Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park Continues Season With RED 10/15-11/12

The Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park will continue its Marx Theatre season with John Logan's RED. Winner of the 2010 Tony Award for Best Play, RED begins previews in the Playhouse's Robert S. Marx Theatre October 15 and continues through November 12.

Set in 1958, RED follows abstract expressionist painter Mark Rothko's life during the period in which he accepted the largest commission in the history of modern art to create murals for the Four Seasons Restaurant in the new Seagram Building in Manhattan. In the two fascinating years that follow, Rothko works feverishly with his young assistant, Ken, in his studio in the Bowery. But when Ken gains the confidence to challenge him, Rothko faces the agonizing possibility that his crowning achievement could also become his undoing.

The cast for RED features Brian Dykstra as Mark Rothko. Dykstra wrote Hiding Behind Comets, which was produced at the Playhouse in 2004. He also appeared as Cole in Keely and Du in 1994. Matthew Carlson will make his Playhouse debut as Ken.

Steven Woolf, the Artistic Director of the Repertory Theatre of St. Louis since 1986, will direct RED. Woolf has also directed The Crucible, Skylight, The Caine Mutiny Court-Martial, The Voice of the Prairie and You Can't Take It With You for the Playhouse.

According to Woolf, "It really is an honor to be able to be able to direct one of the first productions of this play in the country after its Broadway run. Vital and stimulating, RED provides a rare look at how this master painter saw his world at a pivotal point in his career."

The design team for RED includes Set Designer Michael Ganio, Costume Designer Dorothy Marshall Englis, Lighting Designer Phil Monat and Sound Designer Rusty Wandall. The Stage Manager is Joseph Millett.

Special Performances

Meet the Artists

These free programs allow audiences to interact with cast members and others associated with the production following the show.

2 p.m. Sunday, October 23

7:30 p.m. Wednesday, October 26

2 p.m. Sunday, November 6

8 p.m. Thursday, November 10
Audio Described Performance

4 p.m. Saturday, November 5
Signed Performance

2 p.m. Sunday, November 6

Playhouse Perspectives

A free, pre-show lecture series featuring theatre artists and experts. Funding provided by Roderick and Barbara Barr. The featured speaker will be local artist Tina Tammaro. Time: Sunday, October 30 at 6 p.m.

Dining Options

Karlo's Bistro at the Playhouse offers full-service dining prior to most evening performances. Dinners include salad, entrée and dessert. Reservations are required by noon on the day of the show. The price is $27. Karlo's Casual Fare offers busy theatre patrons an alternative light, quick bite prior to the show. Options include salads, sandwiches, soups, pasta and desserts. No reservations are required. Credit cards are now accepted.

Sponsors

Production Sponsor:

Clark, Schaefer, Hackett & Co.; James A. Miller and Bartlett & Co.

The 2011-2012 Marx Theatre Series is presented by The Otto M. Budig Family Foundation.

Playwright John Logan has written 14 plays, including Never the Sinner, Hauptmann, Scorched Earth and Riverview. His work as a screenwriter includes Sweeney Todd (Golden Globe award); The Aviator (Oscar and Golden Globe nominations), Gladiator (Oscar and Golden nominations) and The Last Samurai.

RED was first produced by the Donmar Warehouse, London, in December 2009. In March 2010, it transferred to Broadway and ran until late June 2010. It was nominated for seven

Tony Awards, winning six, including Best Play. All in all, it received the most wins of any other theatrical production that season. It also received the 2010 Drama Desk Award.

Prices for RED range from $25 - $66, depending on day and seat location, and are subject to change. Tickets are just $25 for the preview performances at 8 p.m. Saturday, October 15; 2 p.m. Sunday, October 16; 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, October 18; and 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, October 19. Some restrictions apply. The official opening night is Thursday, October 20 at 8 p.m.

Performances take place at 7:30 p.m. Tuesdays and Wednesdays, 8 p.m. Thursdays and Fridays, 4 and 8 p.m. Saturdays and 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. Sundays.

Tickets to RED are on sale now. For more information, call the Playhouse box office at 513/421-3888 (toll-free in Ohio, Kentucky and Indiana at 800/582-3208) or visit www.cincyplay.com. Call 513/345-2248 for TDD accessibility.

The Playhouse is fully accessible. Audio enhancement receivers, large print programs and complete wheelchair access are available.

The Playhouse is supported, in part, by the generosity of the tens of thousands of individuals and businesses that give to ArtsWave.

The Ohio Arts Council helps fund the Playhouse with state tax dollars to encourage economic growth, educational excellence and cultural enrichment for all Ohioans.

The Playhouse also receives funding from the Shubert Foundation and the National Endowment for the Arts.

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