Performance Network Theatre Presents RED, 4/19-5/27

This spring, Performance Network Theatre presents "Red," the six-time Tony Award-winning drama by John Logan. "Red" begins previewing on April 19 and runs through May 27, 2012. It is directed by Performance Network Executive Director, Carla Milarch and features Kevin Young and Mark Rademacher as the artist Mark Rothko.

For two years from 1956-58, the abstract expressionist painter Mark Rothko worked feverishly in his Bowery St. studio on Manhattan's lower East side, on what was at the time the highest-paid commission in art history. A Russian immigrant Jew from humble beginnings, he worked on a series of enormous murals that would adorn that bastion of capitalism - the famous Four Seasons Restaurant in Mies Van der Rohe's Seagrams Building. John Logan's Tony-winning play paints a picture of the fiery artist as he works intensely on the paintings, with the help of his apprentice Ken, and struggles with his personal demons to bring forth what would ultimately be his life's greatest achievement.

"Red" was first produced by the Donmar Warehouse, London in December 2009. The original production was directed by Michael Grandage and featured Alfred Molina as Rothko and Eddie Redmayne as his assistant Ken. The production, and its two leads, transferred to Broadway at the John Golden Theater for a limited engagement from March through June, 2010. It won the 2010 Drama League Award for Distinguished Production of a Play and Molina won the Distinguished Performance Award. It was nominated for seven Tony Awards and won six, for Best Play, Best Performance by a Featured Actor in a Play, Best Direction of a Play, Best Scenic Design of a Play, Best Lighting Design of a Play, and Best Sound Design of a Play. All in all, it received the most wins out of any other theatrical production that season. It also received six Drama Desk nominations and won three: for Outstanding Play, Outstanding Director of a Play and Outstanding Lighting Design.

In addition to his playwrighting achievements, John Logan has found success in Hollywood with many screenplays including the Martin Scorsese-directed films, "Hugo" and "The Aviator," as well as "Any Given Sunday," "The Last Samurai" and the newest James Bond film, "Skyfall."

Weekly performances of "Red" are Thursdays at 7:30, Fridays and Saturdays at 8pm and Sundays at 2pm, with 3pm Saturday matinees on May 5 and May 19.

Tickets can be ordered at the Performance Network Box Office at 734-663-0681, online at
www.performancenetwork.org or by coming to the Performance Network Theatre (120 East Huron St., Ann Arbor, 48104) Monday-Friday 10-6 and Saturday 11-6, or one hour before a performance. Tickets are priced at $22 - $41, with discounts available for seniors, members, students and groups. There is a pay-what-you-can performance on April 19 (suggested donation of $15).

"Red" contains adult language and is not recommended for those under age 16.

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