Palo Alto Players to Present Sarah Ruhl's EURYDICE, 1/16-2/1

Palo Alto Players is pleased to present EURYDICE, a timeless Greek myth that becomes poetry in motion. Written by MacArthur Fellow winner Sarah Ruhl, this modern reinterpretation of the classic myth follows Eurydice's adjustment to afterlife in the Underworld -- and the unthinkable choices that follow.

EURYDICE will play for eleven (11) performances (January 16 - February 1, 2015) at the Lucie Stern Theater, located at 1305 Middlefield Road in Palo Alto. Tickets are on sale now by ordering online at www.PAplayers.org or by calling 650.329.0891.

The classic myth of Orpheus and Eurydice is reimagined in this contemporary story, told through the eyes of its heroine. After a tragic accident on her wedding day, Eurydice travels to the Underworld where she is reunited with her much-loved father. Guided by a chorus of Stones, Eurydice must learn to accept the harsh rules of death as she struggles with a new language and haunting memories of her beloved husband. With ingenious plot twists and breathtaking visual effects, EURYDICE is a poignant love story about life, loss, and unthinkable choices.

EURYDICE premiered off-Broadway in 2007, and has since been staged at distinguished regional theatres across the country and in London. In the original myth, Eurydice marries Orpheus and dies on their wedding day, igniting the story as Orpheus travels to the Underworld in an attempt to bring her back to the world of the living. But in EURYDICE, playwright Sarah Ruhl turns the classic myth on its head by focusing on its tragic heroine Eurydice and her adjustment to life in the Underworld, where she is reunited with her dead father and guided by a Greek Chorus of Stones. The play is widely renowned for its exploration of language and the way it pursues the nature of communication and the quest to bridge the world of the living and the world of the dead.

Show director Jeffrey Lo says, "The first time I came across EURYDICE was while reading a collection of Sarah Ruhl's plays. I read THE CLEAN HOUSE and EURYDICE in one sitting, and I remember being so stunned by how beautiful the writing was that I wanted to quit writing myself! I've always been in love with this play, and when Patrick Klein asked me to direct it, I immediately jumped at the opportunity to do it."

Artistic Director Patrick Klein selected the play for its beautiful language and flexible artistic reach. "Sarah Ruhl is really celebrated for the way she uses language in her plays," says Klein. "And she has the awards to back this up! She won a MacArthur Fellowship, was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize for Drama, and was a Tony Award nominee for Best Play - she's really an incredibly gifted writer. And even beyond the dialogue, the play's structure itself is written so that it's basically a playground for the scenic designer. So we brought a really wonderful artistic team together and just let them loose! I think audiences are going to be completely in awe when they see what Jeffrey [Lo] and his team have created."

Lo elaborates on the power of Ruhl's writing, saying, "[Sarah] Ruhl is such a brilliant writer in the way she is able to keep her language so simple while conveying such complex and heartfelt emotions. In EURYDICE, Ruhl strikes so many chords on love, our relationships with our parents, and the struggle to let go of one part of your life in order to move to the next. I feel so fortunate that we have assembled the perfect cast of actors to create a beautiful production of this elegant and quirky piece of art."

The cast includes:

Eurydice: Sarah Moser, Oakland

Orpheus: Wes Gabrillo, Oakland

Father: Scott Solomon, Half Moon Bay

Interesting Man / Lord of the Underworld: Evan Michael Schumacher, Sunnyvale

Big Stone: Maureen O'Neill, San Mateo

Little Stone: Monica Ho, Cupertino

Loud Stone: Monica Cappuccini, Palo Alto

This production will also feature scenic design by Janny Coté, costume design by Tanya Finkelstein, lighting design by Nick Kumamoto, sound design by Jeff Grafton, properties design by Pat Tyler, and hair and makeup design by Shiboune Thill.

Opening night for EURYDICE is Saturday, January 17, 2015 at 8pm, and the show runs until February 1, 2015; there is also a paid preview performance on Friday, January 16 at 8pm. Performances times are Thursdays at 7pm, Fridays and Saturdays at 8pm, and Sundays at 2pm. Ticket prices range from $31 to $45. Senior, student and military discounts are available for Thursday evening and Sunday matinee performances only. Special discounts of 20-25% for groups of 10 or more are also available. For ticket services, please call 650.329.0891 or visit www.PAplayers.org.

Palo Alto Players' 84th season will continue in 2015 with THE ADDAMS FAMILY, a musical that's sure to delight and thrill (music and lyrics by Andrew Lippa, book by Marshall Brickman and Rick Elice, based on the comic strip by Charles Addams). The 84th season will close in June 2015 with CHINGLISH, a new comedy about the misadventures of miscommunication (by David Henry Hwang). Three-show season tickets are still available for as little as $94.50, and include the last three shows of the season (EURYDICE, THE ADDAMS FAMILY, and CHINGLISH).

About Palo Alto Players: Founded in 1931, Palo Alto Players is the Bay Area Peninsula's first theatre company, making it both the Peninsula's oldest and continuously operating theatre. Based at the Lucie Stern Theater, built explicitly for the Players in 1933, Palo Alto Players produces a season of comedies, dramas, classics, and musicals from September to June. Audiences and participants come from all over the Bay Area to be a part of Palo Alto Players' productions. Palo Alto Players is committed to providing a meaningful theatre experience for both audience and production participants. Intrinsic in this is the belief that theatre benefits the community-at-large and enhances the quality of life of those who are touched by it through education, enlightenment, and enrichment. Palo Alto Players is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization established for public benefit. For more information about Palo Alto Players and upcoming shows, visit www.PAplayers.org or call the box office at 650.329.0891.

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