OUR LADY OF SOUTH DIVISION STREET Opens Penguin Rep's 2009 Season 5/15

Penguin Rep Theatre, under the leadership of artistic director Joe Brancato and executive director Andrew M. Horn, open its 2009 season with Our Lady of South Division Street, a new comedy by Tom Dudzick, directed by Mr. Brancato, from May 15 through June 7 in Stony Point, New York.
Our Lady of South Division Street is the story of Clara Nowak, her daughters Beverly and Ruth, and son Jimmy. Clara always thought she was special, ever since the Blessed Virgin Mary materialized in her father's barber shop in Buffalo! But Clara and her children's faith is shaken to the very core as an old family legend and a deathbed confession are revealed with heartfelt and hilarious results.

In this world premiere, Tom Dudzick, author of the comedies Over the Tavern, which has broken box office records nationwide, and Greetings!, which starred Darren McGavin Off Broadway, finds hope and humor in family relationships. Mr. Dudzick is a resident of Nyack, New York.

The Cast of Our Lady of South Division includes Peggy Cosgrave, Andrea Maulella, Rusty Ross, and Liz Zazzi.

Ms. Cosgrave (Clara) appeared on Broadway in The Nerd, Born Yesterday, The Shadow Box and Suddenly Last Summer. Ms. Maulella (Ruth), who starred last season in Tryst at the Westport Playhouse, returns to Penguin Rep where she previously performed in The Vows of Penelope Corelli and Centennial Casting. Mr. Ross (Jimmy) was in the original cast of Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas on Broadway. Ms. Zazzi (Beverly) starred at Penguin Rep in Ten Percent of Molly Snyder and Tour de Farce.

Joe Brancato, Penguin's artistic director and founder, staged Tryst, From Door to Door, One Shot, One Kill and Cobb Off Broadway, and, in addition to directing more than 100 plays at Penguin, has also directed at Hartford Stage, Westport Playhouse, Seattle Rep, George Street Playhouse, Williamstown Theatre Festival, Houston's Alley Theatre, Florida Stage, Naked Angels and the Cape Playhouse.
The creative team of Our Lady of South Division Street is also comprised of Joseph J. Egan (set and properties), Gail Cooper-Hecht (costumes), Graham T. Posner (lighting), Chris Rummel (sound), and C. Renee Alexander (stage manager).

Our Lady of South Division Street will run from May 15 through June 7, 2009 at Penguin Rep's intimate, 108-seat theatre located at 7 Crickettown Road in Stony Point (Rockland County). (Directions avoiding Route 9W's closed James Farley Bridge are accessible at www.penguinrep.org or by calling 845.786-2873).
Curtain times are Thursdays and Fridays at 8 p.m., Saturdays at 4 p.m. and 8 p.m., and Sundays at 2 p.m.

Tickets are $32 with special discounts available for people 30 and younger and groups as small as ten. An early ordering discount ($27) is also available for those who purchase their tickets by May 15.

A special reduced-priced weekday matinee performance is scheduled Friday, May 15 at 2 p.m., with tickets only $16.

Penguin Rep's 2009 season also includes The Wonder Bread Years, a humorous salute to Baby Boomer culture from former Seinfeld writer Pat Hazell, which speaks to the kid in us all; Carter W. Lewis's outrageous comedy Women Who Steal about a pair of restless middle-aged women on a riotous joy ride; and closing the season will be the world premiere of award-winning writer/performer Daniel Beaty's new musical play Breath and Imagination about Roland Hayes, the first world-renowned African-American vocalist.
Subscriptions start as low as $86 for the four plays. Subscribers receive priority seating, reduced price tickets for guests, priority ticketing for special events, and discounts at local restaurants and stores, among other benefits.
Subscriptions and individual tickets are available online at www.penguinrep.org, by phone at 845-786-2873, by fax at 845-786-3638, or by mail at P.O. Box 91, Stony Point, New York 10980-0091.
AUDIENCE ENHANCEMENT EVENTS

Audience members are invited to enrich their theatre-going experience without any additional charge by participating in any of Penguin Rep Theatre's special events during the run of Our Lady of South Division Street.

Opening Reception: Join the cast and creative team after the 2 p.m. matinee performance on Sunday, May 17 for cake and coffee.

Post-Show Discussion: Learn more about the play and production and share your thoughts with fellow audience members in a discussion with the cast, director and playwright following the performance on Friday, May 22.

Pre-Show Tasting: Enjoy a tasting from a local chef or restaurant (TBA) before the 4 p.m. matinee performance on Saturday, May 23.

Penguin Rep Theatre, Rockland County's first year-round, non-profit professional theatre, was founded in 1977 in a century-old hay barn converted to a theatre, by Rockland residents Joe Brancato, Artistic Director, and Fran Newman-McCarthy, Treasurer of the Board of Trustees. Described by The New York Times as "the gutsiest little theatre" and by The Journal News as a theatre that "continues to astonish," Penguin Rep celebrated its 30th anniversary in 2007 when it spruced up its theatre, which now features heating, air conditioning, wheelchair accessible rest rooms and seating, new upholstered theatre seats, and plenty of free parking.