Circle Theatre Continues 36th Season with RIPCORD

Let it be war. David Lindsay-Abaire's new high-stakes comedy, Ripcord, follows a seemingly harmless bet made between two residents of the Bristol Place Assisted Living Facility. Cheerful Marilyn wants the bed next to the window, but crabby Abby wants her to move out. In a risky game of one-upmanship, this hilarious new play will have you laughing, crying, and scared for everyone involved. Who will pull the cord first?

Circle's production is directed and costume designed by Robin Armstrong and features Deborah Brown* (Marilyn Dunne), Jeff Burleson (Derek/ Zombie Butler/ Masked Man), Clint Gilbert** (Benjamin/ Lewis/ Clown), Lois Sonnier hart* (Abby Binder), Lindsay Hayward (Colleen/ Woman in White), and Mark Quach** (Scotty).

Circle Theatre's production team members include Megan Beddingfield* (Stage Manager/Prop Design), Clare Floyd DeVries (Set Design), John Leach (Lighting Design), and David H.M. Lambert (Sound Design).

*Member of Actors' Equity Association
**Equity Membership Candidate

Ripcord is produced by special arrangement with Dramatists Play Service, Inc., New York.

About the Playwright

David Lindsay-Abaire (Playwright) is a Pulitzer Prize winning playwright, screenwriter, lyricist and librettist. Ripcord, one of his most recent scripts, premiered at the Manhattan Theatre Club in 2015 with Holland Taylor and Marylouise Burke in the lead roles. His play Good People premiered on Broadway, and won the New York Drama Critics' Circle Award for Best Play, The Horton Foote Prize, and The Edgerton Foundation New American Play Award. His previous play Rabbit Hole received the Pulitzer Prize for Drama, five Tony nominations, and the Spirit of America Award. David also wrote the book and lyrics for Shrek the Musical (Jeanine Tesori, composer), which was nominated for eight Tonys, four Oliviers, a Grammy, and earned David the Ed Kleban Award as America's most promising musical theatre lyricist. Other plays include Fuddy Meers (produced at Circle in 2001), Kimberly Akimbo, Wonder of the World, and A Devil Inside. In addition to his work in theatre, David's screen credits include Rise of the Guardians, The Family Fang, and his film adaptation of Rabbit Hole. He is also, along with Marsha Norman, co-chair of the Playwriting Program at the Juilliard School.

About the Director/Costume Designer

Robin Armstrong (Director/Costume Designer) returns to Circle Theatre after directing last season's critically acclaimed, The Taming. Previous directing credits at Circle include Lovers and Executioners, Stella & Lou, Too Many Cooks, God of Carnage, Ghost-Writer, See How They Run, Seven in One Blow, Becky's New Car, and Boeing-Boeing. Robin directed Circle Theatre's critically acclaimed production of Bach at Leipzig, which garnered multiple Dallas Critics' Forum Awards for Outstanding Direction, Outstanding Creative Contribution (for fight choreography and costume design), and Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble Cast. Bach at Leipzig was also cited on the "Year in Review Top Ten List" for Dallas Voice, Critical Rant and Rave, The Fort Worth Star-Telegram, The Dallas Observer, Theater Jones, and D Magazine. Robin earned a Master of Fine Arts degree in Directing from Virginia Commonwealth University and a Bachelor of Science degree in Theatre from Louisiana State University. Robin is the costume designer for Collin College.

Ripcord by David Lindsay-Abaire

Where:
Circle Theatre
230 W. 4th Street
Fort Worth, TX 76102
Sundance Square Entertainment District

When: August 17 - September 16, 2017

Previews: Thursday, August 17, 7:30 pm ($15)
Friday, August 18, 8:00 pm ($20)
Saturday, August 19, 3:00 pm ($15)
Opening Night
Saturday, August 19, 8:00 pm ($38)
(Followed by Reception)

School Night
Friday, September 15, 8:00 pm ($5 students - $10 faculty & staff)

Regular Shows
Thursday at 7:30 pm ($25 - $33)
Fridays at 8:00 pm ($30 - $38)
Saturdays at 3:00 pm ($25 - $33)
Saturdays at 8:00 pm ($30 - $38)

Tickets: Make reservations online at, http://www.circletheatre.com, by calling 817.877.3040, or at the Circle Theatre Box Office, 230 West Fourth Street between Houston and Throckmorton, in downtown Fort Worth. Senior, Student, Military, KERA, Press Pass, S.T.A.G.E., and Group discounts are available. Half-price tickets for students are sold 30 minutes before show time, subject to availability. Complimentary valet parking is available for all performances. Patrons with special needs should contact our box office.

About Circle Theatre
Founded in 1981 by Rose Pearson and Bill Newberry, Circle Theatre is currently producing its thirty-fifth season of live theatre in Fort Worth. Circle Theatre's mission is the advocacy of contemporary plays rarely seen in this community. Circle is committed to presenting professional, innovative theatre in an intimate setting. The Theatre is partially supported by the City of Forth Worth; the Arts Council of Fort Worth and Tarrant County; the Texas Commission on the Arts and the National Endowment for the Arts. Further support comes from the Amon G. Carter Foundation; Communities Foundation of Texas; Fifth Avenue Foundation; Ann L. and Carol Green Rhodes Charitable Trust - Bank of America, NA; the Sid W. Richardson Foundation; and The Shubert Foundation, Inc. To read Circle Theatre's full history visit: http://circletheatre.com/about/history.

To post a comment, you must register and login.