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CINCINNATI PLAYHOUSE IN THE PARK PRESENTS WORLD PREMIERE OF JOSEPH MCDONOUGH’S STONE MY HEART, WINNER OF THE MICKEY KAPLAN NEW AMERICAN PLAY PRIZE, APRIL 1-30 (CINCINNATI) – Cincinnati playwright Joseph McDonough will see the world premiere of his latest comedy-drama Stone My Heart at the Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park beginning April 1 and continuing through April 30. A compelling story about the destructive forces of obsession, passion and power, the show is the winner of the Mickey Kaplan New American Play Prize. Stone My Heart is a jazz-infused tale of love and evil that follows the intertwined lives of employees in Chicago’s morgue. The stammering and introverted Robby is secretly in love with Jessica, the daughter of the city’s recently deceased chief coroner. But Jessica herself has been carrying on a clandestine relationship with Marcus, who has succeeded her father in his position. Chief Deputy Zach fails to earn any respect from the other coroners because he’s seen as a drunk and a political appointment. Into this mix, the manipulative Terrence seizes all opportunities to use their desires and secrets for his own gain. A longtime friend of Jessica, he believed he was being groomed for the chief coroner’s position and feels the only reason he was passed over is because Marcus is black. Terrence promises to help Robby win Jessica’s heart, but as his intricate web of deceit spins out of control, no one can be certain who to trust or what to believe. According to Playhouse Producing Artistic Director Edward Stern, who will direct Stone My Heart, there are numerous reasons he chose Joseph McDonough for this year’s play prize. “The characters in Stone My Heart are totally compelling,” says Mr. Stern. “Joe has created a spiral that gets tighter and tighter — with all the things that are said and unsaid, with the characters’ abilities to communicate or not communicate. Plus the subject, while intense, is punctuated by such dark, rich humor.” The play also is accented with original jazz music composed by University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music Dean Douglas Lowry. Music is associated with each character’s persona, and the improvisational nature of jazz lends itself to the solos and duets that the characters play against each other. Playwright Joseph McDonough is a Cincinnati native whose previous Playhouse productions include the 2003 world premiere One. He also has worked for several years with Ensemble Theatre of Cincinnati where his play Wayfarer's Rest is being given its world premiere beginning April 19. In New York, he is an active member of the Playwrights Workshop at the Players Club and is also a member of New River Dramatists in Healing Springs, North Carolina, where he has had residencies the past two summers. Mr. McDonough’s plays have been produced by Actors Theatre of Louisville, Florida Riverside Theatre, Theatre in the Square, Georgia Repertory Theatre, Cincinnati Shakespeare Festival and The Children’s Theatre, among others. The cast for Stone My Heart includes several Playhouse veterans including Tim Altmeyer (The Crucible, One) as Zach, Sean Haberle (Dark Paradise) as Terrence, Todd Lawson (A Christmas Carol) as Robby and Kevyn Morrow (Blue, Thunder Knocking on the Door) as Marcus. Lanie MacEwan will make her Playhouse debut as Jessica. Other members of the production team include Joseph P. Tilford (set designer), Claudia Stephens (costume designer) and Thomas C. Hase (lighting designer). The stage manager is Andrea L. Shell. Tickets to Stone My Heart are on sale now. Prices range from $41.50-$50.50, depending on day and seat location. All tickets are $34.50 for the preview performances at 5 p.m. Saturday, April 1; 7 p.m. Sunday, April 2; 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, April 4; and 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, April 5. The official opening night is Thursday, April 6 at 8 p.m. Any unreserved tickets are half-price every day when purchased between 11 a.m. and 5 p.m. on the day of the show (for performances Tuesday through Saturday) and from 12 to 5 p.m. on Sunday. The Playhouse is fully accessible. Audio enhancement receivers, large print programs and complete wheelchair access are available. For tickets to Stone My Heart or for more information, call the Playhouse box office at 513/421-3888 or toll-free in Ohio, Kentucky and Indiana at 800/582-3208. Call 513/345-2248 for TDD accessibility. For single tickets purchased by telephone through the Playhouse box office there is a $3 convenience fee per call. Tickets also can be purchased on the Playhouse web site at www.cincyplay.com. Artists fly to and from Cincinnati on Delta Connection Comair, the Playhouse’s official airline. The Playhouse is supported, in part, by the generosity of the tens of thousands of individuals and businesses that give to the Fine Arts Fund. 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 City of Cincinnati. |
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Meet the Artists 2 p.m. Sunday, April 9 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 $21, which does not include gratuity. 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. Sponsors Production Sponsor: Design Sponsor: Joseph McDonough Sponsor: The 2005-2006 Shelterhouse Theatre Series is presented by The Shelterhouse Season Design Sponsor is ### |
