Irma Vep Mystifies Miracle Theatre
By: Beau Higgins Jun. 29, 2006
THE MYSTERY OF IRMA VEP COMES TO ACTORS' PLAYHOUSE AT THE MIRACLE THEATRE
Actors' Playhouse at the Miracle Theatre ends their season with one of the most-produced comedies in U.S. history, The Mystery of Irma Vep. This outrageously hilarious spoof by Charles Ludlam, the late founder of New York City's Ridiculous Theatrical Company, will run from July 12 through September 3, 2006.
The Mystery of Irma Vep is a campy tribute to gothic horror films, liberally stealing from well-known film classics like Wuthering Heights, The Mummy's Curse and Alfred Hitchcock's Academy Award-winning Rebecca. Two of South Florida's favorite actors play all of the play's eight characters, racing through a literal quick-change marathon complete with werewolves, vampires and damsels in distress. Combine all that with crazy plot twists (two characters travel from England to Egypt to inspect a mummy,) and The Mystery of Irma Vep guarantees fun for everyone.
Written in 1984, The Mystery of Irma Vep became the most popular of Ludlam's plays. It was named one of 1984's best plays by Time Magazine and The New York Times. Though many doubted that the play would have appeal beyond the Ridiculous Theatrical Company and its original stars, it became one of the most-produced plays in the country, delighting audiences with non-stop action and demanding tour-de-force performances.
The two brave actors taking on the challenge of The Mystery of Irma Vep in the Actors' Playhouse production are John Felix (Jane Twisden, Lord Edgar) and Tom Wahl (Nicodemus Underwood, Lady Enid, and others.) Both are award-winning actors who have graced multiple South Florida stages for the past dozen years. Most recently John Felix was featured at Actors' Playhouse in Steve Martin's Underpants and Tom Wahl as hairdresser Tony Witcomb in their production of Sheer Madness.
The Mystery of Irma Vep is directed by Actors' Playhouse Artistic Director David Arisco. " What a treat to produce and direct this hilarious romp with two of my favorite actors, Tom Wahl and John Felix. Their performances will delight our audiences and this mad cap hilarity is perfect summer fare."
Design for The Mystery of Irma Vep includes set design by Gene Seyffer, lighting design by Patrick Tennant, costume design by Mary Lynne Izzo, and sound design by Nathan Rausch.
The Mystery of Irma Vep previews July 12 & 13. Gala Opening Night will be July 14 and plays through September 3, 2006. The Mystery of Irma Vep will have Wednesday through Saturday evening performances at 8 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m. An additional Wednesday matinee performance will be on July 19th at 2 p.m. Tickets are $30 for previews, $37.50 for weeknights and matinees, and $45 for Friday and Saturday evenings. The theatre offers a 10 percent senior discount rate the day of performance and $15 student rush tickets 15 minutes prior to curtain, with identification. All discounts are based on availability and exclude Saturday performances and Sunday matinees. Group rates are available for 15 or more. Tickets may be purchased through the box office at 305-444-9293, Ticketmaster at 305-358-5885, or on line at www.actorsplayhouse.org.
The 2006-2007 season at the Miracle Theatre includes MOONLIGHT AND MAGNOLIAS, a delightful play that takes audiences into the inner sanctum of 1939 Hollywood in a fun, fast-paced South Florida Premiere comedy (October 11-November 12, 2006,) the South Florida premiere of Irving Berlin's White Christmas (November 15-December 31, 2006,) the current Off-Broadway musical sensation, I Love You Because (January 17-February 11, 2007,) Jerry Herman and Harvey Fierstein's Broadway musical La Cage Aux Folles (March 7-April 8, 2007,) the world premiere play written by Miami playwright Susan Westfall, The Boy From Russia (May 9-June 3, 2007,) and Tom Leherer's satirical comedy musical review Tom Foolery (July 11-September 2, 2007.)Subscribers see it all, with premium seating and best savings. Season subscriptions for the 2006-2007 season are on sale now, with prices ranging from $160 for preview performances, $214 for Wednesday and Thursday evenings and Sunday matinees, $250 for Friday and Saturday evenings, and $256 for VIP Flexible/Anytime tickets for best seats in any performance. Opening night tickets, including a gala party and Bacardi bar, are $394. Miracle Maker donor subscriptions, including two tickets to opening nights, donor acknowledgement, and two tickets to the annual Reach for the Stars Gala Auction 2007 are $1250. Subscriptions for children 18 years and younger with a full paid adult subscription, and college students, are $100 (restrictions apply.) Group rates are available for fifteen people or more through the group sales department. Actors' Playhouse subscribers receive guaranteed best seating and pricing, lost ticket insurance, generous membership benefits to Coral Gables' finest restaurants and establishments, discounts off single tickets, among other benefits.
Actors' Playhouse, the resident theatre company and managing agent of the Miracle Theatre, has an agreement with Actor's Equity Association, the union of professional actors, New York. Under the leadership of executive producing director Barbara S. Stein and artistic Director David Arisco, Actors' Playhouse is one of eight major Florida professional theatre companies, and one of twenty major cultural institutions in Miami Dade County. In addition to its Mainstage season, Actors' Playhouse produces a year-round season of Musical Theatre for Young Audiences, a National Children's Theatre Festival, and a Theatre Conservatory and Summer Camp Program.
For further information call 305-444-9293 or visit the theatre's website at www.actorsplayhouse.org
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