Writers' Theatre Celebrates A Minister's Wife 5/7

The Writers' Theatre Board of Trustees announce a benefit evening to celebrate the New York Premiere of A Minister's Wife, the new musical directed and conceived by Artistic Director Michael Halberstam, on Saturday, May 7, 2011. A Minister's Wife, with book by Austin Pendleton, music by Joshua Schmidt and lyrics by Jan Levy Tranen, based on Candida by George Bernard Shaw, received its World Premiere at Writers' Theatre.

The Writers' Theatre event includes a ticket to A Minister's Wife at the Mitzi E. Newhouse Theatre at Lincoln Center, pre-show dinner at Atlantic Grill, 49 W 64th Street, and a post-show dessert reception with Michael Halberstam in a stunning parkside apartment. Tickets to the event are $425 and are available through Development Assistant Amy Buckler, 847-441-8194 or abuckler@writerstheatre.org.

A Minister's Wife had its world premiere in spring 2009 at Writers' Theatre. Based on an early 1898 version of Candida (George Bernard Shaw revised the work in 1930) A Minister's Wife explores the fires burning beneath the surface of a seemingly ordinary marriage. The Revered James Morell and his wife, Candida (are happily married - or at least they think) until a romantic young poet, Marchbanks, enters their life. The New York Premiere will begin performances Thursday, April 7 at 8pm and open on Sunday, May 8 at 6:45pm at the Mitzi E. Newhouse Theater (150 West 65 Street).

"Writers' Theatre couldn't be more proud of this production or its New York Premiere. As we prepare to celebrate with Michael and his team in New York, we recognize the incredible artistic successes-including several world premiere plays-that have begun at Writers'. In fact, A Minister's Wife was created from inception to production through Writers' Literary Development Initiative and we are proud for the process to continue in Michael's hands at Lincoln Center," says Executive Director Kathryn Lipuma.

The production includes original cast members Kate Fry (Candida Morell) and Liz Baltes (Proserpine Garnett). The cast also includes Drew Gehling (Reverend Alexander Mill), Marc Kudish (Reverend James Morell) and Bobby Steggert (Eugene Marchbanks).

Michael Halberstam is the artistic director and co-founder of Writers' Theatre where he has directed more than 30 productions including Look Back In Anger, Benefactors, Othello and The Duchess of Malfi. Austin Pendleton is an actor, director and playwright whose recent plays include Booth, Orson's Shadow and Uncle Bob. His New York directing credits include the current Three Sisters (Classic Stage Company, Uncle Vanya (also at the CSC), Michael Weller's Fifty Words (MCC) and Barbara Eda-Young's Lillian Yuralis (La MaMa). Joshua Schmidt composed the music for the multi-award winning musical, Adding Machine. His other off-Broadway credits include the music for LCT'S production of When The Rain Stops Falling, Fifty Words (MCC), Crime and Punishment (59E59 Theatres) and Candida (Jean Cocteau Repertory). He is an Artistic Associate at Writers' Theatre. Jan Levy Tranen's credits include the lyrics for the one-act opera, Night in Sarajevo and the book and lyrics for the musicals, Crazy Mary, based on the life of Mary Todd Lincoln, and Steadfast the One Legged Tin Soldier, a family holiday musical.

A Minister's Wife will be performed Tuesday through Saturday evenings at 8pm, with matinees Wednesday and Saturdays at 2pm and Sundays at 3pm. (Please note: there is no Saturday matinee on April 9 and that the opening night performance on Sunday, May 8 at 6:45pm will take place of that day's regularly scheduled 3pm matinee).

Tickets to A Minister's Wife, will be available beginning Sunday, March 20 at the Lincoln Center Theater box office (150 West 65 Street), at telecharge.com, or by visiting www.lct.org.

ABOUT WRITERS' THEATRE
Writers' Theatre is a professional company focusing on the Word and the Artist. Remaining true to the intention of the playwright and nurturing the artist stand at the center of the mission. Now in its 19th season, the company both revives classic scripts and cultivates new works and adaptations while invigorating them with fresh energy in the intimacy of its venues. Founded in 1992, Writers' Theatre performed exclusively at Books on Vernon, 664 Vernon Avenue for the first 12 years. In the fall of 2003, the organization opened a new 108 seat performance venue at 325 Tudor Court. Today, Writers' Theatre continues to produce in both spaces, maintaining an intimate theatrical experience for audiences. Since 2000, the subscriber base has grown almost 250%, from 1,500 to more than 5,700 today. With an operating budget of $3.4 million, Writers' Theatre is supported by a staff of 20 full-time employees and a 31-member Board of Trustees.

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