Deep Dish Theater Presents Regional Premiere of THE LANDING

A math-obsessed boy discovers wonders in the stars, a historic brick exerts an ominous influence on a loveable aunt, and two new parents begin to wonder what lies behind their son's improbable stories in The Landing, the new musical by celebrated composer John Kander and presented by the Deep Dish Theater Company. The regional premiere will open on Halloween and play through November 22, continuing the company's fourteenth season at University Mall.

Kander-who along with his long-time partner Fred Ebb is responsible for such iconic Broadway musicals as Chicago, Kiss of the Spider Woman, and Cabaret, as well as the song New York, New York-teamed with the young playwright Greg Pierce to create three mini-musicals, a triptych of stories with a Twilight Zone bent. Four actors (John Allore, Mark Ridenour, Erin Tito and 13-year-old Neil Bullard) play multiple roles in the course of an evening rife with surprises of all kinds. Musical director Glenn Mehrbach leads a 4-piece combo through Kander's characteristically lovely and character-defining tunes.

The production is directed by Deep Dish Artistic Director Paul Frellick. "This is particularly exciting for us, to be doing the first production of this piece outside of New York," he notes. "Everything about The Landing is toying with expectations-little is what it seems, and if it is, it probably won't be for long. So in many ways it's the perfect vehicle for one of the American theater's best-loved composers to return to a simpler, subtler, more intimate approach and create something completely original."

The design staff includes scenic and lighting designer Thomas Mauney and costumer Deb Cox, making their Deep Dish debuts; Karin Bagan, who created props for Good People and Arcadia; and choreographer Chasta Hamilton, who staged the waltzes in Arcadia. Danny Tauber is the technical director and Jen Bauer the stage manager, assisted by Victoria Chaffee.

Dramaturg Jenni Rajewski will present a pre-show "Meet the Play" talk on Friday, November 7 at 7 pm. Post-performance discussions will take place Sunday, November 2 (with Jenni Rajewski, Glenn Mehrbach and Paul Frellick); Sunday, November 9 (with the cast and Gregory Kable of the UNC Department of Dramatic Art); and Thursday, November 13 (a "Meet the Designers" discussion with the production staff). The Deep Dish Book Selection-George Saunders' collection of stories Tenth of December-will be discussed on Tuesday, November 18 at 7 pm at the Chapel Hill Public Library.

Performances begin Wednesday and Thursday at 7:30 p.m., Friday and Saturday at 8 p.m., and Sunday (matinee) at 2 p.m. Deep Dish is located in Chapel Hill's University Mall, on Estes Drive and US 15-501.

Tickets are $25 for adults, $23 for seniors and educators, and $21 for students, with a $2 discount for Wednesday and Thursday shows. Every Wednesday, a certain number of "Cheap Dish" tickets will be for sale at the door for just $14. Call 919-968-1515 for ticket reservations and for more information visit www.deepdishtheater.org.

The Deep Dish Theater Company is committed to presenting compelling, human-centered dramatic work that contributes to the cultural richness of the Triangle area and challenges audiences to explore concerns of the community and the world-at-large.

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