FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Cindy Moran, Public Relations
Director, 414-224-1761
November 26, 2007
THE HILARIOUS THREE-PLAY ROMP
THE NORMAN CONQUESTS
By Alan Ayckbourn
Directed by Joseph Hanreddy
Deborah Staples, Gerard Neugent, and Laura Gordon
Made possible in part by the generous support of:
The Lynde and Harry Bradley Foundation
Quadracci Powerhouse Theater
Previews: December 2,
5 & 7, 2007 Opens: December
4, 6 & 8 Closes: January 20, 2008
This hilarious three-play
romp makes its highly-anticipated return to The Rep this holiday
season in an all-new production! A quiet weekend in the country
turns to havoc when Norman, a charming assistant librarian, schemes
to take a holiday with his wife’s sister.
The wild antics of Norman and his oddball in-laws will have you
in hysterics, whether you view them from the dining room, the sitting
room or the garden. 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.
The bottled frustrations of an
always-confrontational family suddenly uncork unrestrained passions
in a wacky countryside reunion. In this three-play series, Annie,
the innocent-seeming caretaker of her invalid mother, reveals
that the quiet weekend getaway she has been planning was actually
intended to be a scandalous weekend rendezvous with her womanizing
librarian brother-in-law, Norman. In order to make sure her mother
would be looked after during Annie’s absence, Annie’s brother, Reg, and
his controlling wife, Sarah, arrive at the house. Annie tries
to justify her out-of-town plans to Sarah, expressing her impatience
with her slow-moving suitor, Tom. Tom, the family vet, uses the
cat as an excuse to “court” the willing Annie. Tom,
however, tends to tread a step behind, missing Annie’s
blatant hints, filling the air waves with bland conversation,
and paying more attention to the family cat rather than the eager
woman. Exhausted by their relationship’s lack of progress,
Annie has found romantic rejuvenation with sweet-talking Norman,
who has felt the lull in his marriage with his workaholic wife,
Ruth. When Sarah hears of the Norman and Annie’s scandalous
weekend, she drags the entire family into the situation, hoping
to botch any advancement between the two. The weekend plans are
spoiled, and true to form, the family members are once again
at each other’s throats. Through the constant bickering,
drunken bonding, and unsatisfying meals of lettuce leaves, cold
toast and whatever-is-in-the cabinet “stew,” Norman
harnesses subtle control. He feeds off of the women’s disappointments
and ends up wooing all three. While the women seem to recognize
the insincerity in Norman’s seduction, they can’t
help but dream of the happiness he promises to offer.
THE NORMAN CONQUESTS plot structure
is unique. According to The Rep’s Literary Director,
Kristin Crouch, “The
trilogy, a feat of technical ingenuity previously unseen in the
theater, is a cycle of plays about the events of one weekend
from three different rooms of a Victorian country house: the
dining room, the living room and the garden. Ayckbourn originally
wrote this trilogy – and, in fact, all of his plays – for
the Stephen Joseph Theatre of Scarborough, England where he remains
the official Artistic Director. He knew that audiences visiting
the seaside holiday town of Scarborough would be unlikely to
give up three nights of their vacations to go see plays, so Ayckbourn
wrote each one to stand independently as a complete work, to
be viewed in any order. Yet, all three titles, TABLE MANNERS,
LIVING TOGETHER and ROUND AND ROUND THE GARDEN, are solidly interwoven
and a viewing of the additional plays deepens and enhances an
understanding of the characters’ situations.”
Playwright Alan Ayckbourn is
recognized as a modern theatrical genius. As one of Britain’s
most prolific writers, his plays have been translated into more
than 35 languages and are continually performed world-wide. Born
in Hampstead, London in 1939, Ayckbourn became attracted to the
arts at an early age. In 1959, he wrote his first two plays,
THE SQUARE CAT and LOVE AFTER. Ayckbourn made a name for himself
as a playwright with RELATIVELY SPEAKING (1967), his first London
hit. Ayckbourn developed his style, interweaving dark themes
with comedic overtones. The prolific playwright began experimenting
with time and space in his scripts, wanting to expand the dimensions
of his work. In HOW THE OTHER HALF LOVES (1969) and ABSURD PERSON
SINGULAR (1970), the audience only sees a scene from one room,
even though additional characters are interacting in another
room out-of-view. Only bits of conversation can be heard when
the door opens, and some integral characters never even make
an appearance. Ayckbourn brings the broken staging concept to
an extreme in THE NORMAN CONQUESTS (1973), a three-play series
where the plot structure and time frame overlap, but the interactions
can only be seen from either the kitchen, the garden or the living
room. Overall, the three plays weave a masterful web of meticulous
development; and it is a brilliant achievement by Ayckbourn.
Ayckbourn has received over 25 awards, and
all 70 plays were first produced at the Library Theater in Scarbourough,
where he served as Artistic Director. The theater is now called
the Stephen Joseph Theatre. In 1997, he was knighted by Queen
Elizabeth II for his revolutionary work in British theater, and
he has expanded his audiences, now writing plays for children.
Ayckbourn suffered a stroke in February of 2006, but did not
allow it to stop his career. “Rest
assured, I’ll be back,” he promised fans, and he made
good on that promise by opening his 70th play, IF I WERE
YOU, in October of last year.
Director Joseph Hanreddy has
been Milwaukee Rep’s
Artistic Director since 1993. During his tenure, he has initiated
innovative collaborations with leading international theater companies,
recruited some of the world’s most acclaimed directors to
create unique, forward thinking productions, premiered several
new works and adaptations of literature by leading American dramatists
and established one of the country’s finest acting ensembles.
Productions Joe has directed include: TARTUFFE, KING LEAR, SHERLOCK
HOLMES: THE FINAL ADVENTURE, SUEÑO, TWELFTH NIGHT, LOVE’S
LABOUR’S LOST, MARY STUART, THE SEAGULL, THE PLAYBOY OF THE
WESTERN WORLD, THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING EARNEST, AN IDEAL HUSBAND,
ENGAGED, ARCADIA, DANCING AT LUGHNASA, ANNA KARENINA, THE MILL
ON THE FLOSS, SILENCE, PARAGON SPRINGS, FORCE OF NATURE and ESCAPE
FROM HAPPINESS. He has written and directed stage adaptations of
Pirandello’s YES. NO. (MAYBE SO . . .), SIX CHARACTERS IN
SEARCH OF AN AUTHOR, George M. Cohan’s THE TAVERN and, with
Ed Morgan, A CHRISTMAS CAROL. As an actor he has appeared in The
Rep productions OF MICE AND MEN, A SKULL IN CONNEMARA and Edward
Albee’s THE GOAT OR, WHO IS SYLVIA? Later this season he
will also direct The Rep’s world premiere production of ARMADALE.
Included in the cast for THE NORMAN CONQUESTS are Resident Acting
Company Members: Lee E. Ernst (Tom); Laura
Gordon (Sarah); Torrey Hanson (Reg); Gerard
Neugent (Norman) and Deborah Staples (Ruth).
In addition, Finnerty Steeves (Annie)
will be joining the cast as a guest actor. This will be Ms. Steeves’ debut
with Milwaukee Repertory Theater.
The Production/Design team for THE NORMAN
CONQUESTS includes: Linda
Buchanan (Scenic Designer);
Alex Tecoma (Costume Designer); Thomas
C. Hase (Lighting Designer); Michael Keck (Sound
Designer);
Jayne Pink (Dialect Coach); Kristin
Crouch (Literary Director); Whitney Frazier (Stage
Manager);
Becky Merold (Assistant Stage Manager) and Ian
Frank (Assistant Director).
Tickets to THE NORMAN CONQUESTS 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 NORMAN CONQUESTS OFFER: Subscribers will
receive a 33% discount on tickets purchased to the second play
in the trilogy and 66% discount on tickets purchased to the third
play in the trilogy. Single Ticket Buyers will receive a 25% discount
on tickets purchased to the second play in the trilogy and a 50%
discount on tickets purchased to the third play in the trilogy.
Special Events for THE NORMAN CONQUESTS
• 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 Rep Resident Acting Company
Member Lee E. Ernst.
• On Thursday, December 6 (LIVING TOGETHER) at
7:30 p.m.; Sunday, January 6 (ROUND AND ROUND THE GARDEN) at 2:00
p.m. and Tuesday, January 8 (LIVING TOGETHER) at 7:30
p.m., 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, January 3 (ROUND AND ROUND
THE GARDEN) at 7:30 p.m.
• Captioned Theater will take place on Sunday,
January 6 (ROUND AND ROUND THE GARDEN) at 2:00 p.m. as
well as on Wednesday, January 16 (TABLE MANNERS) and
Thursday, January 17 (LIVING TOGETHER), both
at 7:30 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,
December 30 (ROUND AND ROUND THE GARDEN) 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 on Wednesday,
December 12 (LIVING TOGETHER) at 1:30 p.m.; Thursday, December
20 (ROUND AND ROUND THE GARDEN) at 7:30 p.m.; Sunday, December
30 (TABLE MANNERS) at 7:00 p.m.; Sunday, January 6 (ROUND
AND ROUND THE GARDEN) at 2:00 p.m.; Sunday, January 13 (ROUND
AND ROUND THE GARDEN) at 2:00 p.m. and Wednesday,
January 16 (TABLE MANNERS) at 7:30 p.m. 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,
December 13 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. Café Vecchio
Bar & Grille will provide complimentary appetizers for the Thursday, December
13 Theater Thursday event.
Milwaukee Repertory Theater
THE NORMAN CONQUESTS
By Alan Ayckbourn
Directed by Joseph Hanreddy
Fact Sheet
THEATER: Quadracci
Powerhouse Theater
DATES: December
2, 2007 – January 20, 2008
DESCRIPTION: This
hilarious three-play romp makes it highly-anticipated return to
The Rep this holiday season in an all-new production! A quiet weekend
in the country turns to havoc when Norman, a charming assistant
librarian, schemes to take a holiday his wife’s sister. The
wild antics of Norman and his oddball in-laws have you in hysterics,
whether you view them from the dining room, the sitting room or
the garden.
PERFORMANCES:
Sunday 12/2/07 - 7:00
p.m. - TM* - Preview
Tuesday 12/4/07 - 7:30
p.m. - TM - Open/Pay-What-You-Can
Wednesday 12/5/07 - 7:30
p.m. - LT - Preview
Thursday 12/6/07 - 7:30
p.m. - LT - Open/Audio-Description
Friday 12/7/07 - 8:00
p.m. - RG - Preview
Saturday 12/8/07 - 4:00/
8:00 p.m. - RG/RG - 4:00 – Open
Sunday 12/9/07 - 2:00/7:00
p.m. - TM/LT
Tuesday 12/11/07 - 6:30
p.m. - TM - Early
Bird
Wednesday 12/12/07 - 1:30/7:30
p.m. - LT/RG - 1:30
- Bus Matinee/Talkback
Thursday 12/13/07 - 7:30
p.m. - TM - Theater
Thursday
Friday 12/14/07 - 8:00
p.m. - LT
Saturday 12/15/07 - 4:00/8:00
p.m. - TM/LT
Sunday 12/16/07 - 7:00
p.m. - RG
Tuesday 12/18/07 - 7:30
p.m. - TM
Wednesday 12/19/07 - 7:30
p.m. - LT
Thursday 12/20/07 - 7:30
p.m. - RG -Talkback
Friday 12/21/07 - 8:00
p.m. - TM
Saturday 12/22/07 - 4:00/8:00
p.m. - RG/LT
Sunday 12/23/07 - 2:00/7:00p.m. - LT/TM
Wednesday 12/26/07 - 7:30
p.m. - TM
Thursday 12/27/07 - 7:30
p.m. - LT
Friday 12/28/07 - 8:00
p.m. - RG
Saturday 12/29/07 - 4:00/8:00
p.m. - LT/TM
Sunday 12/30/07 - 2:00/7:00
p.m. - RG/TM - 2:00
- Family Sunday/Smoke-Free/7:00 - Talkback
Monday 12/31/07 - 7:00
p.m. - TM
Wednesday 1/2/08 - 1:30/7:30
p.m. - TM/LT
Thursday 1/3/08 - 7:30
p.m. - RG - American
Sign Language
Friday 1/4/08 - 8:00
p.m. - LT
Saturday 1/5/08 - 4:00/8:00
p.m. - TM/LT
Sunday 1/6/08 - 2:00/7:00
p.m. - RG/RG - 2:00 – Audio
Description/Captioned Theater/Talkback
Tuesday 1/8/08 - 7:30
p.m. - LT - Audio-Description
Wednesday 1/9/08 - 7:30
p.m. - TM
Thursday 1/10/08 - 7:30
p.m. - RG
Friday 1/11/08 - 8:00
p.m. - TM
Saturday 1/12/08 - 4:00/8:00
p.m. - RG
Sunday 1/13/08 - 2:00/7:00
p.m. - RG/LT -2:00
- Talkback
Tuesday 1/15/08 - 7:30
p.m. - RG
Wednesday 1/16/08 - 7:30
p.m. - TM - Captioned
Theater/Talkback
Thursday 1/17/08 - 7:30
p.m. - LT - Captioned
Theater
Friday 1/18/07 - 8:00
p.m. - RG
Saturday - 1/19/08 - 4:00/8:00
p.m. - TM/LT
Sunday - 1/20/08 - 2:00/7:00
p.m. - RG/RG - Close
*Show codes: TM=
TABLE MANNERS
RG=
ROUND AND ROUND THE GARDEN
LT=
LIVING TOGETHER
TICKET PRICES:
PREVIEWS: $9.00 - $39.00
WEEKDAY/SUNDAY: $12.00 - $44.00
FRIDAY/SATURDAY: $15.00 - $56.00
MULTIPLE SHOW DISCOUNTS AVAILABLE:
Subscribers will receive a 33% discount on tickets purchased to
the second play in the trilogy and 66% discount on tickets purchased
to the third play in the trilogy. Single Ticket Buyers will receive
a 25% discount on tickets purchased to the second play in the trilogy
and a 50% discount on tickets purchased to the third play in the
trilogy.
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
###
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 |
