Jungle Theater to Stage Regional Premiere of ANNAPURNA This Fall

The Jungle Theater continues its 2015 Season with the regional premiere of ANNAPURNA, on stage September 4-October 18. Starring Terry Hempleman and Angela Timberman in a tour-de-force duet, the breathtaking comic-drama by Sharr White is a surprising and funny exploration about the longevity of love. Joel Sass directs the award-winning play at the Jungle, 2951 Lyndale Av. S. in Minneapolis.

In this gripping tale - by turns hilarious and harrowing - Emma tracks ex-husband Ulysses to a trailer park in the middle of nowhere for a final reckoning. What unfolds is a visceral and profound meditation on love and loss with the simplest of theatrical elements: two people in one room. The estranged couple attempt to come to terms with what happened one night 20 years ago - something Ulysses can't remember and Emma can never forget - and the closer they get to uncovering what drove them apart, the more they are drawn back together.

"Like some of the best plays, Annapurna unites the audience with two characters who are seeking redemption and forgiveness from each other, and trying to come to grips with the complexity of the love they share," said Sass.

He added, "Angie Timberman and Terry Hempleman are longtime fixtures in our local acting scene, and they share a level of history, friendship and trust that make them a perfect fit for these roles."

Annapurna had its world premiere in November 2011 in San Francisco starring real-life Hollywood couple Megan Mullally (Will & Grace) and Nick Offerman (Parks and Recreation). They also starred in the off-Broadway production at the Acorn Theatre in 2014. The play was a 2012 finalist for the Steinburg/ATCA New Play Award.

The title, Annapurna, comes from an immense mountain peak in Nepal which is notoriously difficult to scale because the climbers struggle to breathe at such a high altitude (Ulysses suffers from acute emphysema); Annapurna is also the name of the Hindu goddess of nourishment, and resonates with Playwright White's two characters who are each seeking solace from each other. Within the play, "Annapurna" is the title of an unpublished, epic poem written by Ulysses, which he has labored on for decades and has hidden away in overstuffed file boxes inside his trailer.

In addition to scenic design by Sass, the production's creative team includes Amelia Cheever (costume designer), Barry Browning (lighting designer), Sean Healey (sound designer) and John Stillwell (technical director).

Performances of Annapurna are Tuesdays ($28), 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 Sundays at 7:30 p.m. ($35). Senior, student and group discounts are also available, and rush tickets are available every night of the week 30 minutes prior to the performance for $10 off the regular price. Tickets are available at (612) 822-7063 or online at www.jungletheater.com

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