Photo Flash: Palm Beach Dramaworks Presents COLLECTED STORIES

Inspiration vs. appropriation. Loyalty vs. creative freedom. Friendship, betrayal, morality, and the artistic impulse. These are among the provocative issues raised by playwright Donald Margulies in Collected Stories, which opens at Palm Beach Dramaworks on February 3 and continues through March 5, with specially priced previews on February 1 and 2.

Collected Stories , which received its world premiere in 1996 at South Coast Repertory and was a Pulitzer finalist, is a two-character play that follows the relationship between a mentor and her protégée over a six-year period. Ruth Steiner, who gained fame in her 20s with a well-received book of short stories, is now a professor of writing. Among her students is Lisa Morrison, who becomes her assistant and eager disciple. Lisa also makes her mark with a book of short stories. She goes on to write her first novel and bases it on Ruth's affair with a famous poet - an episode that Ruth never wanted made public. Was Lisa's action an unconscionable betrayal, or had she simply followed Ruth's advice: "You can't censor your creative impulses because of the danger of hurting someone's feelings." Margulies leaves it to the viewer to decide.

Collected Stories is directed by Paul Stancato and features Anne-Marie Cusson as Ruth and Keira Keeley as Lisa, both making their PBD debuts. Scenic design is by K. April Soroko, costume design is by Brian O'Keefe, lighting design is by Ron Burns, and sound design is by Matt Corey.

Donald Margulies won the 2000 Pulitzer Prize for Drama for Dinner With Friends. A short list of his many plays includes Time Stands Still, Sight Unseen, The Loman Family Picnic, Brooklyn Boy, The Model Apartment, The Country House, and Found a Peanut. He is an Adjunct Professor of English and Theatre Studies at Yale University.

Collected Stories was first produced in New York Off-Broadway by Manhattan Theatre Club in 1997, and starred Maria Tucci as Ruth and Debra Messing as Lisa. The show had its Broadway premiere in 2010, with Linda Lavin as Ruth and Sarah Paulson as Lisa.
Palm Beach Dramaworks is a non-profit, professional theatre and is a member of the Theatre Communications Group, the South Florida Theatre League, Florida Professional Theatres Association, and the Cultural Council of Palm Beach County.

The performance schedule is as follows: Evening performances are Wednesday through Saturday at 8PM, and select Sundays at 7PM. Matinee performances are on Wednesday, Saturday, and Sunday at 2PM. Post-performance discussions follow Wednesday matinee and Sunday evening performances.

Individual tickets are $66, with specially priced preview tickets at $46 and Opening Night tickets at $81. Student tickets are available for $10; tickets for educators are half price with proper ID (other restrictions apply). Group rates for 20 or more and discounted season subscriptions are also available.

The Don & Ann Brown Theatre is located in the heart of downtown West Palm Beach, at 201 Clematis Street. For ticket information contact the box office at (561) 514-4042, or visit www.palmbeachdramaworks.org.

Photo credit: Alicia Donelan Photography

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