Bloomington Civic Theatre Presents SUNDAY IN THE PARK WITH GEORGE, Now thru 11/17

Bloomington Theatre and Art Center (BTAC) has announced Bloomington Civic Theatre's production of Stephen Sondheim's Sunday In The Park With George, running tonight, October 19 through November 17, 2012. This musical will be directed by Karen Weber, with associate director Rob Goudy,  music director Anita Ruth, and featuring Jennifer Eckes as 'Dot' and Joey Clark as 'Georges Seurat'. BCT's production of Sunday In The Park With George is sponsored by BMO Harris Bank.

Inspired by the painting "A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte" by Georges Seurat, Sunday In The Park With George is a deeply insightful and highly personal examination of life, the creation of art, and its lasting impact not only on its creators but future generations.  Shimmering with love and light, this unique, inventive musical is one of the most acclaimed shows of our time. After seeing the show, composer Leonard Bernstein wrote to his friend Stephen Sondheim, calling the show "brilliant, deeply conceived, canny, magisterial and by far the most personal statement I've heard from you thus far. Bravo." Sondheim's soaring score and James Lapine's award-winning book intertwine with Seurat's distinctive art to create a moving, poetic drama that explores the complexity of life and the art of understanding it.

Karen Weber (director) has been a favorite actress of Bloomington Civic Theatre patrons with roles including Lucy Harris (Jekyll and Hyde), Eva Peron (Evita), Irene Molloy (Hello, Dolly!), Beggar Woman (Sweeney Todd), Phyllis Stone (Follies), Desiree Armfeldt (A Little Night Music), Margaret Johnson (The Light in the Piazza), Maria Callas (Master Class), M'Lynn Eatenton (Steel Magnolias), The Witch (Into the Woods) and most recently, Aunt Eller (Oklahoma!). Karen also directedInspecting Carol in BCT's 2011-2012 season. After completing her degree in Theater at the University of Minnesota (Direction and Scenic Design), Karen went on to direct locally for over five years. Working with professional and aspiring actors alike, she enjoyed working behind the scenes and never thought to become an actor herself. After stepping away from theater altogether for more than 10 years to start a family, she returned to the stage as an actor when her children expressed an interest in it themselves. Away from BCT, she has worked with History Theatre, Ordway Center for the Performing Arts, Park Square Theatre, Minneapolis Musical Theatre, Plymouth Playhouse, Troupe America, Actors Theater of MN, Theater Latté Da, Theatre in the Round, Gremlin Theatre, Playwrights' Center, Jon Hassler Theater, Pioneer Place on 5th, The Empty Space Collective and Nautilus Music-Theater. Her local, regional and national work as an actor has allowed her to learn from many talented and respected directors, and she is looking forward to bringing that knowledge and perspective back to the director's chair.

Sunday In The Park With George runs tonight, October 19 through Saturday, November 17, 2012. Performances are Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays at 7:30 p.m., and Sundays at 2:00 p.m. There is also a Wednesday performance on November 7 at 7:30 p.m. Saturday matinee performances are at 2:00 p.m. on November 3 and 17. The Saturday matinee performance on November 17 is ASL interpreted, and the Friday November 2 performance is Audio Described. Post-show 'talk-backs' with the cast and crew take place after the Sunday matinees on October 28 and November 11. All performances are held in the Schneider Theater at Bloomington Center for the Arts at 1800 W. Old Shakopee Rd. in Bloomington, MN. All seating is reserved, and tickets are $30 for adults, $27 for seniors, and $23 for ages 25 and under. Tickets may be purchased by calling the Bloomington Theatre and Art Center Box Office at 952-563-8575, or online atwww.bloomingtoncivictheatre.org.

Other events associated with BCT's production of Sunday In The Park With George include Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI) bookended workshops on Wednesdays, October 31 and November 14, From 10:00 to 11:30 a.m. in the Black Box Theater. These workshops will be facilitated by music director Anita Ruth and director Karen Weber and the subject will be Stephen Sondheim's Sunday in the Park with George and the creative process associated with BCT's production.

BCT is a program of the Bloomington Theatre and Art Center (BTAC), a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization formed in 2009 from the merger of Bloomington Civic Theatre and Bloomington Art Center. BTAC offers high quality Theater Productions, art education for children and adults, and visual arts exhibitions featuring the work of emerging and established artists from Minnesota and surrounding states.

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