RUPERT to Play Eisenhower Theater, 12-15 March

Excitement is growing as the cast of Melbourne Theatre Company's Rupert have one sleep ahead of them before the play's US premiere at The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts World Stages: International Theater Festival on Wednesday night (US time).

Rupert will stride onto the stage at the Kennedy Center in the Eisenhower Theater for four performances from Wednesday 12 - Saturday 15 March.

MTC Artistic Director Brett Sheehy AO, Executive Director Virginia Lovett, Playwright David Williamson and the cast, together with tour sponsors and donors and Embassy guests spent Tuesday night at an up-beat welcome function at the Washington residence of the Australian Ambassador to the United States of America, The Hon Kim Beazley AC. The Ambassador said he was thrilled MTC was finally presenting at the Kennedy Center and presenting a new Australian work by one of Australia's great playwrights. He spoke of how important it was for leading companies to present contemporary Australian work globally.

MTC Artistic Director Brett Sheehy said, "We are all very proud to be bringing this Australian story to Washington and the world. Already the buzz around DC is palpable, with people being especially excited that such a contemporary narrative about such an astonishing figure in the international landscape is being told."

Tomorrow night's US curtain up will catapult the cast into the spotlight in front of a capacity crowd after just one four-hour technical dress rehearsal. The show will be followed by a reception at the Australian Embassy.

Lee Lewis directs Rupert, with Guy Edmonds and Sean O'Shea playing the younger and older versions of Rupert Murdoch. Marg Downey, Daniela Farinacci, Simon Gleeson, Bert LaBonté, HaiHa Le and Scott Sheridan play the host of powerful characters, including Margaret Thatcher, David Frost, Gough Whitlam, Bob Hawke, Paul Keating, Tony Blair, Wendi Deng, Rebecca Brookes, Barry Diller and Roger Ailes.

This is MTC's first international tour in thirty years and it is the only Australian theatre company in the Festival. Rupert's world premiere season last August was a sell-out success, seen by over 30,000 people.