Magic Theatre Presents ANOTHER WAY HOME World Premiere, Now thru 12/2

Magic Theatre introduces playwright Anna Ziegler to the Bay Area with the world premiere of Another Way Home, running from tonight, November 7 – December 2.

While visiting their son at summer sleep away camp, obsessive middle-aged Jewish parents Lillian and Philip are compelled to question everything they thought they understood about their children, their marriage, and their true desires. Let the Nadelmans help you find Another Way Home in this funny, moving, and uplifting examination of what it means to be a family.

"I've been a fan of Anna's for the last decade," said Producing Artistic Director Loretta Greco, "and it's wonderful to have her here, making her Magic Theatre debut with the premiere of Another Way Home. The play is a wonderful oddity in that it's a coming of age story for both the teenage kids and their parents. It captured my heart because Anna's writing rang achingly true to me for both generations and because, like most things I love, it is both emotionally rich and at times ridiculously funny."

Gifted director and champion of new plays Meredith McDonough returns to Magic Theatre and the Bay Area from her new position as Associate Artistic Director at Actors Theatre of Louisville to direct Another Way Home. McDonough's work was last seen at Magic Theatre in the world premiere of Taylor Mac's The Lily's Revenge during Magic's 2010-2011 Season. McDonough is also known in the Bay Area for her work directing the New Works Festival at TheatreWorks. "I'm thrilled to be returning to the Bay Area and to the Magic to work with Anna on her wonderful play," said McDonough. "Anna and I have been friends and collaborators for many years, so the opportunity to work alongside her in a home as supportive as the Magic is ideal!"

Anna Ziegler's work has been developed or produced by organizations across the country and Europe, including The O'Neill Playwrights Conference, Primary Stages, The Araca Group, Ars Nova, TheatreWorks, and The Old Vic New Voices Program. Her work has also been commissioned by The Manhattan Theatre Club, The Ensemble Studio Theatre, Virginia Stage Company, and New Georges, where she is an affiliated artist.

"I'm so thrilled that this play is premiering at the Magic," said Anna Ziegler. "It's a personal, delicate play and were it debuting anywhere else I'd be a bit frightened. But I know I'm in such good hands at Magic."

The talented cast of five includes two new faces to the Bay Area in Kim Martin-Cotten (Lillian), who appeared on Broadway in Merchant of Venice with Al Pacino and in the National Tour of August: Osage County, and Mark Pinter (Philip), who has been seen in Off-Broadway productions at Hypothetical Theatre and Soho Rep, as well as in regional theatres around the country. The cast also includes Bay Area favorites Jeremy Kahn (Mike T.), who has been seen in productions at Center Repertory Company and San Francisco Playhouse, Riley Krull (Nora), who has appeared at Diablo Theatre Company, Custom Made Theatre Company, and 42nd Street Moon, and Daniel Petzold (Joey), who was last seen at Magic in Linda McLean's Any Given Day.

Another Way Home will feature sets and costumes by Annie Smart, lighting design by Paul Toben, sound design by Sara Huddleston, and dramaturgy by Carrie Hughes.

Magic Theatre has built a reputation over its past 45 years as a hothouse for exciting new plays, the hottest writers, and cutting edge professional productions. With its intimate thrust stage, it is the perfect venue for audiences to experience new work up close. This intimacy extends beyond the stage through a number of special events – Thursday night Docent 360s, Friday night TalkBACKs, New Work Development Dialogues with playwrights and directors, and the Martha Heasley Cox Virgin Play Series. Enjoy unparalleled access to new plays, playwrights, and the process of taking a play from the page to the stage at Magic Theatre.

For more information or to purchase tickets, go online to www.magictheatre.org or call the box office at 415-441-8822.

Now in its 46th year, Magic Theatre is dedicated to the cultivation of innovative plays, playwrights, and audiences through explosive and entertaining productions of original work. Working side-by-side with adventuresome playwrights, Magic Theatre fosters new works from page to stage as world premieres, or seizes the rare opportunity to further develop a new work with a second or third production. The list of playwrights cultivated and premiered at Magic Theatre is a veritable who's who of American theatre: Sam Shepard, Michael McClure, Octavio Solis, Nilo Cruz, Paula Vogel, Rebecca Gilman, Lloyd Suh, Taylor Mac, Theresa Rebeck, Sharr White, and Luis Alfaro, to name few. Experience new play development at Magic Theatre.

Pictured: The cast of Another Way Home (l to r): Mark Pinter*, Daniel Petzold, Riley Krull, Kim Martin-Cotten*, and Jeremy Kahn*. Photo credit: Magic Theatre. *Member of Actors' Equity Association, the Union of Professional Actors and Stage Managers

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