Promotional photo by Tony Arrasmith/Arrasmith & Associates.
Critically acclaimed Broadway play comes to the Marx Theatre on Oct. 19
CINCINNATI – Witness the ultimate showdown of fact vs. fiction when Moe and Jack Rouse and Randolph Wadsworth present THE LIFESPAN OF A FACT beginning Oct. 19 at Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park. This whip-smart comedy will run through Nov. 16, with opening night on Oct. 24.
Based on real-life events and people, THE LIFESPAN OF A FACT tracks the controversial publication of an essay that was written by acclaimed nonfiction author John D’Agata and fact-checked by Jim Fingal, then an intern at The Believer magazine. When Fingal points out factual inaccuracies and problematic embellishments throughout the essay, D’Agata fires back rationale as to why he took certain creative liberties– all of which creates tension for the publisher, Emily Penrose.
Written by Jeremy Kareken, David Murrell and Gordon Farrell, this entertaining, contemporary comedy explodes with timely relevance and lightning-fast pace. The character’s verbal tête-à-têtes onstage about storytelling and truth promise to engage audience members in conversation long after leaving the theatre.
The Playhouse’s production of THE LIFESPAN OF A FACT is helmed by award-winning director Wendy C. Goldberg. She is one of the Playhouse’s Associate Artists, and her work has been seen previously at the theatre in Leveling Up, Circle Mirror Transformation, Durango and Doubt. Goldberg is the current Artistic Director of the National Playwrights Conference at The Eugene O’Neill Theater Center. Under her leadership, the O’Neill received the Regional Theatre Tony Award in 2010.
“What’s great about the play is that you’re never quite sure where it’s headed,” says Goldberg. “It’s so well-constructed that the audience never gets ahead of it and never knows where the twists and turns will lead. It’s so satisfying in that way.”
Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park, Ohio’s only two-time Tony Award-winning theatre, boasts productions that are both nationally recognized and locally crafted. The 2019-2020 season includes productions featuring actors, directors, and designers who regularly work on and off Broadway and at other leading professional theatres across the country. All productions are presented at the Playhouse’s iconic Eden Park setting.
For more information, visit cincyplay.com.
CAST
JuCoby Johnson (Jim Fingal); Kate Rigg (Emily Penrose); David Whalen (John D’Agata)
PRODUCTION
Wendy C. Goldberg (Director); Todd Rosenthal (Set Designer); Jen Caprio (Costume Designer); Josh Epstein (Lighting Designer); Kate Marvin (Sound Designer/Composer); Joe Payne (Projections); Stephanie Klapper, CSA (Casting Director); Jenifer Morrow (Production Stage Manager); Brooke Redler (Second 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 performances in advance and are $30 to $50, depending seat location. THE LIFESPAN OF A FACT is appropriate for older teenage audiences.
EVENTS
PLAYHOUSE PERSPECTIVES: THE CURRENT STATE OF THE FACT
Monday, Nov. 4 at 7 p.m. at the Playhouse
“I’m not interested in accuracy. I’m interested in truth,” states John D’Agata in THE LIFESPAN OF A FACT. How do media writers — whether they’re a journalist, essayist or critic — interpret the word “fact,” especially in a time when facts and opinions are often considered interchangeable? Join Cincinnati Magazine Editor-in-Chief John Fox and a panel of media experts as they dissect and discuss the definition of “fact” through their own professional lens. This event is free, but registration is required by calling the Box Office at 513-421-3888 or visiting cincyplay.com. Playhouse Perspectives is made possible thanks to a generous gift from Barbara and Roderick Barr.
SPONSORS
THE LIFESPAN OF A FACT is presented by Moe and Jack Rouse and Randolph Wadsworth. Design sponsor is Barbara M. Weyand. Artist sponsors are Roto-Rooter Plumbing and Water Cleanup and Rosemary and Mark Schlachter. Honorary Co-Producers are Charles and Joann Mead. Marx Theatre Season Sponsor is Schueler Group. 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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