The Naples Players Presents Pulitzer-Prize Finalist MARJORIE PRIME

Pulitzer Prize-Finalist play, Marjorie Prime, directed by The Naples Players Executive Artistic Director Bryce Alexander, opens in The Naples Players Tobye Studio Theatre on February 6, 2019 and runs through March 3, 2019.

Sponsored by Naples Audiology, this thoughtful and pivoting study of family dynamics explores our connection with memory and leaves the audience wondering what you would choose to remember, and what would you choose to forget, if given the chance. What if technology offered you the opportunity to speak with your lost loved ones again? In this tender and inquisitive drama, a family grapples with the difference between a life lived and a life remembered as 85-year-old Marjorie struggles to keep hold of her memories and identity, gently assisted by an artificial version of her late husband, Walter. An exploration of aging, memory and technology, Marjorie Prime peers into what lies ahead and how our past is rewritten to face today. The New York Times hails Marjorie Prime as "Jordan Harrison's elegant, thoughtful and quietly unsettling drama."

"Marjorie Prime challenges the traditional ideals of family by considering how a digital replica may or may not be embraced or loved. It's a fascinating and exciting production." shares Bryce Alexander.

Marjorie Prime has received critical claim as an award-winning play and movie. "The concept of Artificial Intelligence is developing every day while our identities are being linked more and more to technology," Alexander continues. "What if that trend continues beyond our lifetimes?"

Jordan Harrison's play Marjorie Prime, the 2015 Pulitzer Prize finalist, premiered at the Mark Taper Forum and had its New York premiere at Playwrights Horizons. A 2017 film adaptation, directed by Michael Almereyda, starred actors Lois Smith, Geena Davis, Tim Robbins and Jon Hamm. The Naples Players production features Kay Francis as Marjorie, Kenneth Hardcastle plays her husband Walter, Debi Garnett (Kalamazoo) is her daughter Tess, and Kevin Kimball is her husband Jon.

It's 2062, the age of Artificial Intelligence, and 86-year old Marjorie's memory is fading. This is until the appearance of Walter, a prime generated of her late-husband. This mysterious and charming young visitor is programmed with the help of her daughter to help Marjorie uncover the intricacies of her own past. As Walter's true nature is revealed, new levels of complexity emerge, leading to profound questions regarding the limits of technology and whether memory might be a purely human invention.

The Naples Players' Kay Francis plays Marjorie and Kenneth Hardcastle portrays her late-husband Walter, which runs at The Naples Players Tobye Studio Theatre February 6 - March 3, 2019. Photo Credit: Neubek Photographers

"This is a graceful play that is set in the future, but current in its themes: love, family, memories, life, death, relationship and technology," shares Alexander.

Marjorie Prime runs February 6 - March 3, 2019 in the Tobye Studio Theatre at The Naples Players at Sugden Theatre at 701 5th Avenue South in Naples. Talk Backs will be held after every Sunday performance. A Red Carpet Opening Night event begins at 6:30 p.m. on February 6, 2019 before opening night for theatre patrons. Tickets are $40 and are available for purchase online at www.NaplesPlayers.org or by contacting the Box Office at (239) 263-7990.

The Naples Players (TNP) Sugden Community Theatre is Naples oldest and premier theatre and a vital part of the exciting experience of Downtown Naples. Celebrating its 65th season, and as one of the top theatres in the country, TNP offers a variety of plays and musicals in their three performance spaces: Blackburn Hall, the Tobye Studio Theatre, and outside on the Baker Stage - all located in one building on Fifth Avenue South. KidzAct, Southwest Florida's premier youth theatre program, offers top quality productions as well as in-depth skills classes for children. Adult education classes are offered throughout the year for first-time performers to skilled professionals. Readers Theatre offers an opportunity to hear new works as well as rare one acts and classics.

The Naples Players continually seeks to enrich, educate, and entertain the community through a superior theatre experience. TNP is inspiring passion for the performing arts through life-long opportunities to participate in vibrant theatrical experiences. The 65th Anniversary Season, generously sponsored by Tanya & Denny Glass, is filled with dazzling musicals including Guys & Dolls (March 6 - April 7) - alongside the free outdoor Shakespeare-on-the-Plaza production of A Midsummer Night's Dream (Feb 16 - March 10), the sweet comedy Always a Bridesmaid (March 27 - April 20) and Neil Simon's classic Lost in Yonkers (May 1 - May 26).

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