OTHER DESERT CITIES at Kelsey Theatre

An American Family

Secrecy-Loyalty-Betrayal

Theater to Go in partnership with Kelsey Theatre  presents OTHER DESERT CITIES by Jon Robin Baitz.  Directed by Ruth Markoe. The play will run for two weekends from May 26- June 4 Fridays and Saturdays at 8PM and Sundays at 2PM at Kelsey Theatre in West Windsor NJ on the campus of Mercer County Community College. Tickets are $20-22 and can be purchased online at KelseyTheatre.net or by calling 609 570 3333

Produced and directed by Ruth Markoe. It is a play about an American family and what drives them apart and keeps them together. Set in upscale and conservative Palm Springs California in 2004, Brooke Wyeth (Dara Lewis) returns home after a six-year absence to celebrate Christmas with her family. Brooke announces she is about to publish a memoir dredging up a pivotal and tragic event in the family’s history — a wound they don’t want reopened. Her wealthy Republican parents (Peggy Waldron and David Williams), former friends of the Reagans and stalwarts of their local country club, are wary and suspicious Her brother Trip (Parker Madison) won't play her game and  her Aunt Silda (Susan Schwirck) knows way too much. Her parents fall into all their old routines as they plead with her to keep their story quiet. In this family, secrets are currency, and everyone is rich.

OTHER DESERT CITIES was a 2012 Pulitzer Prize finalist and a 2012 Nominee for 5 Tony awards. Ben Brantley of the NY Times called it “A witty and deeply enjoyable family drama. The most richly enjoyable new play for grownups”

The Wyeth family is portrayed by DAVID WILLIAMS and PEGGY WALDRON  as Lyman and Polly, the parents. DARA LEWIS  and  PARKER MADISON as Brooke and Trip, their children, and SUSAN SCHWIRCK  as their aunt Silda the busybody recovering alcoholic.

The creative team consists of RUTH MARKOE  (director/producer), ROB LASKY (stage manager), HALEY SCHMALBACH  (Set design), KITTY GETLIK  (light design), ERIC COLLINS  (sound design), RUTH and MELISSA RITTMAN (costumes).

About THEATER TO GO

Theater To Go, under the leadership of Ruth Markoe, began in 1992 and has been providing quality entertainment in NJ and regionally since then. It is best known for audience participation murder mysteries and other interactive comedy theater and nownow produces full length plays and staged readings. In addition to the interactive comedy murder mysteries, Theatre To Go has been among the resident companies at Kelsey Theatre producing such plays as To Kill a Mockingbird, A Raisin in the Sun, Room Service, Cabaret, and  Dial M for Murder , a runner up in the 2022 Broadway World Regional Awards for Best Play and Best Director.  Most recently Ruth Markoe produced and directed The Fantasticks at Kelsey Theatre.

T2G has been working with playwright Mark Violi to develop his historical drama ROEBLING: The Story of the Brooklyn Bridge which played to sold out audiences in 2016, and produced his World War II drama Riding the Comet at the 2107 NYC Theater Festival Summerfest  

About Theater To Go

DATES:       

Fridays, May 26 and June 2 at 8pm

Saturdays May 27 and June 3 at 8pm

Sundays May 26 and June 4 at 2pm

LOCATION: KELSEY THEATRE

1200 Old Trenton Rd.

West Windsor NJ 08550

 COST:                    $20-22

 TICKETS:     www.KelseyTheatre.org  or 609 570-3333

Authors

• Jon Robin Baitz