MTC Presents HAPPY NOW? 11/11-12/5

Marin Theatre Company announces the West Coast premiere of Happy Now? by British playwright Lucinda Coxon. Happy Now? received rave reviews on both sides of the Atlantic in London and New York. Jasson Minadakis directs Happy Now? in the Boyer Theatre November 11 through December 5, 2010. Opening night is November 16.

Insightful and comedic, Happy Now? explores what happens when one modern woman "has it all." "Everyone I know works tremendously hard to be Kitty, to have the job that makes a difference in the world, to be a leader at that job, to have a happy family, to have a circle of friends. But when you are living ‘the dream' how do you balance it all? How is it possible to be all these things and still be sane?" said MTC Artistic Director Jasson Minadakis. "Lucinda strikes deeply at the both the audiences' funny bones and nerve centers in this fabulous West Coast premiere."

In this scathingly funny new British play, Kitty is teetering on The Edge of burn-out. She dexterously juggles executive responsibilities, parenthood, a frustratingly detached and idealistic husband, needy divorced parents, and bickering friends until the temptation of infidelity throws everything into question. Coxon's stinging observations about the complexities of contemporary married life cut to the bone.

Happy Now? had its 2008 world premiere at the National Theatre in London, followed by its American premiere in a 2008 production at Yale Repertory Theatre, and an Off-Broadway production in 2009 at Primary Stages. Playwright Lucinda Coxon's plays have also been produced at The Royal Court Theatre, South Coast Rep, The Bush Theatre, and Soho Theatre. Also an accomplished screenwriter, Ms. Coxon recently completed a screen adaptation of David Ebershoff's novel, The Danish Girl. She is currently working on Vermeer, a new play commission at the National Theatre.

Jasson Minadakis directed MTC's hit productions of Equivocation by Bill Cain and The Seafarer by Conor McPherson, among many others. Later this season, he will direct the world premiere of Anton Chekhov's Seagull in a new version by Libby Appel, and Edward Albee's Tiny Alice.

The Happy Now? cast introduces MTC audiences to Rosemary Garrison as Kitty, Alex Moggridge as Johnny, and Mollie Stickney as Bea. Returning to MTC, Mark Anderson Phillips (The Last Schwartz) appears as Miles, Andrew Hurteau (Equivocation) as Michael, and Kevin Rolston (Sunlight) as Carl.
HAPPY NOW? FACT SHEET
WHAT: HAPPY NOW? | West Coast Premiere

In this scathingly funny new British play, Kitty is teetering on The Edge of burn-out. She dexterously juggles executive responsibilities, parenthood, a frustratingly detached and idealistic husband, needy divorced parents, and bickering friends until the temptation of infidelity throws everything into question. Coxon's stinging observations about the complexities of contemporary married life cut to the bone. A hit in London and New York, Happy Now? will leave audiences aching with laughter.

WHO: By Lucinda Coxon
Directed by Jasson Minadakis
Featuring Rosemary Garrison, Andrew Hurteau, Alex Moggridge, Mark Anderson Phillips, Kevin Rolston, and Mollie Stickney.

WHEN: Nov 11 through Dec 5, 2010
Opening Night: Nov 16
Previews: Nov 11-14
Performance Times
Tue, Thu, Fri & Sat 8:00 pm
Wed 7:30 pm
Sun 7:00 pm
Matinees: Thu Dec 2, 1 pm | Sat Nov 20 and 27, 2 pm | Every Sun 2 pm
Please check www.marintheatre.org or call the box office at 415.388.5208 for exact performance dates and times.

WHERE: Marin Theatre Company | 397 Miller Avenue, Mill Valley, CA 94941

TICKETS: $32-$53, details below
Ticket Prices
Previews: $32
Opening Night: $48 & $53
Tue: $33 & $35
Wed, Thu, & Sun Evenings: $37 & $42
Fri: $43 & $48
Sat Evenings: $48 & $53
Wed, Thu, Sat & Sun Matinees: $37 & $42
Discounts available:
Under 30: $20, all performances
Senior discounts, varies by performance, please call
RUSH tickets $15, available one-half hour prior to show, based on availability
For group sales, contact Julie Knight, 415.388.5200 x3302

INFO: 415.388.5208 | www.marintheatre.org

HAPPY NOW? ARTIST BIOS

Lucinda Coxon (Playwright) Ms. Coxon's play Happy Now? had its 2008 world premiere at the National Theatre in London, followed by a 2008 production at Yale Repertory Theatre, and Off-Broadway in 2009 at Primary Stages. Other plays include The Eternal Not, at the National Theatre and Latitude Festival;Nostalgia, at Plymouth Theatre Royal and South Coast Rep; The Shoemaker's Wife at National Theatre/Connections; Wishbones at the Bush Theater;Three Graces at Lakeside Theatre; The Ice Palace at the National Theatre/Connections; and Waiting at the Water's Edge at The Bush Theatre and Magic Theater. Screen credits include The Danish Girl, adapted from David Ebershoff; The Crimson Petal and the White, a 4-part BBC adaptation from Michel Faber; Mrs. Gonzales; Wild Target adapted from Cible Emouvante; The Heart of Me; and Lily and the Secret Planting. Ms. Coxon is currently working onVermeer, a new play commission at the National Theatre.

Jasson Minadakis (Director) is in his fifth season as Artistic Director of MTC. He directed the Bay Area premiere of Equivocation and the world premiere ofSunlight last season. In past seasons, he has directed Lydia, The Seafarer, Frankie and Johnny in the Clair de Lune, A Streetcar Named Desire, said Saïd,Love Song, and The Subject Tonight is Love. He directed Cat on a Hot Tin Roof at Georgia Shakespeare Festival this past summer. As Artistic Director at Actor's Express Theatre Company, he directed The Pillowman, Bug, The Love Song of J. Robert Oppenheimer, Echoes of Another Man, Killer Joe, Burn This, The Goat or, Who is Sylvia?, Blue/Orange, and Bel Canto. As Producing Artistic Director of Cincinnati Shakespeare Festival, he directed Jesus Hopped the ‘A' Train, Chagrin Falls, The Beard of Avon, Arcadia, Nocturne, Fuddy Meers, Lovers & Executioners, Jacob Marley's Christmas Carol,Betrayal, The Weir, Waiting for Godot, The Misanthrope, A Chance of Lightning, The Three Musketeers, Dracula, The Color Wheel, and 19 productions of Shakespeare. Regional credits include Hamlet at Georgia Shakespeare, Copenhagen at Playhouse on the Square, and Bedroom Farce at Wayside Theatre. The Atlanta Journal Constitution, Creative Loafing, and Southern Voice named him Best Director of 2004. He has won "Production of the Year" awards for The Pillowman and Bug (Actor's Express), Copenhagen (Playhouse on the Square), and Chagrin Falls (Cincinnati).

Mark Anderson Phillips (Miles) was last seen at MTC in The Last Schwartz. Recent credits include Fly By Night at New Works Festival; Opus at TheatreWorks; Noises Off and Witness For the Prosecution at CenterREP; and The Weir at San Jose Rep. His work includes roles with A.C.T., Berkeley Rep, San Jose Repertory Theatre, Magic Theatre, Aurora Theatre, SF Playhouse, Cal Shakes, San Francisco Shakespeare Festival, Word for Word, and Arizona Theatre Company. He has appeared in Joan Rivers - a work in progress by a life in progress at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, and Abraham Lincoln's Big Gay Dance Party at the New York International Fringe Festival, which won Best of Fringe. Mark is the recipient of three Bay Area Drama Critics' Circle awards for best performance in a leading role. He appears in the film, Joan Rivers - A Piece of Work as himself.

Rosemary Garrison (Kitty) makes her MTC debut in Happy Now? Credits include Devorale in The Golem at Manhattan Ensemble Theatre; Jill in The Big Funk at 78th Street Theatre Lab; Mary Ingram in Jane Eyre at La Jolla Playhouse; Luisa in A Shayna Maidel at Bickford Theater; Angel and Doctor in Mad Forest and Angela in King Stage at UC San Diego; and Chaya in The Ghetto and Henry V in Henry V at Tufts University. Rosemary holds an MFA in theatre from University of California at San Diego. In addition to acting, Rosemary teaches yoga.

Andrew Hurteau (Michael) has appeared at MTC in Equivocation, The Seafarer and Misalliance. He was recently seen in the A.C.T. production of David Mamet's November, in which he understudied and performed the roles of President Charles Smith, Chief Dwight Grackle, and the Turkey Guy. Additional Bay Area credits include Max Pollack in A The Floating Lightbulb at Traveling Jewish Theater; the Duke of Albany in King Lear, Lord Stanley in Richard III, and Charles Cheeryble in The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby at Cal Shakes; Mike Hogan in A Moon for the Misbegotten and Dudard inRhinoceros at Berkeley Rep; Bronte, Summertime, Shrodinger's Girlfriend, The Rules of Charity, and Nero: Another Golden Rome at Magic Theatre; andRichard Nixon in Nixon's Nixon and Max Prince in Neil Simon's Laughter on the 23rd Floor at Center REP.

Alex Moggridge (Johnny) makes his MTC debut in Happy Now? He has appeared in the Bay Area at A.C.T. in Beard of Avon, Christmas Carol, andThreepenny Opera; San Jose Rep inThe Weir and By the Bog of Cats; SF Playhouse in Shining City; and Center REP, Aurora Theatre Company, and Magic Theatre. Regional credits include productions at Pittsburgh Irish and Classical Theatre in The Pillowman, Artists Repertory Theatre, B Street Theatre, Utah Shakespearean Festival, and MCC Theater in New York. Film and TV credits include Trauma, Batman Begins, and Law & Order: Criminal Intent. Also a writer, Alex's play, The Squirrel, appeared off-Broadway as part of Summer Play Festival's 2006 season.

Kevin Rolston (Carl) has appeared at MTC in Sunlight and What the Butler Saw. Bay Area credits include the regional premiere of Opus at TheatreWorks;‘Tis Pity She's A Whore at A.C.T., Doubt and Noises Off at CenterREP; three world premieres at Magic Theatre including Rebecca Gilman's The Crowd You're In With; two tours with the San Francisco Mime Troupe; and productions at Word for Word and SF Playhouse. Regional credits include The Glass Menagerie and Enrico IV at the Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey, and productions with the New Federal Theatre, Pulse Ensemble Theatre, foolsFury, PCPA Theaterfest. Kevin is the Lead Writer for OutLook Theater Project.

Mollie Stickney (Bea) makes her MTC debut in Happy Now? She has appeared in the west coast premiere of Arcadia directed by Carey Perloff andGaslight directed by the late Albert Takazauckas at A.C.T. Other regional credits include House of Blue Leaves at Berkeley Rep, Roulette at SF Playhouse and Picasso at the Lapin Agile at Theater on the Square. She has been acting professionally in the Bay area for twenty years. As a student in A.C.T's Young Conservatory program, she made her professional stage debut in When We Are Married directed by Ed Hastings. She has a degree in Creative Writing from San Francisco State University and an MFA in theatre from A.C.T.

 

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