Guthrie Announces Their Summer Shows

J.B. Priestley's When We Are Married continues through August 30 on the Wurtele Thrust Stage, reuniting many beloved Guthrie company members from the 1960s and 70s, including Barbara Bryne, Helen Carey, Patricia Conolly, Peter Michael Goetz and Linda Kelsey. The production also features more recent Guthrie favorites Robert O. Berdahl, Raye Birk, Maggie Chestovich, Dennis Creaghan, Bob Davis, Colin McPhillamy and Sally Wingert, alongside the fresh-faced talents of recent UofM/Guthrie Theater B.F.A. Actor Training Program graduates Jonas Goslow and Christine Weber. Directed by associate artistic director John Miller-Stephany, the story brings three distinguished couples together in celebration of their joint silver wedding anniversaries only to discover that the parson who married them was, in fact, not authorized to perform marriages, and they have been "living in sin" for the past 25 years.

Hailed for her performance as one of the greatest jazz and pop vocalists of the 20th century, Tina Fabrique continues in the title role of Ella through September 6 on the McGuire Proscenium Stage, weaving myth, memory and music to tell the uplifting and poignant story. Featuring more than 20 of her most famous hits, including "A-Tisket, A-Tasket," "How High the Moon," "That Old Black Magic," and "They Can't Take That Away from Me," Guthrie audiences have fallen in love with Fabrique and the magic of Ella Fitzgerald's music.

ELLA COMPANY TO OFFER FREE LUNCHTIME MUSIC

Ella company members Joilet F. Harris and George Caldwell will host two free events at the Minneapolis Convention Center (August 5 and 12), providing a peek inside the life of one of the greatest jazz and pop vocalists of the 20th century. The pair invite downtown Minneapolis workers and residents to take a break from the usual routine and join them for these casual lunchtime music events and artist meet-n-greets. In addition, the on-site Dunn Bros. Cafe (open daily to the public from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.) provides a great lunchtime destination for sandwiches, fresh baked goods and aromatic on-premise roasted coffee.

PRODUCTION & CASTING NEWS

Canadian-born actress Linda Thorson (Tara King in the British television show The Avengers) will lead the cast of The Importance of Being Earnest as Lady Bracknell, with 2007 University of Minnesota/Guthrie Theater B.F.A. Actor Training Program graduate John Skelley as Algernon Moncrieff and 2005 Juilliard graduate Nick Mennell as Jack Worthing. Full casting for the production, which will be directed by Joe Dowling and performed September 12 - November 8 on the Wurtele Thrust Stage, will be announced shortly. The production begins rehearsals Tuesday, August 18.

The newly-ordained Father of the Bride film star Peter Michael Goetz -- currently starring in When We Are Married and set to play "Scrooge" in the Guthrie's 35th annual production of A Christmas Carol -- will marry Gretchen Bierbaum and Jeremiah Albrecht, winners of the theater's $60K When We Are Married Dream Wedding Giveaway. Following the center stage nuptials on August 16, the couple and their guests will enjoy a reception in the Dowling Studio and 9th floor Pohlad Lobby. Photos available upon request

Tickets are now on sale for the highly-anticipated Guthrie WorldStage Series and Walker Art Center presentation of Druid Ireland's production of The Walworth Farce (October 21 - 25 at the Walker Art Center) through the Walker Art Center box office at 612.375.7600 or online at www.walkerart.org. The remarkable play by Enda Walsh combines hilarious moments with shocking realism as it delivers an achingly tender insight into what happens when we become stuck in the stories will tell ourselves about our lives.

Casting was announced last month for the Guthrie presentation of Jon Ferguson's Super Monkey (September 17 - October 4). The world premiere production, created collaboratively by Ferguson and the ensemble, will including Jason Ballweber, Tyson Forbes, Sophie Gori, Rebecca Hurd, Emily King, ELise Langer, Sara Richardson, Anthony Sarnicki, Paul Sommers and Dario Tangleson. Highly visual, physical, poetic and comic with a sharp and dark edge, this modern farce explores the idea of personal and structural façade and the ever present potential descent into chaos.

FOR GUTHRIE RESTAURANT, "CHANGE" IS GOOD

Sea Change, the new restaurant located on the theater's first floor, has opened to rave reviews. As one of the most recognized and respected chefs in the Upper Midwest Chef Tim McKee (winner of the 2009 James Beard Award for Best Chef Midwest) offers a menu of sustainable seafood, highlighting fisheries that use environmentally responsible methods of gathering and farming seafood. Reservations can be made online or by calling 612.225.6499.

PLAN AHEAD: PRODUCTIONS

September 12 - November 8, 2009
The Importance of Being Earnest
Wurtele Thrust Stage

September 17 - October 4, 2009
A Jon Ferguson Theater production of
Super Monkey
Dowling Studio

October 8 - 18, 2009
A Stuart Pimsler Dance & Theater production of
Tales from the Book of Longing
Dowling Studio

October 17 - December 6, 2009
Faith Healer
McGuire Proscenium Stage

October 22 - November 8, 2009
An Interact Theater production of
Northern Lights/Southern Cross:
Tales from the Other Side of the World
Dowling Studio

November 19 - December 31, 2009
35th Anniversary Production of
A Christmas Carol
Wurtele Thrust Stage

PLAN AHEAD: CONCERT

October 12 @ 7:30 p.m.
Marianne Faithful
$40.50 - $42.50, now on sale
Wurtele Thrust Stage

October 19 @ 7:30 p.m.
Joe Bonamassa
$35 - $50, now on sale
Wurtele Thrust Stage

December 14 @ 7:30 p.m.
Bela Fleck and the Flecktones
$48.50, now on sale
Wurtele Thrust Stage

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