Cygnet Theatre to Launch 13th Season with DOGFIGHT

Cygnet Theatre will kick off its 13th season in July as director Sean Murray mounts the San Diego Premiere of Dogfight, a romantic and comic musical adaptation of the 1991 movie with River Phoenix and Lili Taylor. Winner of the Lucille Lortel Award for Best Musical in 2013, Dogfight represents the new generation of voices in musical theatre creation. The production runs July 16 - August 23. Opening night for media is July 25.

Featuring music and lyrics by Benj Pasek and Justin Paul (called "heirs to Rodgers and Hammerstein" by Variety), and a book by Peter Duchan, Dogfight wowed the critics when it premiered at New York's Second Stage in 2012. Cygnet Theatre's San Diego premiere features Patrick Osteen (It's a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play) whose credits include the North American Tour of War Horse. Osteen is a graduate of the University of North Carolina School of the Arts. Dogfight marks the Cygnet debut of Caitie Grady in the pivotal role of Rose. Grady is a familiar face in San Diego and is well known as a company member at Lamb's Players Theatre (Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Mixtape).

The story begins on November 21, 1963. On the eve of their deployment to a small but growing conflict in Southeast Asia, three young Marines set out for one final boys' night of debauchery, partying, and maybe a little trouble. But when Corporal Eddie Birdlace meets Rose, an awkward and idealistic waitress who he enlists to win a cruel bet with his fellow recruits, she rewrites the rules of the game and teaches him the power of compassion.

"I was drawn to this musical not only by the beautiful songs, but what it communicates about human behavior," explained Murray. "So many issues surface as these characters go through the story and come out changed at the other end." He added, "I think we can all relate to being pressured to behave in a certain way and learning where we belong."

Rounding out the cast are several actors who have made their mark in recent critically acclaimed productions, including Charles Evans, Jr. (My Fair Lady, A Christmas Carol, Spring Awakening), Alex Hoeffler (Sons of the Prophet) and Debra Wanger (My Fair Lady, Spring Awakening). New to the Cygnet stage are Mel Domingo, Sarah Errington, Bryan Charles Feldman, Ben Gibson, Scott Nickley and Eric Von Metzke.

The production team features music direction by Terry O'Donnell, choreography by David Brannen, costume design by Jacinda Johnston, set design by Sean Fanning, lighting design by Chris Rynne, sound design by David Scott, and properties design by Syd Stevens. Maria Mangiavellano will stage manage.

Performances are July 16 through August 23. Show times are Wednesdays and Thursdays at 7:30pm, Fridays at 8:00pm, Saturdays at 3:00pm and 8:00pm, and Sundays at 2:00pm and 7:00pm.

For more information regarding tickets, please contact the box office at 619-337-1525 or visit www.cygnettheatre.com. Tickets may be purchased in person at the box office located at 4040 Twiggs Street. Discounts are available for students, active-duty military, seniors and groups of 10 or more.

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