City Theatre to Stage MIDSUMMER (A PLAY WITH SONGS), 5/9-31

City Theatre continues its 40th anniversary season with Midsummer (a play with songs), on the Mainstage May 9 - 31, 2015. The play is written by David Greig and singer-songwriter Gordon McIntyre, and is directed by City Theatre Artistic Director Tracy Brigden.

Midsummer in Edinburgh turns into a weekend of wild abandon when divorce lawyer Helena meets small-time crook Bob in a wine bar. With a wad of ill-gotten cash in hand and a local gangster on their heels, the unlikely pair goes on an alcohol and adventure-filled romp, discovering that there are second chances at life-and love.

"Midsummer is all about new beginnings," says Ms. Brigden. "David has given us a wonderfully truthful script with characters we can identify with, but he skillfully avoids the sappiness present in most of today's 'rom-coms'. This play is also enormously theatrical -- the designers, our cast, and I really get a chance to flex our creative muscles!"

In addition to Midsummer (Traverse Theatre, Clurman Theater), David Greig is the author of The Monster in the Hall (City Theatre, 2011), Outlying Islands (City Theatre, 2004), The Events (New York Theatre Workshop), and Dunsinane (Hampstead Theatre). Greig also served as the first dramaturg for the National Theatre of Scotland following its establishment in 2006, and wrote an adaptation of Euripides' The Bacchae for them. Gordon McIntyre is a founding member of the Scottish indie band Ballboy.

Midsummer features Randy Redd and Carey Van Driest, each making their City Theatre debuts. The creative team includes Narelle Sissons (scenic and costume design), Andrew David Ostrowski (lighting design), Elizabeth Atkinson (sound design), Doug Levine (music direction), and Don Wadsworth (dialect coaching).

DETAILS:

PRESS / OPENING NIGHT:
Friday, May 15 at 8:00 p.m.

PERFORMANCE SCHEDULE:
Tuesdays at 7:00 p.m.
Wednesdays at 1:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m.
Thursdays and Fridays at 8:00 p.m.
Saturdays at 5:30 p.m. and 9:00 p.m.
Sundays at 2:00 p.m.

SPECIAL EVENTS:
Sipping Sunday - May 10 (7:00 p.m.)
Sunday Talkbacks - May 17 and 24 (following 2:00 p.m. performance)
Greenroom Young Professionals Night - May 29 (post-show reception)

ACCESIBLE PERFORMANCE DATES:
ASL Interpretation - May 29, 8:00 p.m.
Open Captioning & Audio Description - May 31, 2:00 p.m.

WHERE: City Theatre, 1300 Bingham Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15203 (South Side)

TICKETS: $36 to $61

BOX OFFICE: 412.431.CITY (2489) or citytheatrecompany.org

Audiences under 30 may reserve $15 tickets in advance for all performances except Fridays 8:00 p.m. and Saturdays 5:30 p.m. On Fridays and Saturdays, rush tickets are available two hours prior to show time and based on availability. A limited number of Pay-What-You-Want tickets will be available one hour before the performance. Please call the box office in advance to check on availability. Mention "Pay-What-You-Want" pricing when purchasing. Seniors age 62 and older may purchase $22 rush tickets at the Box Office beginning two hours before show time. Based on availability. Groups of 10 or more are eligible for discounts -- call 412.431.4400 x286.

City Theatre is now in its 40th anniversary season. Located on Pittsburgh's historic South Side, City Theatre specializes in new plays, commissioning and producing work by playwrights including Daniel Beaty, Jessica Dickey, Christopher Durang, Michael Hollinger, Willy Holtzman, Tarell McCraney, and Madeleine George. Under the leadership of Artistic Director Tracy Brigden, Managing Director James McNeel, and a 38-member Board of Directors, City Theatre's mission is to provide an artistic home for the development and production of contemporary plays of substance and ideas that engage and challenge a diverse audience. For more, visit CityTheatreCompany.org.

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