Guthrie's Christopher Hampton Celebration Presents Openings, Hampton Weekends and Michael Billington Discussion, Oct 2012

The Guthrie Theater has announced that its Celebration of the multifaceted writer Christopher Hampton will intensify in the coming weeks. Building on a strongly positive critical reaction to Tales from Hollywood, the Celebration will follow through on its promise of an immersive multi-stage theatrical experience that incorporates a range of works in different venues and opportunities for the community to engage in dialogue and conversation.

Extreme Weekends
Following tonight’s opening of the political epic Appomattox on the McGuire Proscenium Stage and next Friday’s opening of the meditative Embers in the Dowling Studio, all three of the Guthrie’s stages will be simultaneously occupied by Hampton’s work. These Extreme Hampton Weekends have attracted the international attention of the U.K. newspaper The Guardian’s theater critic Michael Billington, who will be in the Twin Cities the weekend of October 12-14 to visit the Guthrie and attend all three plays.

Billington Post-show Discussion
Billington will also take part in a post-show discussion on October 14 in the Wurtele Thrust Stage, which will combine audiences from all three Hampton shows at 4:00 p.m.; Billington, an esteemed critical voice in the U.K., will be able to provide unique insight and understanding of Hampton’s prominence and influence on the international landscape.

In Conversation
The following night, Hampton will appear on the McGuire Proscenium Stage for an “In Conversation” with Guthrie Director Joe Dowling, which will represent a remarkable opportunity to hear the history and ideas behind the Hampton Celebration, as well as the considerable rapport and artistic connection between Hampton and Dowling.

Continuing Legal Education
As the Christopher Hampton Celebration continues, other events include a Continuing Legal Education course for attorneys called “A Race to Vote: The Marathon of Seeking Racial Equality in American Voting Rights” on October 16 that will feature Christopher Hampton as well as leading individuals from the worlds of civil rights and politics.

Book Signing
On October 21 following the end of all three matinee performances, Guthrie Board Lifetime Director Polly Grose will be on hand on the theater’s Level Four to sign copies of her new book Guthrie Theater: The First Fifty Years, a collection of essays collected and edited by Grose featuring the thoughts and recollections of a wide variety of luminaries from the Theater’s history. Copies of the book also will be available for purchase.

Free Movie Screenings
Additionally, the Guthrie’s free screenings of Hampton-related films will take place Mondays throughout the month of October: Dangerous Liaisons on October 8, Carrington on October 22 and Atonement on October 29. Screenings take place on the McGuire Proscenium Stage; seating is general admission with reservations recommended.

For information about tickets to Hampton Celebration plays and the Hampton In Conversation call the Guthrie Box Office at 612.377.2224 or visit guthrietheater.org. General information about the Hampton Celebration is available at guthrietheater.org/hampton_celebration. Information about the Polly Grose book signing is available at guthrietheater.org/visit/guthrie_store; information about Continuing Legal Education can be found at guthrietheater.org/cle.

The GUTHRIE THEATER (Joe Dowling, Director) was founded by Sir Tyrone Guthrie in 1963 and is an American center for theater performance, production, education and professional training. The Tony Award-winning Guthrie Theater is dedicated to producing the great works of dramatic literature, developing the work of contemporary playwrights and cultivating the next generation of theater artists. With annual attendance of nearly 500,000 people, the Guthrie Theater presents a mix of classic plays and contemporary work on its three stages. Under the artistic leadership of Joe Dowling since 1995, the Guthrie continues to set a national standard for excellence in theatrical production and performance. In 2006, the Guthrie opened its new home on the banks of the Mississippi River in Minneapolis. Designed by Pritzker Prize-winning architect Jean Nouvel, the Guthrie Theater houses three state-of-the-art stages, production facilities, classrooms and dramatic public lobbies.

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