(CINCINNATI) – The Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park will continue its Marx Theatre season with Horton Foote’s THE TRIP TO BOUNTIFUL. An African-American cast offers a subtle new perspective on the universal themes of this life-affirming play, which begins previews March 9 and continues through April 7.
Trapped in a cramped Houston apartment with her son and his self-indulgent wife, Carrie Watts fantasizes about realizing her greatest ambition: returning to the Gulf Coast town of Bountiful and seeing her beloved childhood home one last time. Armed with her latest pension check, a wily stubbornness and limitless determination, Carrie embarks on the inspirational journey of a lifetime.
Foote, who died in 2009 at the age of 92, was described as “a writer’s writer” in his New York Times obituary. Texas-born, he always retained his identity as a chronicler of small-town values. Foote’s career, which spanned more than 60 plays and films, began with acting and quickly gravitated to writing. THE TRIP TO BOUNTIFUL was originally produced in 1953 as a NBC-TV teleplay starring Lillian Gish as Carrie Watts. It has since appeared on Broadway, in London and in an off-Broadway revival, as well as the 1985 film version which brought Foote an Academy Award nomination for best screenplay and Geraldine Page an Oscar as Best Actress. Foote’s film career brought him two Academy Awards, for the screenplay adaptation of Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird, and his original screenplay for Tender Mercies.
According to Artistic Director Blake Robison, “Horton Foote is one of the great American playwrights. His plays display the same complexity as his screenplays for To Kill a Mockingbird and Tender Mercies. He writes characters and situations with great depth and pathos. I believe that all audiences will respond to this moving story – and see it with new perspective because of our casting choices.”
The cast for THE TRIP TO BOUNTIFUL features Lizan Mitchell as Carrie Watts. Mitchell has appeared on Broadway in Electra, Having Our Say and So Long on Lonely Street. Other cast members include Stephen Bradbury as Sheriff/Ensemble, Doug Brown as Roy/Ensemble, Shannon Dorsey as Thelma, Tyrone Mitchell Henderson as Ludie Watts and Rachel Leslie (You Can’t Take It With You) as Jessie Mae Watts.
Timothy Douglas, who was recently appointed as an associate artist for the Playhouse, will direct the THE TRIP TO BOUNTIFUL. The play was originally conceived by Douglas with an African-American cast as a co-production in 2011 for Round House Theatre, where Blake Robison was producing artistic director, and The Cleveland Play House.
According to Douglas, “This production of The Trip to Bountiful was first and foremost inspired as a project for the specific talents of Lizan Mitchell.”
He continues, “However, this Horton Foote classic has universal richness and depth to spare, so that channeling its timeless coming-of-age journey through the black-American experience – along with all the social relevance and challenges that accompany it – such an event teases even deeper layers of nuance out of the play, which adds meaningful impact while still confidently contained within the boundaries of the playwright’s original intent.”
The design team for THE TRIP TO BOUNTIFUL includes Set Designer Tony Cisek, Costume Designer Karen Perry and Lighting Designer Christopher Studley.
Prices for THE TRIP TO BOUNTIFUL range from $30 – $70, depending on day and seat location, and are subject to change. Tickets are just $30 for the preview performances at 8 p.m. Saturday, March 9; 2 p.m. Sunday, March 10; 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, March 12; and 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, March 13. Some restrictions apply. The official opening night is Thursday, March 14 at 8 p.m.
Performances take place at 7:30 p.m. Tuesdays and Wednesdays, 8 p.m. Thursdays and Fridays, 4 p.m. and 8 p.m. Saturdays and 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. Sundays.
Tickets to THE TRIP TO BOUNTIFUL are on sale now. 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 http://www.cincyplay.com. Call 513-345-2248 for TDD accessibility.
The Playhouse is fully accessible. Audio enhancement receivers, large print programs and complete wheelchair access are available.
The Playhouse is supported, in part, by the generosity of the tens of thousands of individuals and businesses that give to ArtsWave.
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 and the National Endowment for the Arts.
Special Performances
Meet the Artists
These free programs allow audiences to interact with cast members and others associated with the production following the show.
- 2 p.m. Sunday, March 17
- 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, March 20
- 8 p.m. Thursday, April 4
- 2 p.m. Sunday, April 7
Audio Described Performance
- 4 p.m. Saturday, March 30
Signed Performance
Playhouse Perspectives
A free, pre-show lecture series featuring theatre artists and experts. Funding provided by Roderick and Barbara Barr. The featured speaker will be The Trip to Bountiful Director Timothy Douglas. Time: Sunday, March 24 at 6 p.m.
Dining Options
Karlo’s Bistro at the Playhouse offers full-service dining prior to most evening performances. Dinners include salad, entrée and dessert. Reservations are required by noon on the day of the show. The price is $27. Karlo’s Casual Fare offers busy theatre patrons an alternative light, quick bite prior to the show. Options include salads, sandwiches, soups, pasta and desserts. No reservations are required. Credit cards are now accepted.
Sponsors
Production Sponsors:
- Bartlett & Co.
- Moe and Jack Rouse
Artist Sponsor: Mardie O’Connor in memory of Dave O’Connor
The 2012-2013 Marx Theatre Series is presented by The Otto M. Budig Family Foundation
The 2012 -2013 Robert S. Marx Season Design Sponsor is Macy’s.
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