FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT: Cindy Moran, Public Relations Director, 414-224-1761

October 5, 2007

The Don’t-Miss, Award-winning Play
DOUBT
A Parable

By John Patrick Shanley

Directed by J.R. Sullivan

Made possible in part by the generous support of:
The Lynde and Harry Bradley Foundation

Quadracci Powerhouse Theater
Previews: October 17 & 18, 2007 Opens: October 19, 2007 Closes: November 18, 2007

Winner of the 2005 Pulitzer Prize for Drama and four Tony Awards, including Best Play. A strong-minded nun in a Bronx Catholic school suspects a charismatic priest of having an inappropriate relationship with a student. A cleverly written, riveting story with twists that will keep you enthralled to the final moments. Tickets can be purchased in person at The Rep Ticket Office at 108 East Wells Street, or by telephone at 414-224-9490. Tickets can also be purchased online 24/7 at milwaukeerep.com.

“What do you do when you’re not sure?” Doubt is a powerful emotion that replaces trust with uncertainty and a sentiment that has great consequence when employed. John Patrick Shanley demonstrates its strength in his 2004 play, DOUBT. Shanley takes us back to the Bronx in 1964. A Catholic school, St. Nicholas, employs three people unlike each other in many ways. Sister Aloysius is the stern principal who still sticks to her pre-Vatican II Catholic ways of discipline and order. Sister James is a younger teacher at the school who has a gentler approach with her students, and strives to love and accept them to create a friendly learning environment. She gives everyone the benefit of the doubt. Sister Aloysius lectures the young and eager-to-please Sister James, unwavering in her belief in how the school should be run. She tells Sister James that no student is to be blindly trusted. Sister James is taken off-guard, but accepts Sister Aloysius’s insistence that the role of a teacher is to be a gatekeeper, not a companion to the children.

Father Flynn is an eloquent priest who is widely admired and respected in the community. He has a different approach in his relationships with his students by placing extra emphasis on the boys who are just becoming young men. On the second meeting between Sister James and Sister Aloysius, Sister James, the younger sister, unwittingly lets it be known that Donald Muller, the school’s first black student, smelled of alcohol after returning from a visit with Father Flynn. Sister Aloysius subsequently confronts Father Flynn of the situation, who whole-heartedly denies her accusation of an inappropriate relationship with the boy, providing a plausible alibi for the questionable situation. Sister James is relieved to hear his explanation, but Father Flynn’s trust is not so easily gained by Sister Aloysius, who is adamant about his guilt.

Sister Aloysius confronts Father Flynn once again, after a meeting with Mrs. Muller, Donald’s mother, and demands a confession and resignation from the good Father Flynn, blackmailing him with her supposed evidence from his past record. After their meeting, it is learned that Father Flynn transferred to another parish where he received a promotion. Satisfied in her work, Sister Aloysius finds validation in Father Flynn’s willingness to transfer in light of her non-existent evidence, but confirming her suspicions.

DOUBT explores the moral conflicts of each character to the very end. Shanley illustrates that Doubt necessitates courage from any person of faith. He reveals that not everything is as black and white as a nun’s habit, or a priest’s vestment.

Playwright John Patrick Shanley, born in 1950 in the Bronx, was no stranger to a traditional Catholic upbringing. He attended numerous Catholic schools and was subsequently expelled from many of them. After his expulsion from Cardinal Spellman High School, a priest confident in Shanley’s intellectual ability arranged for him to attend Thomas More High School, yet another private school. Managing to graduate from Thomas More, Shanley continued his education at N.Y.U. to study educational theater. His first play, DANNY AND THE DEEP BLUE SEA, brought him the first signs of recognition in 1984. Shanley’s fame in Hollywood started in 1987 with his screenplay Moonstruck, the winner of three Oscars, including one for Best Original Screenplay.

Shanley continued to write numerous successful plays and screenplays throughout his career and made sure he was the sole creator; he did not allow for alterations to be made on his scripts. Shanley gained the most praise for DOUBT in 2004, the winner of the Pulitzer Prize for Drama, Drama Desk Award and four Tony Awards including Best Play, Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a Play, Best Performance by a Featured Actress in a Play, and Best Direction of a Play. In the same year, Shanley was inducted into the Bronx Hall of Fame. Including Moonstruck, Shanley has had four screenplays produced: Five Corners, The Waltz of the Tulips, The January Man and Joe Versus the Volcano. Five Corners won the Special Jury Prize for its screenplay at the Barcelona Theatre Festival. He also did the film adaptations of both Alive and Congo. His most recent movie, Live From Baghdad for HBO, received an Emmy nomination. Plays include SAVAGE IN LIMBO,THE DREAMER EXAMINES HIS PILLOW, ITALIAN AMERICAN RECONCILIATION, FOUR DOGS AND A BONE, BEGGARS IN THE HOUSE OF PLENTY, PSYCHOPATHIA SEXUALIS, CELLINI, WHERE’S MY MONEY?, DIRTY STORY and DEFIANCE.

In the preface to the published version of DOUBT, playwright John Patrick Shanley says “There is an uneasy time when belief has begun to slip, but hypocrisy has yet to take hold, when the consciousness is disturbed but not yet altered. It is the most dangerous, important, and ongoing experience of life. The beginning of change is the moment of Doubt. It is that crucial moment when I renew my humanity or become a lie.”

J.R. Sullivan, a gifted director, has worked with numerous prestigious theaters throughout the country including: Northlight Theatre, Steppenwolf Theatre Company, American Players Theatre, The Studio Theatre in Washington D.C. and The Pearl Theatre in New York City. Sullivan has been working with the Utah Shakespearean Festival as the Associate Artistic Director since 2002. Additionally, Sullivan is credited with the founding of the New American Theater in Rockford, Illinois where he served as the producing director until 1994. He has directed many productions for The Rep. Credits include BORN YESTERDAY, YOU CAN’T TAKE IT WITH YOU, THE FOREIGNER, BARRYMORE, PROOF, WIT, OF MICE AND MEN, DRACULA, THE LAST NIGHT OF BALLYHOO, INSPECTING CAROL, ALL IN THE TIMING and THE PUPPETMASTER OF LODZ. Sullivan is currently a member of the Society of Stage Directors and Choreographers and the Actors’ Equity Association.

Included in the cast for DOUBT are Resident Acting Company Members: Laura Gordon (Sister Aloysius) and Brian Vaughn (Father Flynn).

In addition, joining the cast are Guest Actors: Nora Cole (Mrs. Muller) and Marybeth Gorman (Sister James).

Members of The Rep’s 2007/08 Artistic Intern Company who will appear in the ensemble for this production are: Jonathon Dickson (Ensemble); Carly Germany (Ensemble); Jonathan Hicks (Ensemble); Aaron Jewell (Ensemble); and Savannah Selheimer (Ensemble).

(To learn more about our Resident Acting Company, Guest Actors or our Intern Company, please visit milwaukeerep.com).

The Production/Design team for DOUBT includes Bill Clarke (Scenic Designer); Bill Black (Costume Designer); Joseph Appelt (Lighting Designer); Lindsay Jones (Sound Designer); Kristin Crouch (Literary Director); Mark S. Sahba (Stage Manager); Becky Merold (Assistant Stage Manager); Leslie Woodruff (Assistant Director) and Ian Frank (Assistant Director).

Tickets to DOUBT range in price from $9.00 – $56.00. Students and senior citizens may purchase half-price RUSH TICKETS with proper identification 60 minutes before curtain time for all Quadracci Powerhouse performances at The Rep Ticket Office. For more information or to charge tickets, call 414-224-9490. Tickets can be purchased online 24/7 at milwaukeerep.com. For group sales of 20 or more, call The Rep Ticket Office at 414-224-9490.

Special Events for Doubt

• Join us for The Rep in Depth, which begins 45 minutes before curtain time before every performance in the Quadracci Powerhouse Theater. This Rep in Depth will be led by Actress Marybeth Gorman.

• On Thursday, October 18 and Tuesday, November 13 at 7:30 pm there will be an Audio-Described Performance for patrons who are blind or have low vision.

• A performance interpreted in American Sign Language is scheduled for Thursday, November 15 at 7:30 p.m.

• Captioned Theater will take place on Sunday, November 18 at 2:00 p.m. Lines from the script running concurrently with the actors’ lines will be projected on the house left wall of the theater. This is a perfect way for patrons who are deaf or hard of hearing to enjoy the performance.

•The Family Sunday Matinee will take place Sunday, November 11 at 2:00 p.m. You and your children can have a great time at The Rep while you enjoy the play and your 5 to 12-year-old children can participate in fun educational theater activities at no additional cost! For more information or to make reservations call 414-224-9490.

•The Rep Talkbacks will be held after the Friday evening performances on October 26, November 2, November 9 and November 16. The Rep Talkbacks are offered immediately after select performances and offer an opportunity for audience members to ask questions about the play to Rep company members and actors in the production. For more information on The Rep Talkbacks, please contact the Ticket Office at 414-224-9490.

• A Theater Thursday event will be held on Thursday, October 25 beginning at 5:45 p.m. Theater Thursdays are held on the second Thursday of each Quadracci Powerhouse performance and include a pre-show reception with complimentary appetizers from a downtown restaurant. This is a subscription-only event, but a limited number of additional guests can attend, based on availability. Cost for the event is $5.00 per person at the door. (Patrons must purchase theater tickets separately.) For more information on Theater Thursdays, please contact Christina DeCheck at cdechecki@milwaukeerep.com at 414-290-5360 or Cindy Moran at cmoran@milwaukeerep.com at 414-290-5362. The Capital Grille will provide appetizers for the Thursday, October 25 Theater Thursday event.
Milwaukee Repertory Theater

DOUBT
A Parable
 
By John Patrick Shanley

Directed by J.R. Sullivan

FACT SHEET

THEATER: Quadracci Powerhouse Theater

DATES: October 19, 2007 – November 18, 2007

DESCRIPTION: Winner of the 2005 Pulitzer Prize for Drama and four Tony Awards, including Best Play. A strong-minded nun in a Bronx Catholic school suspects a charismatic priest of having an inappropriate relationship with a student. A cleverly written, riveting story with twists that will keep you enthralled to the final moments.

PERFORMANCE:
Wednesday, 10/17/07 - 7:30 p.m. - Preview
Thursday, 10/18/07 - 7:30 p.m. – Preview/Audio Description
Friday, 10/19/07 - 8:00 p.m. - Opening            
Saturday, 10/20/07 - 4:00/8:00 p.m.                       
Sunday, 10/21/07 - 2:00/7:00 p.m. - 7:00/Super Sunday

Tuesday, 10/23/07 - 7:30 p.m. - Pay-What-You-Can
Wednesday, 10/24/07 - 1:30/7:30 p.m. - 1:30/Bus Matinee           
Thursday, 10/25/07 - 7:30 p.m. - Theater Thursdays           
Friday, 10/26/07 - 8:00 p.m. - Talkback
Saturday, 10/27/07 - 4:00/8:00 p.m.
Sunday, 10/28/07 - 7:00 p.m.                       

Tuesday, 10/30/07 - 7:30 p.m.                       
Wednesday, 10/31/07 - 7:30 p.m.                                               
Thursday, 11/1/07 - 7:30 p.m.                       
Friday, 11/2/07 - 8:00 p.m. - Talkback
Saturday, 11/3/07 - 4:00/8:00 p.m.
Sunday, 11/4/07 - 2:00/7:00 p.m.                                               

Tuesday, 11/6/07 - 6:30 p.m. - Early Bird                       
Wednesday, 11/7/07 - 7:30 p.m.                       
Thursday, 11/8/07 - 7:30 p.m.                       
Friday, 11/9/07 - 8:00 p.m. - Talkback
Saturday, 11/10/07 - 4:00/8:00 p.m.
Sunday, 11/11/07 - 2:00/7:00 p.m. - 2:00/Smoke-Free/Family Sunday

Tuesday, 11/13/07 - 7:30 p.m. - Audio Description                       
Wednesday, 11/14/07 - 1:30/7:30 p.m.           
Thursday, 11/15/07 - 7:30 p.m. - American Sign Language
Friday, 11/16/07 - 8:00 p.m. - Talkback
Saturday, 11/17/07 - 4:00/8:00 p.m.
Sunday, 11/18/07 - 2:00 p.m. - Captioned Theater/Close

TICKET PRICES:
PREVIEWS: $9.00 – $39.00
WEEKDAY/SUNDAY: $12.00 – $44.00
FRIDAY/SATURDAY: $15.00 – $56.00


TICKETS/INFORMATION: 414-224-9490 or buy tickets online at milwaukeerep.com

TICKET OFFICE LOCATION: 108 East Wells Street in Milwaukee’s Downtown Theater District

TICKET OFFICE HOURS: Mon – Fri, 12 pm - 6 pm on phones, 12 pm – curtain for window
Sat/Sun 12 pm – 6 pm on phones, 12 pm – curtain for window

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Open to the public before and after all evening performances, Milwaukee Repertory Theater’s Stackner Cabaret, located on the second floor of the Milwaukee Center, is our own full-service, smoke-free bar and restaurant. Featuring delicious dinners, as well as late night cocktails, coffee, and desserts, the Cabaret is the ideal meeting place for patrons attending Rep performances. For dinner reservations, call 414-224-9490.

Milwaukee Repertory Theater is a nationally recognized theater company that presents a critically-acclaimed selection of compelling dramas, powerful classics, award-winning contemporary works and lively Cabaret shows on three stages from September through May. The Rep also produces an annual production of A CHRISTMAS CAROL. The Rep's home, the Patty and Jay Baker Theater Complex, accommodates the Quadracci Powerhouse Theater, the Stiemke Theater and the Stackner Cabaret. The Rep is also home to a Resident Acting Company of 13 actors who perform with The Rep throughout the season.

The Rep is proud to be a member of the United Performing Arts Fund (UPAF), which provides major annual financial support. The Rep is a member of the League of Resident Theatres (LORT), a management association of some of the nation's largest non-profit professional theaters that collectively bargains with the unions that represent the actors, directors and designers that work at The Rep; a constituent of Theatre Communications Group (TCG), the national organization for the nonprofit professional theater; and a member of Theatre Wisconsin, the statewide association of non-profit professional theaters. This theater operates under an agreement between the League of Resident Theatres and Actors' Equity Association, the union of professional actors and stage managers in the United States. The set, costume and lighting designers are members of United Scenic Artists, a national labor union. This theater is an equal opportunity employer. Except in plays where race itself is an issue, casting is decided based on ability, not race.

Milwaukee Repertory Theater, 108 E Wells St Milwaukee, WI 53202
Ticket Office: 414-224-9490 Ticket Office Fax: 225-5490
Administrative: 414-224-1761 Fax: 414-224-9097

http://www.milwaukeerep.com