THE SCREWTAPE LETTERS To Get Two Halloween Performances, 10/31

Adapted for the stage by Jeffrey Fiske and Max McLean, the popular production of C. S. Lewis' THE SCREWTAPE LETTERS will get two speciAl Halloween performances on Saturday, October 31, at 4 p.m. and 8 p.m. at the Herberger Theater Center.

THE SCREWTAPE LETTERS provides audiences' with additional performances on All Hallows' Eve. First, audiences will enter Screwtape's office in hell, and then they will be engaged by 90 minutes, without intermission, of company by the senior devil. The production will be presented by Fellowship for the Performing Arts at The Herberger Theater Center Friday, October 30 through Sunday, November 1. The play has enjoyed sold-out runs in Chicago, New York, and Washington, D.C. and now makes its way to Phoenix.

THE SCREWTAPE LETTERS is a theatrical adaptation of C.S. Lewis' novel that explores the theme of spiritual warfare from a demon's point of view. The show follows a senior devil, Screwtape, played by Max McLean, and his secretary, Toadpipe, played by Karen Eleanor Wight, as they train an apprentice demon, Wormwood, on how to "undermine faith and prevent the formation of virtues" in a young man who has just converted to Christianity. As Screwtape ridicules Wormwood and devilishly dictates his letters to Toadpipe, the fantastical creature transforms into recognizable figures with whimsical movement and wordless wit.

Critics have said the show is "Very smart...richly rewarding...exuberant theatricality!," (Chris Jones, Chicago Tribune), "THE SCREWTAPE LETTERS is just about everything you want in a night at the theatre...," (Daniel Kelly, NYTheatre.com), "A first rate production...Terribly entertaining... Screwtape boils over with wit" (Jayne Blanchard, The Washington Times), a "Hell of a good time...imaginative theatricality...wonderful performances" (Frank Scheck, New York Post), "Sly, funny, handsomely produced" (Celia Wren, Washington Post) and "Pure genius... an outstanding piece of work," (John J. Miller, National Review)

When first published in 1942, THE SCREWTAPE LETTERS brought immediate fame to C.S. Lewis, a little known Oxford don whose field of study was Medieval English and literature. C.S. Lewis was a Fellow and Tutor of English literature at Oxford University until 1954 when he was unanimously elected to the Chair of Medieval and Renaissance English at Cambridge University, a position he held until his retirement.

He wrote more than thirty books, allowing him to reach a vast audience. His most popular accomplishments include: The Chronicles of Narnia, Out of the Silent Planet, and Mere Christianity.

The initial production of THE SCREWTAPE LETTERS opened at Theatre 315 in New York City in January 2006 for a limited three-week run, which extended to ten sold-out weeks. It reopened in the fall of 2007 at the larger Theatre at St. Clement's for another twelve sold-out weeks. In April 2008 it transferred to The Shakespeare Theatre Company's Lansburgh Theatre in Washington, D.C. for a five week run. Again it played for sold out and standing room-only audiences. In October 2008, it transferred again to the Mercury Theater in Chicago for a scheduled six week run that grew to six months. The Chicago Tribune called it "the most successful show in the history of the Mercury Theater."

THE SCREWTAPE LETTERS is directed by Jeffrey Fiske and stars Max McLean as Screwtape and Karen Eleanor Wight as Toadpipe. Scenic design is by Cameron Anderson, costumes are by Michael Bevins, lighting by Jesse Klug, and sound is by Bart Fasbender. For more biographical or production information, visit www.ScrewtapeOnStage.com.

The schedule for THE SCREWTAPE LETTERS is October 30th at 8 p.m., October 31 at 4 p.m. and 8 p.m. and November 1st at 3 p.m. Tickets range in price from $29.00 to $49.00. Tickets are available by calling the Herberger Theater at (602) 254-7399 or by visiting www.herbergertheater.org.

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