Jungle Theater Presents Regional Premiere of New Sarah Ruhl Play

The Jungle's 26th season concludes with the Midwest premiere of THE OLDEST BOY, an astonishing original tale by award-winning playwright Sarah Ruhl (In the Next Room, The Clean House). Directed by the Jungle's Artistic Director Sarah Rasmussen, The Oldest Boy is on stage November 4 through December 18 at the Lyn-Lake neighborhood theater, 2951 Lyndale Ave. S. in Minneapolis. The lyrical drama with evocative puppetry and live musical elements is being brought to life through a partnership with the Tibetan community of Minneapolis-St. Paul.

Rasmussen, who helmed the 2012 Ivey Award-winning Jungle production of Ruhl's In the Next Room (or the Vibrator Play), said, "We are so honored to bring this poetic play to our stage. Sarah Ruhl is a two-time Pulitzer Prize finalist, a Tony Award nominee and the recipient of a MacArthur Genius Grant. This 'play in three ceremonies' reinforces the Sarah Ruhl pedigree, at the same time, gives audiences a completely different theatrical experience."

A thoughtful, moving exploration of parenthood, love and letting go, The Oldest Boy is the story of an American mother whose young son is believed to be the reincarnation of a high Buddhist Lama. When Tibetan monks arrive unexpectedly, asking to take her child away for a life of spiritual training in India, she and her Tibetan husband must make a life-altering choice that will test their faith and their hearts. The New York Times said, "'The Oldest Boy' is...marked by Ms. Ruhl's inquisitive intelligence, clean-lined eloquence and spiky humor." Variety praised the play, calling it "...extremely imaginative and hypnotically beautiful."

The Oldest Boy stars Christina Baldwin (In the Next Room) with Randy Reyes (Mu Performing Arts), Eric "Pogi" Sumangil and puppeteerMasanari Kawahara making their Jungle debuts. Tsering Dorjee Bawa - also new to the Jungle stage - is an acclaimed San Francisco-based Tibetan actor/musician who served as the cultural consultant for the original The Oldest Boy at Lincoln Center, as well as all subsequent productions. He plays the Monk role and again serves as a cultural consultant, along with local Tibetan artist Tenzin Ngawang. Bawa and Yeshi Samdup will also dance and perform live music in this production.

Rasmussen's creative team includes Sonya Berlovitz (costume design), Sean Healey (sound design), Mina Kinukawa (scenic design),Karin Olson (light design) and Katherine Pardue (assistant director)

The Oldest Boy features post-show Stay Late discussions after every performance and Come Early sessions (one hour prior to curtain) are offered before the Sunday matinee and Sunday evening performances to give audience members the opportunity to talk about the play's themes and ideas with people in the know.

Performances of The Oldest Boy are Tuesdays ($35), Wednesdays ($35) and Thursdays ($40) at 7:30 p.m.; Fridays ($45) and Saturdays at 8 p.m. ($48); Sundays at 2 p.m. ($40) and 7:30 p.m. ($35). Preview performances on November 2-3 at 7:30 p.m. are $15, general admission seating. Rush tickets are offered every night of the week, based on availability two hours prior to the performance, and there is special Fridaynight pricing for students, 55408 neighborhood residents and employees, and those under 30 years of age. Tickets and more information are available at (612) 822-7063 or online at www.jungletheater.com.

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