FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Cindy Moran, Public Relations Director, 414-224-1761 October 14, 2009 MIDWEST REGIONAL PREMIERE OF RECENT LONDON HIT By Lucinda Coxon Directed by Jon Jory
Quadracci Powerhouse Theater Come join us in the Quadracci Powerhouse Theater for a darkly comic tale of
modern marriage and parenting, as we explore contemporary, new writing by Lucinda
Coxon. HAPPY NOW? is a lively, sharp and entertaining play, where having it
all can sometimes be too much and seething, discontented professionals wonder
where true happiness lies. (Please note: contains adult language and themes.) As HAPPY NOW? progresses, seemingly stress-relieving activities such as drinks with friends and time with the family only cause Kitty greater unhappiness, pushing her towards some unpleasant revelations. But she isn’t the only one struggling. The whole cast of characters struggle to survive the trappings of their lives: Miles and Bea’s marriage is ending while Miles battles the grip of alcoholism and Bea yearns for a sense of self-worth; Johnny can’t balance his devotion to his family and his dedication to the education of young minds; Kitty’s mother, June, is so entrenched in her hate for her dying ex-husband that she won’t even answer her phone and Carl, the only content member of Kitty’s circle, might just be living a lie. But as Literary Director Kristin Crouch points out: “Coxon’s play is witty, intelligent, fiercely entertaining and focuses on the lives of contemporary professionals who have everything and all the reasons to be contented. Coxon gives us a sneak peek at the build-up of daily psychic stresses that can push a reasonably well-adjusted adult to the breaking point.” The questions that HAPPY NOW? raises are ones modern Americans can all relate to: is Kitty hopelessly stuck in a comfortable but frantic, anxiety-prone existence or will she ever be reconciled to the reality of her life? Come see this darkly comic tale to find out. Playwright Lucinda Coxon attended Oxford University until 1984 when she began her writing career. Her work debuted in London at the Soho Theatre in 1989 when she featured a one-act play in the collection IMPROBABILITIES. London’s Bush Theatre produced Coxon’s WAITING AT THE WATERS’ EDGE in 1993, as well as WISHBONES in 1997. Coxon wrote adaptations for the National Theatre in London, including THE SHOEMAKER’S INCREDIBLE WIFE by Federico García Lorca, which ran in 2006 at the Olivier Theatre and the translation/adaptation of THE ICE PALACE from the novel by Tarjei Vesaas. The Pleasance Theatre in Edinburgh, Scotland also produced I AM ANGELA BRAZIL BY ANGELA BRAZIL, a woman’s monologue, in 2002. In the mid 1990s, Coxon relocated from London to California. Her plays NOSTALGIA and VESUVIUS, though written while she lived in London, were staged at the South Coast Rep in 2001 and 2005, respectively. Coxon’s screenplay credits include Lily and the Secret Planting, White Lilacs and The Heart of Me, the latter hitting the United States in 2003. Her recent successes have stemmed from screenwriting and her critically acclaimed play HAPPY NOW?, first produced at the Cottesloe Theatre of the Royal National Theatre in London, 2008. HAPPY NOW? has proven to be Coxon’s greatest success, produced at the Yale Repertory Theatre in 2008 and scheduled for New York in 2010. It garnered her the Writer’s Guild of Great Britain’s Best Play award in 2008, and the Susan Smith Blackburn Special Commendation Award earlier this year. Coxon’s upcoming schedule includes the release of the film Wild Target (starring Bill Nighy and Emily Blunt), for which she wrote the screenplay. Also, her screenplay of David Ebershoff’s controversial novel The Danish Girl has received project confirmation and has attracted the interest of actresses Nicole Kidman and Charlize Theron. Additionally, her 30-minute play THE ETERNAL NOT, a companion piece to Shakespeare’s ALL’S WELL THAT ENDS WELL, was staged at London’s National Theatre this past June. Director Jon Jory has directed over 140 plays and produced over 1300 in nine different countries, and has published plays as well. He has enjoyed a successful career spanning 40 years. In 1969, after attending the Yale School of Drama, he joined the Actors Theatre of Louisville as producing director. In the fall of 2000, after a long and successful run, Jory left Louisville to join the faculty at the University of Washington school of Drama, teaching acting and directing. As a director, Jory has worked with such companies as San Francisco’s American Conservatory Theatre, Washington’s Arena Stage and the McCarter at Princeton. In 1964 Jory and Harlan Kleiman, a fellow Yale student, founded The Long Wharf Theatre in New Haven, Connecticut, which has since won The Jujamcyn Theaters Award in 1986 and a Tony Award in 1987. In 1976, Jory launched The Festival of New American Plays, now known as The Humana Festival. This festival is widely considered as a spring-board for fresh talent and can even boast the largest initial productions of Pulitzer Prize winners THE GIN GAME, CRIMES OF THE HEART and DINNER WITH FRIENDS. As a writer, Jory has published Tips I & II, Ideas for Actors, as well as Tips: Ideas for Directors. His plays BLONDES, EXAMS, IN THE PARK, and CAMPING have all been performed at the Victor Jory Theatre in Louisville. He has published the plays QUADRANGLE and TRICKS, as well as an adaptation of PRIDE AND PREJUDICE. The cast of HAPPY NOW? includes Resident Acting Company Members: Lee E. Ernst (Michael); Torrey Hanson (Carl); Gerard Neugent (Johnny); Rose Pickering (June); Deborah Staples (Kitty) and Brian Vaughn (Miles). Guest actor Julie Briskman (Bea) also appears in this production. The Ensemble for HAPPY NOW? Includes interns: Michael Cotey; Amy Malcolm; Cathlyn Melvin and Aaron Verbrigghe. (To learn more about our Resident Acting Company, Guest Actors or our Intern
Company, please visit www.milwaukeerep.com.) (HAPPY NOW? production photos will be posted at www.milwaukeerep.com/about/photos.htm.) Under 40 Discount For patrons under the age of 40, select Quadracci Powerhouse Theater are $15. Proper identification required. Go to therep-entourage.com to order tickets. (Under 40 tickets are based on availability.)
• On Thursday, October 22 at 7:30 and Tuesday, October 27 at 6:30 p.m. there will be an Audio-Described Performance for patrons who are blind or have low vision. • On Thursday, November 12 at 7:30 p.m. there
will be an American Sign Language Interpreted Performance for patrons who are
deaf or have low hearing. • On Thursday, October
29, at 5:30 p.m. join us for this season's first Entourage
Event!
The event begins at Byron's Beer Garden & Bistro with complimentary appetizers
and drink specials and then moves to The Rep for the 7:30 showing of HAPPY
NOW? in the Quadracci Powerhouse Theater.
Tickets are $15 and
can be purchased at www.milwaukeerep.com/entourage.
By Lucinda Coxon Directed by Jon Jory
FACT SHEET THEATER: Quadracci Powerhouse Theater DATES: October 20 – November 15, 2009 DESCRIPTION: A darkly comic tale of modern marriage and parenting, HAPPY NOW? Is a lively, sharp and entertaining play, where having it all can sometimes be too much and seething, discontented professionals wonder where true happiness lies. (Contains adult language and themes.) PERFORMANCES: Tuesday, 10/27/09 – 6:30 p.m. – Early Bird/Audio Description Wednesday, 11/4/09 – 1:30/7:30 p.m. Wednesday, 11/11/09 – 1:30/7:30 p.m. TICKET PRICES: TICKETS/INFORMATION: 414-224-9490
or buy tickets online at milwaukeerep.com TICKET OFFICE HOURS: Mon - Fri, 12
pm - 6 pm on phones, 12 pm - curtain for window
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