FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Date: February 15, 2005
Contact: Christa Skiles
Public Relations Director
513-345-2242, ext. 232

CINCINNATI PLAYHOUSE IN THE PARK PRESENTS THE CRITICALLY ACCLAIMED PLAY THE RETREAT FROM MOSCOW, MARCH 15-APRIL 15

(CINCINNATI) – The Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park continues its Marx Theatre season with William Nicholson’s critically acclaimed drama about a 33-year-marriage that should have lasted, The Retreat from Moscow. A nominee last year for the Tony Award for Best Play, The Retreat from Moscow begins previews on March 15 and continues through April 15.

Called “subtle and powerful” by The New Yorker, The Retreat from Moscow is a tender, intimate and unsparing look at the complicated puzzle that is the human heart. When 30-something Jamie returns to his parents’ home for a weekend visit, it quickly becomes clear that life there has developed into patterns that are far from peaceful. Husband Edward, a history teacher, buries himself in his beloved crossword puzzles and a book chronicling Napoleon’s disastrous campaign for Moscow in 1812. Both activities are retreats of sorts for Edward, whose wife Alice, an editor of poetry anthologies, has grown increasingly combative in her efforts to gain his attention. On the eve of their wedding anniversary, she tells her husband that she feels they lack a “real” marriage, one in which they are both forthcoming and meaningfully engaged in each other’s lives. That same weekend, Edward walks out.

Her husband’s abrupt departure destroys Alice’s fragile world. Jamie is placed in the awkward position of playing intermediary — trying to put the pieces back together and, ultimately, to decide right from wrong.

Playwright William Nicholson began his career at BBC Television where he worked as a documentary filmmaker. His ambition to write, at first directed into novels, there was channeled into television drama. His plays for television include Shadowlands and Life Story, both of which won the BAFTA Best Television Drama Award. His first play, an adaptation of Shadowlands, was the Evening Standard Best Play of 1990, and it went on to a Tony Award-winning Broadway run. Mr. Nicholson’s screenplay credits include Sarafina, Nell, First Knight, Grey Owl and Gladiator, which he co-wrote and for which he received an Academy Award nomination. His other plays include Map of the Heart and Katherine Howard.

Also a novelist, Mr. Nicholson’s books for older children include The Wind Singer, which won the Smarties Prize Gold Award and the Blue Peter Book of the Year Award. Other books in the trilogy include Slaves of the Mastery and Firesong. His novel for adults, The Society of Others, was published earlier this year.

The cast of The Retreat from Moscow includes three familiar Playhouse performers. Cincinnati favorite Dale Hodges will portray Alice. Her other Playhouse credits include Wit, The Crucible, King Lear, The Importance of Being Earnest and A Christmas Carol, among many others. On Broadway, her appearances include Benefactors (as a standby for Glenn Close) and Equus.

Portraying Edward is Jack Wetherall, who previously appeared at the Playhouse in the title role in Gross Indecency: The Three Trials of Oscar Wilde and in the one-person play Willi. His Broadway credits include the title role in The Elephant Man, and he spent four seasons as Vic in the Showtime television series Queer as Folk.

Jamie is played by Jeremiah Wiggins, a veteran of three seasons of A Christmas Carol at the Playhouse in the roles of Young and Mature Scrooge and the Ghost of Christmas Future. Mr. Wiggins’ New York credits include Patriot Acts at the New York City Fringe Festival, Aphra Does Antwerp at Women’s Project and Productions and An Experiment with an Air Pump at Manhattan Theater Club.

The Retreat from Moscow is directed by Playhouse Producing Artistic Director Edward Stern. Other production team members include Paul Shortt (set designer), Elizabeth Covey (costume designer) and Thomas C. Hase (lighting designer). The first stage manager is Jenifer Morrow. The second stage manager is Bruce E. Coyle.

Prices for The Retreat from Moscow range from $34-$46, depending on day and seat location. All tickets are $31 for the preview performances at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, March 15 and 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, March 16. The official opening night is Thursday, March 17 at 8:00 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.

Tickets to The Retreat from Moscow are on sale now. 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.

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 20
7:30 p.m. Wednesday, March 23
2 p.m. Sunday, April 3
8 p.m. Thursday, April 7

Audio Described Performance
5 p.m. Saturday, March 19

Signed Performance
2 p.m. Sunday, March 20

Playhouse Perspectives
A free, pre-show lecture series featuring theatre artists and experts. Funding provided by Roderick and Barbara Barr. Dr. Stanley Kaplan is the scheduled speaker.
6 p.m. Sunday, March 27

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 at least 24 hours in advance. The price is $21. 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 Sponsors:
Performance Lexus and Lexus RiverCenter

Production Design Sponsor:
Convergys Corporation

Fine Arts Fund Partners:
US Bank and Western & Southern Financial Corporation

The 2004-2005 Marx Theatre Series is presented by
The Otto M. Budig Family Foundation.

The Marx Season Design Sponsor is the
Cinergy Foundation.

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