 jacquelyn.rardin@acttheatre.org (please do not publish this number) Two Iconic Leaders Clash in a London and Broadway Smash Hit: Mary Stuart at ACT Victor Pappas directs Anne Allgood and Suzanne Bouchard in modern take on timeless drama Mary Stuart By Friedrich Schiller In a new adaptation by Peter Oswald Directed by Victor Pappas In the Allen September 9 October 9 Tickets/Times Members of Teen Tix: $5 Students/people 25 and under: $15/$20 Adults: start at $37.50 Seniors: 25% off adult price Groups (10+): Save up to 25% off! Call Ticket Office for reservations Happy Hour: 20% OFF adult price when you buy tickets between 4-6pm Tue-Fri. Foursome Fridays: $20 adult price tickets to Friday night shows, for groups of 4+. Pay-What-You-Can: Everyday, day of show (in person only, starting at 1:00 p.m.) ACTPass: included! Tues-Thurs 7:30 p.m.; Fri & Sat 8:00 p.m.; Sat & Sun 2:00 p.m.; Sun 7:00 p.m. ACT Ticket Office: (206) 292-7676 700 Union Street, Seattle WA 98101 www.acttheatre.org Seattle, WA August 16, 2011 Let the battle begin! ACT A Contemporary brings Friedrich Schiller s timeless drama, Mary Stuart, to the stage in this astonishingly relevant new adaptation by Peter Oswald.
Page Two Two Iconic Leaders Clash in a London and Broadway Smash Hit: Mary Stuart at ACT Directed by Victor Pappas and featuring an all-star Seattle cast, Mary Stuart is a contemporary take on a classic masterpiece. Blending fact with fiction, the play examines power, passion and politics as it dramatizes the struggle of Mary, Queen of Scots (Anne Allgood), for her freedom from Queen Elizabeth I (Suzanne Bouchard). Amidst espionage, attempted assassinations, and prison breaks, a tragic crisis confronts both women with impossibly difficult decisions. Will Mary renounce her claim to the crown? Can Elizabeth free Mary without jeopardizing her throne? All will be revealed in this thrilling episode from the past that strikes at our contemporary selves. In this new version by Peter Oswald, we see the same kind of machinations as we see today in governments around the world, including our own. Isn t Burleigh a little bit like Dick Cheney, Talbot a little reminiscent of Colin Powell? And aren t Elizabeth and Mary women fighting to maintain power and self-image in a world manipulated by men? said Director Victor Pappas. And then of course there s the religious aspect the role of religion in government and politics is a key source of the play s conflict, and a key reason that Mary s supporters feel justified in their attempts to assassinate Elizabeth. The conflict between the Catholic Church, the Church of England, and the Protestant faith is a source of motivation for just about every character in the play. Schiller has taken the framework of history and dramatized it to bring into sharp focus the interplay of the personal and the political. In Mary Stuart, the playwright as progressive thinker is in his element, added ACT Artistic Director Kurt Beattie. Schiller s revisionist treatment of the unique relationship and power struggle between the Queens of England and Scotland realizes a larger purpose than an accurate depiction of events could hope to achieve. In fact, the meeting of the two royal cousins so central to the core of the play never actually took place. By imagining this meeting, the dramatist heightens the power of the storytelling while bringing into focus the heart of the dilemma and differences between the two women, and the power, politics and religious strife of their time. More than two centuries have passed since the premiere of Mary Stuart, but the play continues to thrill audiences, most recently on Broadway in 2009. Directed by Phyllida Lloyd, the Broadway run was a revival of the hugely successful production by London s award-winning Donmar Warehouse, which subsequently transferred to the West End before taking New York by storm with its distinguished stars, Janet McTeer and Harriet Walter, recreating their scintillating performances, the production ran a total of 137 performances at the Broadhurst to a sold-out audience and was nominated for six Tony Awards and three Drama Desk Awards, with Janet McTeer winning both awards as Outstanding Actress in a Play for her performance in the title role.
Page Three Two Iconic Leaders Clash in a London and Broadway Smash Hit: Mary Stuart at ACT As in the Donmar version, ACT s production of Mary Stuart takes the opportunity to heighten the status of the two Queens and the relationship of the drama to today s world through the use of costumes (designed by Frances Kenny): only the two Queens will be dressed in iconic period gowns, while the largely male powerbrokers surrounding them will be dressed in modern day fare. It fuels the immediate attention to the now, added Pappas. Scenic Designer Robert Dahlstrom and Lighting Designer ML Geiger add to the contemporary adaptation with a sparse, yet powerfully elegant set and increasingly evocative lighting that illuminates escalating drama and inner turmoil of the Queens. The Mary Stuart creative team and cast members are available for interviews. For more information or to arrange interviews, please contact Jennifer Rice at (206) 285-5175 or rice1234@yahoo.com, or Jacquelyn Rardin at (206) 292-7660 ext. 1327 or jacquelyn.rardin@acttheatre.org. CAST (in alphabetical order): Anne Allgood Mary Stuart, Queen of Scotland, a prisoner in England Allan Michael Barlow Sir Amias Paulet, Knight, guardian of Mary Suzanne Bouchard Elizabeth Tudor, Queen of England Dale Bowers The Earl of Kent/Guard Joshua Carter Mortimer, nephew to Paulet Peter Crook William Cecil, Lord Burleigh, High Treasurer Bradford Farwell Count Aubespine, the French Ambassador/Sheriff Allen Fitzpatrick George Talbot, Earl of Shrewsbury Alex Garnett O Kelly, friend to Mortimer/Guard Jon Lutyens Page/Guard Terry Edward Moore Melvil, Mary s house steward Marianne Owen Hanna Kennedy, Mary s nurse and confidante John Ulman William Davison, Secretary of State/Guard R. Hamilton Wright Robert Dudley, Earl of Leicester Creative Team Victor Pappas JR Welden Erin B. Zatloka Robert Dahlstrom Frances Kenny Pete Rush ML Geiger Brendan Hogan Director Stage Manager Assistant Stage Manager Scenic Designer Costume Designer Assistant Costume Designer Lighting Designer Sound Designer
Page Four Two Iconic Leaders Clash in a London and Broadway Smash Hit: Mary Stuart at ACT Performance Schedule: Fri., September 9, 8:00 p.m. (Previews begin) Sat., September 10, 8:00 p.m. Sun., September 11, 7:30 p.m. Tue., September 13, 7:30 p.m. (Behind the Scenes, 6:00 p.m.) Wed., September 14, 7:30 p.m. Thurs., September 15, 7:30 p.m. OPENING NIGHT Fri., September 16, 8:00 p.m. Sat., September 17, 2:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. Sun., September 18, 2:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. Tue., September 20, 7:30 p.m. (Post-Play Discussion) Wed., September 21, 7:30 p.m. Thurs., September 22, 2:00 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Fri., September 23, 8:00 p.m. (Tasting, 6:30 p.m.) Sat., September 24, 8:00 p.m. Sun., September 25, 2:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. (Post-Play Discussion, end of 2:00 p.m. show) Tues., September 27, 7:30 p.m. Wed., September 28, 7:30 p.m. Thurs., September 29, 7:30 p.m. Fri., September 30, 8:00 p.m. Sat., October 1, 2:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. Sun., October 2, 2:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. (Post-Play Discussion, end of 7:00 p.m. show) Wed., October 5, 7:30 p.m. Thurs., October 6, 7:30 p.m. Fri., October 7, 8:00 p.m. Sat., October 8, 8:00 p.m. Sun., October 9, 2:00 p.m. ACT Special Events (FREE and open to the public): Behind the Scenes, Tuesday, September 13, 2011 at 6:00 p.m. Before the Tuesday night preview of a Mainstage production, Artistic Director Kurt Beattie and members of ACT's artistic team give you the heads-up and the lowdown on what it takes to make that night's magic. Seeing the show another night? Don't let that stop you; we still welcome you to come for the Behind-the-Scenes chat! Brought to you by KING FM with delicious bites provided by a preferred ACT caterer. Apple Series, Wednesday, September 14, 2011 ACT s Apple Series includes a ticket to each Wednesday preview on the 2010 Mainstage season and features a pre-show conversation with the artistic staff and guest speakers on topics including themes of the show, production elements, collaborating with artists, and more that will have every educator s mouth watering. The Apple Series is for current Washington state teachers and administrators.
Page Five Two Iconic Leaders Clash in a London and Broadway Smash Hit: Mary Stuart at ACT Post Play Discussions, following performances on Sept 20 evening, Sept 25 matinee, Oct 2 evening. Wondering about creative choice or dying to explore the themes of a play? Here's your chance! Stick around and participate in a post-show discussion with the director and actors following select performances of each Mainstage play. Tastings, Friday, September 23, 2011 at 6:30 p.m. ACT unveils a delicious tradition: beers, wines, and beverages from around the world, paired with local artisan foods all matched to fit the theme of our mainstage productions! Keith Johnsen, host of last year's Beer Tastings, will search his vast collection of spirits, as well as the bountiful variety of local markets, to procure the perfect show-themed treats for you. Please join us for this new and exciting FREE event! About ACT: A of New Ideas - Raising Consciousness Through Located in the heart of downtown Seattle and serving a population of curious, open-minded, and brave audiences, ACT - A Contemporary is the only theatre in Seattle dedicated to producing contemporary work with promising playwrights and local performing artists since 1965. A theatre of new ideas, ACT serves as a cultural engine that makes plays, dance, music, and film that touch us through its annual Mainstage play series and new works generated from the Young Playwrights Program, The Hansberry Project, the Central Heating Lab, and New Works for the American Stage commissioning program. Because contemporary life demands examination, ACT is driven to inspire and strengthen our diverse community through works that advance our understanding of human life. With more than 100,000 people who attend shows annually, ACT is an interactive community where artists and the public witness, contemplate, and engage in dialogue on today s thought-provoking issues, ideas and art, presented with intelligence, insight, and humor. ACT gratefully acknowledges the generous support of our 2011 Season Sponsors: ACT Foundation, ArtsFund, The Eulalie Bloedel Schneider Artists Fund, The Mayor s Office of Arts & Cultural Affairs, and The Shubert Foundation. # # #