Black Comedy MURDERERS Opens CATCO's 2009-10 Season, Runs 9/30-10/18

CATCO will open its 2009-10 26th season with a black comedy and central Ohio premiere by Ohio native Jeffrey Hatcher, Murderers, Sept. 30-Oct. 18, 2009. The season also includes two other central Ohio premieres, a revival of a CATCO favorite from 1990, and the unveiling of a world premiere about Columbus native and internationally renowned folk artists Elijah Pierce.

Murderers tells the stories of three unlikely murderers who live and work in the Riddle Key Luxury Senior Retirement Living Center and Golf Course in Florida. The three leave the audience laughing with their antics and mischievous schemes to off people who get in their way. CATCO has presented three other Hatcher plays in 1996-98: Three Viewings, Scotland Road and Turn of the Screw, all which were well-received by audiences, said Geoffrey Nelson, CATCO artistic director.
Pierce to the Soul, set for April 7-25, 2010, celebrates the life of Pierce, the son of a former Mississippi slave. The one-person play and world premiere, was written by central Ohio playwright and CATCO board member Chiquita Mullins Lee. It follows Pierce through his northern migration first to Chicago then Columbus, where he became a barbershop owner, and his journey to international recognition late in life for his extraordinary woodcarvings.

Other plays in the 2009-10 season are The Seafarer, Nov. 24-Dec. 13, 2009, a central Ohio premiere and a suspenseful Irish tale by acclaimed Irish playwright Conor McPherson; Evie's Waltz, Feb. 17-March 7, 2010, a central Ohio premiere and an intelligent thriller that explores the simmering tensions between parents and teens; and The Mystery of Irma Vep: A Penny Dreadful, June 2-27, 2010, a two-man, quick-change comedy/mystery featuring Nelson and Associate Artistic Director Jonathan Putnam.
Also during the holidays and as an add-on to the subscription package, CATCO will bring back David Sedaris' hilarious The Santaland Diaries Dec. 3-27, 2009, to be presented in Studio Three. Putnam will once again delight audiences in his role as Crumpet the Elf, and his experiences of working at Macy's during the holiday season. All seats for the performance are $35.
CATCO will continue to offer "Talk Backs," discussions with the actors and dramaturg, after certain Sunday matinees. One Sunday matinee is also audio-described for those who are blind or visually impaired.

All shows will be performed in the Vern Riffe Center Studio Theatres, 77 S. High St. For The Seafarer, which will be presented in the Studio One Theatre, subscribers can select from rows A-M on the main floor, and limited-view balcony seating. The Studio Three Theatre, where The Santaland Diaries will be performed, is a 60-seat "cabaret"-style theatre with all seating close to the stage. All remaining shows will be performed in the Studio Two Theatre, where all seats are within five rows of the stage.

Subscriptions are available by calling the CATCO box office at 614.469.0939. Subscription prices are as follows:

Thursday night previews - $146.25
Opening night and other performances - $180.00
$11@11 - $57.50; CATCO's $11 @ 11 is an offering for theatre-goers, who want to see a play mid-week (Wednesday) and mid-day (11 a.m.) at a great price ($11). Each play during the season will have at least two $11 @ 11 performances.

Seniors and seniors have the opportunity to purchase a subscription at a 20 percent discount if they make their purchase by July 1, 2009. FlexTix subscriptions also are available; the price is $125 for five passes, which can be used at any CATCO performance for best-available seating.

All subscription prices include a $5 facility fee. Single tickets will go on sale Aug. 24, 2009. Prices are:

Thursday night preview - $32.50 main floor
All other CATCO afternoon and evening performances - $40 main floor

Each price includes a 50-cent facility fee.

For Thursday and Sunday performances, students and seniors may purchase tickets at half price for that day's show(s) based upon availability. For more information about group sales, please call Jolane Campbell at 614.719.6900.

CATCO's 2009-10, 26th anniversary season is dedicated to community leaders, Loann Crane, Barbara Fergus and Tom Katzenmeyer. Confirmed donors for the season include the Robert Bartels and Edith Doud Unrestricted funds of The Columbus Foundation and the Greater Columbus Arts Council, which is providing a project support grant for Pierce to the Soul. AEP is an Encore Sponsor for Pierce to the Soul; Robin and Peter Hersha are Applause Sponsors for Evie's Waltz.

CATCO is central Ohio's professional Equity theatre company. Its mission is to produce diverse, high-quality, and exciting theatrical work that celebrates our common humanity. For more information, visit catco.org.

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