BECOMING DR. RUTH with Debra Jo Rupp Opens Off-Broadway Tonight

The New York premiere of Becoming Dr. Ruth, a warmhearted, candid and inspiring comedy starring Debra Jo Rupp, ("That 70's Show") written by Mark St. Germain and directed by Julianne Boyd opens off-Broadway tonight, October 29, 2013.

Following the world premiere at Barrington Stage Company and a sold out run at TheaterWorks, Hartford, the play began previews October 11 at The Westside Theatre, Upstairs (407 West 43rd Street, New York, NY 10036).

This is a limited engagement production through January 12th, 2014.

A special talkback series with Dr. Ruth K. Westheimer will begin Wednesday, October 30, following select Wednesday evening performances. These special talkbacks will take place October 30, November 6, 13, 20 and December 18, and are complimentary to ticketholders for these performances. After the regularly scheduled 7:00 p.m. performances on these five evenings, audience members will be invited to stay in their seats to hear Dr. Ruth K. Westheimer discuss the play, and will also be invited to ask their own questions.

Everyone knows Dr. Ruth K. Westheimer from her career as a pioneering radio and television sex therapist. Few, however, know the incredible journey that preceded it. From fleeing the Nazis in the Kindertransport and joining the Haganah in Jerusalem as a scout and sniper, to her struggles to succeed as a single mother coming to America, Becoming Dr. Ruth is filled with the humor, honesty and life-affirming spirit of Karola Ruth Siegel, the girl who became "Dr. Ruth", America's most famous sex therapist.

The design team includes Brian Prather (Sets), Jen Moeller (Costumes), Scott Pinkney (Lights), and Jessica Paz (Sound).

Debra Jo Rupp has appeared on Broadway with Kathleen Turner and Charles Durning in Cat on a Hot Tin Roof. She starred Off-Broadway in Cynthia Heimel's A Girl's Guide to Chaos (American Place), Frankie and Johnny in The Clair de Lune (Westside Arts) and The Butcher of Baraboo (Second Stage). Debra Jo has made numerous television and film appearances and is probably best known for her role as Kitty Forman on the hit series That 70's Show.

Mark St. Germain is the acclaimed playwright of The Best of Enemies and Freud's Last Session.

Julianne Boyd founded and is the Artistic Director of the Barrington Stage Company. She previously directed Becoming Dr. Ruth under the title of Dr. Ruth, All the Way at Barrington Stage in 2012.

Tickets are available by calling 212-239-6200, TeleCharge online and at The Westside Theatre box office (407 West 43rd Street, New York, NY 10036). Tickets are $79.00. Box office hours are 12PM-6PM, Tuesday - Sunday. For information on group tickets please contact:

Group Sales Box Office /Broadway.com/Groups, 1-800 BROADWAY x2, www.Broadway.com.

Photo by Carol Rosegg

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