'Martha Mitchell Calling' Florida Premiere

On the eve of an election year, Actors' Playhouse at the Miracle Theatre in Coral Gables takes its audience back to the Watergate scandal through Jodi Rothe's fascinating, inventive and entertaining play, Martha Mitchell Calling, playing Nov. 28-Dec. 23, 2007.
 
At a point in history when an administration was bogged down with political corruption and the misuse of power, Martha Mitchell, a larger-than-life Southern socialite and wife of Nixon's Attorney General John Mitchell, used her influence and intelligence to blow the whistle on the Nixon administration. While doing so, Martha blew up her marriage and helped to bring down a presidency. As stated by Nixon in a film clip in this multi-media production, "If it hadn't been for Martha, there'd be no Watergate."
 
Annette Miller, who originated the role of Martha Mitchell, paints the portrait of the irrepressible Southern blonde who loved her man but loved her freedom of speech more.
 
"I always liked her," Miller said. "She was fun. She liked an audience. She was a little bit of an actress."
 
Martha Mitchell, the woman who never lived to see herself vindicated, receives a tribute of courage in this dramatic, interesting and oftentimes humorous play. The role of Martha's husband, Attorney General John Mitchell, will be played by South Florida's own Gordon McConnell.
 
Executive Producing Director Barbara Stein said, "The play is about the persona of a vibrant, bold woman who believed in truth and justice. Her importance in history is forgotten by some, and not known at all by many young people, even though she was probably the most instrumental individual to unwind the Watergate fiasco."
 
Artistic Director David Arisco said Actors' Playhouse is thrilled to remount this production for its Florida Premiere.
 
"We are very fortunate to be producing this new play about the outrageous and courageous Martha Mitchell. Jodi Rothe has written a powerful and often hysterically funny play featuring a knockout performance by Annette Miller and stylish and vibrant direction by Daniela Varon," Arisco said. "For Actors' Playhouse to be featuring this performance by Annette Miller with the original direction by Daniela Varon is a real treat for our South Florida audiences."
 
Martha Mitchell Calling was written by playwright Jodi Rothe. In addition, Rothe is also an accomplished screenwriter/producer. She developed and sold two original television movies to CBS ('A Different Affair', 'Isabel Crawford of Saddle Mountain') and a third has been under option. Daniela Varon is the director of this piece. Varon is a New York-based theater director and acting teacher, and longtime member of Shakespeare & Company in Lenox, MA. Varon is co-producer, director and moderator of the series "Conversations with Shakespeare," playing at Symphony Space in New York and in development for public radio.

Annette Miller stars as Martha Mitchell in this compelling new play. Miller won the prestigious Elliot Norton Award for Best Solo Performance for playing the role of Golda Meir in Golda's Balcony at Shakespeare & Company and in Boston. She has been a member of Shakespeare & Company for ten seasons and has performed both on and off Broadway, including playing the role of Sylvie in the female version of The Odd Couple with Rita Moreno and Sally Struthers. Annette holds a BA and MFA in Theater from Brandeis University and studied with Stella Adler. Playing opposite Miller is Scotland native, Gordon McConnell. McConnell has been an actor, director, drama coach and teacher for the past 30 years. His work has taken him from L.A. to London to Amsterdam, and to NYC where he was a member of Geraldine Page's Mirror Repertory Theatre. In South Florida, he received the Carbonell Award for Best Actor for his performance in FROZEN at Gables Stage.
 
Martha Mitchell Calling will preview at the Miracle Theatre Nov. 28 and 29, open on Nov. 30 and will play through Dec. 23, 2007.  Performances will be held Wednesday through Saturday at 8 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m. Additional Wednesday Matinee Performances will be held at 2 p.m. on Dec. 5 and 19.
 
Talkback with the actors and creative team for Martha Mitchell Calling will take place immediately following the production on Dec. 7. The talkback event facilitates discussions between the audience and members of the cast and the production team. Talkbacks will include discussion of creative decisions, motivations and issues surrounding the show.
 
Ticket prices are $33 for preview performances, $38.50 for weeknights and matinees, and $46 for Friday and Saturday evenings. The Gala Opening Night on Nov. 30 is $100 and includes a complimentary bar and post-show refreshments.
 
The theater 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 and Sunday performances.
 
Group discounted rates are offered for 15 or more. Theatre/dining packages are available with Coral Gables' select restaurants through their group sales department. Group and single tickets may be purchased through the box office at 305-444-9293 or online at www.actorsplayhouse.org. 
 
Actors' Playhouse 20th Anniversary Mainstage season also includes the current Off-Broadway musical sensation, Altar Boyz (January 16 – February 10, 2008), FOOTLOOSE, The Musical (March 5 – April 6, 2008), the new comedy-thriller THUMBS  (May 7- June 1, 2008) and Mid Life! The Crisis Musical (July 9 – August 10, 2008).
 
Subscribers receive premium seating, best savings, and benefits and discounts to the area's choice restaurants and establishments. Season subscriptions for the remaining five shows for the 2007-2008 season are on sale now, with prices ranging from $135 for preview performances, $180 for Wednesday and Thursday evenings and Sunday matinees, $210 for Friday and Saturday evenings, and $215 for VIP Flexible/Anytime tickets for choice reserved seats in every performance. Opening night tickets, including a gala party and complimentary bar, are $330. Subscriptions for children 18 years and younger with a full paid adult subscription, and college students, are $85 (restrictions apply). Miracle Maker donor subscriptions, including two tickets to opening nights, donor acknowledgement, and two tickets to the annual Reach for the Stars Gala Auction April 12, 2008 are $1250.

Actors' Playhouse at The Miracle Theatre, 280 Miracle Mile, Coral Gables, Florida, 33134. Phone: (305) 444-9293. www.actorsplayhouse.org.

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