Williamston Theatre to Conclude 10th Season New Annie Martin Play SUMMER RETREAT

Mid-Michigan's award winning professional theatre company, Williamston Theatre, located at 122 S. Putnam Street in downtown Williamston, heads to the lake for the World Premiere of Summer Retreat by Annie Martin. Performances begin Thursday, July 14 and run through Sunday, August 21. Tickets for this madcap comedy are now on sale.

Summer Retreat begins with five Preview performances starting Thursday, July 14. During the first four Previews Audience members will have the opportunity to take part in the process of creating a show by participating in a talkback session with the director following each performance. The Official Opening Night is Friday, July 22 at 8PM with the show scheduled to run through Sunday, August 21. Performances will run Thursday, Friday and Saturday evenings at 8PM and Sunday matinees at 2PM with additional 3PM matinees on Saturdays starting July 23.

Three friends from college days long ago come back together at the cottage where they spent their summers. However, instead of a sweet reunion, this gathering degrades into chaos and comedy. What happen when the bonds of friendship run as deep as family, but it's a family you would like to strangle? This funny caper stretches the bonds of friendship and asks "how far are you willing to go for the people that hold your secrets." (Contains mature language.)

Michigan playwright Annie Martin returns to Williamston. The Williamston Theatre has produced the World Premieres of Ms. Martin's plays Maidens, Mothers and Crones: Voices from Women of the Midwest and Home: Voices from Families of the Midwest (both co-written with Suzi Regan), Oedipus (co-written with Tony Caselli), 10:53 and Flap. Awards have included a Thespie Award and Pulsar Award for Best Original Script (Maidens, Mothers and Crones) and a 2011 Wilde Award for Best Drama (Oedipus).

As part of our 10th Season Celebration we have added "Conversation Sundays" to each production. The "Conversation Sunday" for Summer Retreat will be Sunday, August 7 starting a few minutes after the show ends. You do not need to attend the show that day to participate in the "Conversation Sunday". We are still putting together the speakers for that day, but hope to include the playwright, cast and director. Please call the theatre if you would like more details.

The cast of Summer Retreat consists of Sandra Birch (10:53, Lion in Winter), Dani Cochrane, Julia Glander (Shirley Valentine, Eleemosynary), Patrick Loos (Jacob Marley's Christmas Carol) and Emily Sutton-Smith (Too Much, Too Much, Too Many, Miracle on South Division Street). The Director is Suzi Regan (Blue Door, Home: Voices from Families of the Midwest). The production team includes Set Design by Kirk Domer (The Gravedigger, The Big Bang), Lighting Design by Alex Gay (The Art of Murder, The Big Bang), Costume Design by Holly Iler (Rounding Third, The Best Brothers), Sound Design by Will Myers (Sirens, Tuna Does Vegas) and Props Design by Michelle Raymond (The Decade Dance, Rounding Third). The Stage Manager is Nan Luchini (Chapatti, The Art of Murder).

Tickets are Pay-What-You-Can for the Preview on Thursday, July 14. Please be aware there have been some ticket policy changes in relation to the Pay-What-You-Can performance including a limit of 10 tickets per person/household/organization. Remaining Preview tickets are still $15.00! Tickets for the Official Opening Night Friday, July 22 @ 8PM, are $35 and include an after-glow with the cast and crew. Adult ticket prices are $28.00 for Friday and Saturday evenings, $25.00 for Saturday and Sunday matinees and $23.00 for Thursday evenings. Senior citizens (65 and older) and members of the Military receive a $2 discount on all tickets. Student tickets (with a valid student ID) are $10 for all performances. Discounts are also available for groups of 10 or more (booked at least 1 week in advance through the Box Office). Tickets can be purchased on-line up until 1 1/2 hours prior to each performance by visiting our website www.williamstontheatre.org or Tuesday - Friday from 12-6pm by calling (517) 655-SHOW (7469) or by visiting the Box Office. Please be aware that payment is required at the time the reservation is made.

Summer Retreat is made possible in part by an award from the Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs and the National Endowment for the Arts with additional support from the Williamston Sunrise Rotary.

The Williamston Theatre is a not-for-profit, professional Live Theatre company, dedicated to producing plays that excite, engage and entertain our audiences. The theatre opened its doors in 2006, is the winner of a 2014 National Theatre Company Grant from The American Theatre Wing and has received a number of local awards including the 2008 Robert Busby Award for extraordinary overall contribution to theatre in the Greater Lansing Area.

Williamston Theatre patrons will find ample parking on the street and in several municipal lots throughout the city. The theatre is located in downtown Williamston (exit 117 off of I-96) just south of Grand River Avenue. Additional information about the company and our upcoming 2016-2017 Season is available online at www.williamstontheatre.org or by calling (517) 655-SHOW (7469).

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