SHIPWRECKED! Beaches On The Stage At The Phoenix Theatre 10/15-11/8

The Phoenix Theatre of Indianapolis announces Shipwrecked! An Entertainment - The Amazing Adventures of Louis de Rougemont (As told by himself). Written by Donald Margulies and sponsored by Barnes & Thornburg, this play for all ages starts Thursday, October 15 and runs through November 8, 2009, with the exception of Friday, October 16, when there will be no performance.

Be ready to be astonished! This wonderful kid-friendly comedy is the story of Louis de Rougemont, an actual man who lived in London at the turn of the last century and his search for 15 minutes of fame. Born in Paris and raised in London, Louis grows up a sickly child and yearns to be free in the world and experience exotic cultures and exciting adventures. His wish comes true when he leaves home at the age of 16 and joins the crew of a sailing vessel. In the play, Louis tells the story of his life, which turns out to be a fantastical tale of being shipwrecked on an exotic island, learning to ride sea turtles, and holding court with the Queen of England.

Upon his return home, Louis finds a London newspaper - the tabloid of its time - willing to publish his adventures. Louis becomes quite the celebrity, until he finds his audience increasingly skeptical. Could his entire adventure be discredited as a hoax? De Rougemont's fervent desire to justify his life's purpose provides the emotional current that transforms a ripping good yard into a touching character study. Charles Isherwood of The New York Times describes Shipwrecked! as "The breathless story of a Victorian gentleman whose colorful past as a seafaring wanderer springs to life like a theatrical pop-up book." The play is woven together like a magical bedtime story and features fascinating characters and scenery.

Phoenix Producing Director Bryan Fonseca directs this show, which represents a first for the theatre: a family-friendly production that's perfect for ages 8 to 80. "Many of our patrons have been loyal followers of the Phoenix for the past 26 years and are now parents and grandparents. When I read the script, I thought Shipwrecked! would be perfect for those patrons to introduce live theatre to those sons, daughters and grandchildren. Shipwrecked! is the perfect distraction from some of the bad news in the world right now. As much as theater is a place to reflect on the human condition, it is also where we go to escape from our daily lives. This show does both beautifully."

Phoenix favorite Charles Goad portrays the title character and narrator, Louis de Rougemont. Beef & Boards standout Eddie Curry plays several characters, including Louis' loyal canine named Bruno, a newspaper boy, an English socialite and many others. Sara Riemen, most recently seen at the Phoenix in The Dos and Don'ts of Time Travel, also stars as a pearl-hunting sea captain, an exotic castaway, a snooty socialite and many others. In addition to the actors, all the wonderful sound effects that you would expect in a bedtime story will be brought to life on stage by Stage Manager Patrick Koenig and Soundscape Manager Audrey Stauffer.
"Another exciting aspect of this production is that local artist Kyle Ragsdale is designing the set for us, which serves as a backdrop to the story and in a true sense, illustrates the tale being told," says Fonseca. Ragsdale, who has exhibited throughout Indiana and Texas, is known for work that is a collection of symbols, including birds, flowers, foliage and figures. Ragsdale's set design is underwritten by Thomas H. and Jill Ristine. Rounding out the production crew are Lighting Designer Michael McNamara, Costume Designer Steven Hollenbeck, Technical Director Christopher Hansen and Dramaturg J. C. Pankratz.

A graduate of the prestigious State University of New York, Donald Margulies was nominated for the 1992 Pulitzer Prize for Drama for the play Sight Unseen (which the Phoenix produced in their 10th season) and was nominated for the 1997 Pulitzer Prize for Drama for the play Collected Stories. Margulies went on to win the 2000 Pulitzer Prize for Drama for the play Dinner with Friends. Known for writing character-driven plays about the difficulty of human relations, the responsibilities of family and the role of art in life, Margulies began Shipwrecked! as a commission from South Coast Rep's Theatre for Young Audiences. This is the play's Midwest premiere.

Ticket Prices

Thanks to the generosity of Duke Energy, our CheapSeats performances have expanded to Thursdays and Sundays, so our prices for the 2009-2010 Season will be $15.00 per person on Thursdays and Sundays. In response to the economy, and because we know that there are only so many entertainment dollars to go around, we are offering a discounted rate of $20.00 per person on Fridays and Saturdays (down from $25.00 last season). The Phoenix will continue to offer a youth rate of $15 for those 24 and under. We won't be selling FlexPasses this year, since all rates are discounted from our standard prices, so tickets are available now for all shows in the 2009-2010 season. Tickets for the new season may be purchased by calling the box office at 317.635.PLAY (7529) to charge by phone and will be available to purchase on-line at phoenixtheatre.org beginning August 10, 2009. All seating is general admission on a first-come, first-served basis. Performances are Thursdays at 7:00 pm; Fridays at 8:00 p.m., Saturdays at 8:00 pm. and Sundays at 2:00 pm. Doors open ½ hour prior to curtain for seating. The Phoenix Pub, located inside the theatre, offers beer, wine, soft drinks, coffee, and bottled water, as well as treats, and all refreshments may be taken into either theatre and consumed during the performance.

For more information about any Phoenix programs or to purchase tickets, call The Phoenix Theatre box office at 317.635.PLAY(7529). The theatre's website is www.phoenixtheatre.org.

ABOUT The Phoenix Theatre
"The Phoenix Theatre has cornered the market on hip new works." -- Chris Jones, Chicago Tribune

The Phoenix Theatre is Indiana's only professional contemporary theatre, and has presented productions to challenge and entertain the Indianapolis community for 26 years. An Equity house, the Theatre presents the Midwest and Indiana premieres of many popular Broadway and Off-Broadway plays, and has presented more than 70 world premieres in its quarter century. The Phoenix operates the 130-seat proscenium Mainstage as well as the 75-seat cabaret-style black box Frank & Katrina Basile (buh-SEAL) Theatre. The Phoenix Pub, located in the Basile Theatre, serves beer, wine, coffee, soft drinks, water, and treats, and patrons may take all refreshments into either theatre. Both venues are housed along with administrative offices in a renovated 1907 church in downtown Indianapolis' historic Chatham Arch neighborhood, part of the Mass Ave Arts & Theatre District. The Phoenix Theatre is a member of the National New Play Network and the League of Indianapolis Theatres, and is supported by the Indiana Arts Commission, the Arts Council of Indianapolis, and the National Endowment for the Arts, as well as local corporate and foundation funders and more than 500 individual donors.

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