Photo by Tony Arrasmith/Arrasmith & Associates.
ALIAS GRACE adaptation to open in newly renovated Rosenthal Shelterhouse Theatre
CINCINNATI – Autumn wind is not the only thing bringing a chill to Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park as a stage adaptation of Margaret Atwood’s thriller ALIAS GRACE opens the 2019-20 Rosenthal Shelterhouse Theatre season. This spine-tingling production runs Sept. 14 through Oct. 27, with opening night on Sept. 19.
Adapted for the stage by playwright Jennifer Blackmer, true crime lore and psychological drama combine in ALIAS GRACE for an immersive theatrical experience of the best-selling, award-winning novel of the same title. Atwood’s provocative and mysterious story of a young woman who is accused of murdering her employer and his lover combines with haunting production elements to bring this chilling tale alive onstage.
Inspired by a real double homicide in the 1840s, this evocative mystery tells the story of the accused killer, Grace Marks — who has sworn that she has no memory of the events. Fifteen years later, psychologist Simon Jordan begins interviewing her to gradually unlock her memories and soon finds himself plummeting down a frightening path of shocking revelations.
“The story is structured around memory, amnesia and the mysteries of the mind,” says Blake Robison, Playhouse artistic director and director of the show. “The book delves into those mysteries through language and metaphor. In the theatre, we can take advantage of our intimate stage to pry into the characters’ impulses and inner thoughts. Every little gesture or movement is meaningful when the actor and audience are so close. To me, it feels like a story that was always meant for the stage.”
Atwood is one of the foremost prolific writers of our time, having penned novels, essays, poetry and short stories throughout her illustrious career. Well-known, award-winning works include The Handmaid’s Tale, The Blind Assassin and Cat’s Eye, many of which have been adapted for the stage and screen.
For more information on ALIAS GRACE, visit cincyplay.com.
CAST
Caroline Hewitt (Grace Marks); Damien Boykin (James McDermott); R. Ward Duffy (Jeremiah/Dr. Jerome Dupont); Annie Fitzpatrick (Mrs. Rachel Lavell); Grant Goodman (Simon Jordan); Andrea San Miguel (Mary Whitney); Nick Rose (Thomas Kinnear); Tess Talbot (Nancy Montgomery)
PRODUCTION
Blake Robison (Director); Jo Winiarski (Set Designer); Kathleen Geldard (Costume Designer); Jaymi Lee Smith (Lighting Designer); Matthew M. Nielson (Sound Designer/Composer); Casey Sams (Movement and Intimacy Coach); Stephanie Klapper, CSA (Casting Director); Andrea L. Shell (Stage Manager).
TICKETS
To purchase tickets or for more information, call the Playhouse Box Office at 513-421-3888 (toll-free in Ohio, Kentucky, and Indiana at 800-582-3208) or visit www.cincyplay.com. Call 513-345-2248 for Telecommunications Device for the Deaf accessibility.
Performances will begin at 7:30 p.m. Tuesdays through Thursdays, at 8 p.m. Fridays, 4 and 8 p.m. Saturdays and 2 and 7 p.m. Sundays. Individual tickets start at just $35. Tickets to all 7 p.m. Sunday performances are priced at just $10 for college students with a valid school ID. Student tickets are just $15 on the day of the show for all other performances. Discounted ticket prices for teens are available for all productions and are $30 to $50, depending on show and seat location.
EVENT
PAGE-TO-STAGE BOOK CLUB
Monday, Oct. 21, at 7 p.m.
Joseph-Beth Booksellers at Rookwood Commons & Pavilion
The Playhouse begins its page-to-stage book club series this season with a deep dive into Margaret Atwood’s Alias Grace. Participants are invited to attend a special discussion in which we’ll talk about the book and its overarching themes, and then discuss what excited and surprised you about the story’s theatrical adaptation with a member of the artistic team.
Free. Registration is required and can be made by calling the Playhouse Box Office at 513-421-3888 or visiting cincyplay.com.
SPONSORS
Production Sponsors are Digi and Mike Schueler, with additional support from Linda and Gary Greenburg. Season Sponsor is Heidelberg Distributing Company. Season Sponsor of New Work is the Rosenthal Family Foundation.
The Playhouse is supported by the generosity of almost 40,000 contributors to the ArtsWave Community campaign. The Ohio Arts Council helps fund the Playhouse with state tax dollars to encourage economic growth, educational excellence and cultural enrichment for all Ohioans. The Playhouse also receives funding from the Shubert Foundation.
ACCESS
The Playhouse is fully accessible. Audio enhancement receivers, large print programs, and complete wheelchair access are available.
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