Caroline Kinsolving & Jeff Meek to Lead San Diego Rep's VENUS IN FUR

San Diego REPertory Theatre (San Diego REP) presents "Venus In Fur" by David Ives as the third installment of the company's 38th season. "Venus In Fur" is a production The New York Times calls "90 minutes of good, kinky fun." Directed by San Diego REP Co-Founder and Artistic Director Sam Woodhouse, previews for "Venus In Fur" begin Saturday, Nov. 9, 2013. Opening night is Friday, Nov. 15, 2013 and runs through Sunday, Dec. 8, 2013 in the Lyceum Space.

"Venus In Fur" begins innocently enough with a young actress auditioning for the role of a lifetime from a demanding playwright and director. However, the tale takes a darker, edgy turn as we learn the production is based on the 1870 erotic novella "Venus in Furs" by Leopold von Sacher-Masoch -- Mr. S&M himself. The two emotionally-charged artists get wrapped up in an ultimate test of wills that results in a man versus woman, director versus actress, and writer versus muse -- all with a little leather and lace mixed in.

Is dominance the same as control? Can sexuality overpower gender roles? Ives has written an exploration of power, sexuality and love that blurs the line between fantasy and reality that earned it a Tony Award Nomination for Best Play in 2012. "From the moment I saw this play in its acclaimed run on Broadway I knew this was a perfect play for San Diego REP - so very intimate, sexy, exotic and profoundly provocative," says Woodhouse. "Master playwright David Ives has crafted an erotic and very funny dance of ever-shifting power between a man and a woman. Their dance is hot, liberating and full of surprises."

Caroline Kinsolving (Vanda) was last seen on stage as Jenny in "Chapter Two" (Laguna Playhouse). "Venus In Fur" is her first appearance at San Diego REP. Other leading theatre roles include in "Twelfth Night" (Old Globe); Amanda in "Private Lives" (ICT) ; Titania in a "A Midsummer Night's Dream" (Harold Clurman Lab) ; Kate in "The Taming of the Shrew" (Kingsmen); Jo in "Little Women" (North Coast Rep); Rosalind in "As You Like It" (Kingsmen); John Cariani's "Almost, Maine" (The Colony Theatre); and "Coriolanus" (Shaw Theare in London). Additional television and film credits include: "Medium," "Criminal Minds," "Cold Case," "Sam Has 7 Friends," "Headhunters," "Noobz," "Puppy Love," "Krankenhaous," "The Pink Conspiracy," "Break," and "The Adventures of Umbweki."

Jeff Meek (Thomas) returns to San Diego REP as Thomas in "Venus In Fur." His previous work at San Diego REP includes Jim Morrison in "Celebration of the Lizard" and Dracula in "Dracul"; as well as supporting roles in "Pale" and "Burn This" (San Diego REP). He is an award winning actor, with additional theatre credits include "Mack the Knife" (Threepenny Opera); "A Streetcar Named Desire" (South Coast Repertory); "Tabletop" (Laguna Playhouse); "Coriolanus" (Claire Trevor Theatre); "Cuba and his Teddy Bear"* (Callboard Theatre); "LuAnn Hampton" (Zephyr Theatre); "God's Favorite" (Performance Riverside); "Death of a Salesman" (Saddleback); and "Haven't We Met?" (NYTW). Meek's film credits include: "Heart Condition," "Johnny Handsome," "Winter People," and "Breaking the Surface." Meek's television lead roles include: "Raven," "The Exile," "Mortal Kombat Conquest," "As The World Turns," and "Search for Tomorrow." Guest star roles include: "Criminal Minds," "Castle," "The Glades," "Miami Vice," and "Profiler." Meek is also the screenwriter of the film "Beyond the Sea," starring Kevin Spacey. He is the artistic director of Play Fest Santa Barbara.

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