Coffey, Innvar, Malcom, Petkoff, Russell, Steeves to Lead Barrington's ABSURD 8/12-29

Barrington Stage Company, under the leadership of Julianne Boyd Artistic Director and Richard M. Parison, Jr. Producing Director, continues the 2010 Mainstage season with Alan Ayckbourn's social-climbing comedy Absurd Person Singular, with performances beginning August 12 and running through August 29. Opening Night is August 15 at 5:00pm.

A musical chairs comedy of social mobility, Absurd Person Singular centers on three British couples, three kitchens, on three successive Christmas Eves. Director Jesse Berger (NY's Red Bull Theater Company Artistic Director) returns to BSC, having directed last summer's hit production of Sleuth.

The cast features Julia Coffey (Off-Broadway: The Widowing of Mrs. Holroyd) as Jane, Christopher Innvar (BSC: The Whipping Man, director; Streetcar, Private Lives) as Geoffrey, Graeme Malcolm (Broadway: Equus, Translations) as Ronald, Robert Petkoff (Broadway: Ragtime, Fiddler on the Roof) as Sidney, Henny Russell (Broadway: The Royal Family) as Marion, and Finnerty Steeves (BSC: Wonder of the World; Off-Broadway: Almost, Maine) as Eva.

A 2010 Tony Award Winner for Lifetime Achievement and the author of over 70 plays - Absurd Person Singular marks the first Alan Ayckbourn play presented at Barrington Stage Company. One of the most prolific and widely performed playwrights of our time Ayckbourn is the author of The Norman Conquests, Bedroom Farce, Woman in Mind, House & Garden, and many more.

The creative team for Absurd Person Singular includes Jo Winiarski (set design), Sara Jean Tosetti (costume design), Peter West (lighting design) and Brad Berridge (sound design). Kristen van Gindhoven is assistant director. Renee Lutz is the production stage manager.

The original Broadway run of Absurd Person Singular played 591 performances at the Music Box, and earned Tony Award nominations for cast members Larry Blyden ( Sidney ), Geraldine Page ( Marion ) and Carole Shelley (Jane). It also starred Sandy Dennis (Eva), Richard Kiley (Ronald) and Tony Roberts (Geoffrey). Eric Thompson directed.

Performances of Alan Ayckbourn's ABSURD PERSON SINGULAR are from August 12 through August 29 are Tuesday and Wednesday at 7pm, Thursday through Saturday at 8pm, Friday matinees at 2pm, and Sunday at 5pm at BSC Mainstage, 30 Union St., Pittsfield. Additional matinee performance on Wednesday, August 25 at 2pm. Opening Night: Sun., August 15 at 5:00pm. Tickets: $15-$56. Seniors: $35 all matinees. Pay What You Can Night for 35 year olds and younger: Fri., August 20 at 8:00pm. Barrington Stage is fully-accessible, including wheelchair accessibility and assisted listening devices at every performance. Accessible seating is available by reservation. For ticket information, call 413-236-8888, stop by the BSC Box Office at 30 Union Street , or visit www.barringtonstageco.org.

About Barrington Stage Company
Barrington Stage Company, a professional award-winning Equity theatre located in the heart of the Berkshires, in Pittsfield , MA , was co-founded in 1995 by Artistic Director Julianne Boyd. Barrington Stage's mission is three-fold: to present top-notch, compelling work; to develop new plays and musicals; and to find fresh, bold ways to bringing new audiences into the theatre-especially young people. Barrington Stage garnered national attention with William Finn and Rachel Sheinkin's Tony Award-winning musical hit "The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee," which began as a workshop at Barrington Stage in February 2004, was produced in its world premiere to critical acclaim that summer, and later transferred to Broadway's Circle-in-the-Square Theatre where it played more than 1,000 performances. For more information, log on to www.barringtonstageco.org.

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