Book-It Presents THE CIDER HOUSE RULES, PART ONE Beginning 6/9

The Cider House Rules has a special place in Book-It's history as the first full-length novel adapted in the Book-It Style^TM, and as a turning-point undertaking that helped the once fledgling company establish itself firmly in the Seattle theatre community. The company is thrilled to celebrate its 20th Anniversary season with both Parts One and Two of The Cider House Rules. The Cider House Rules, Part One: Here in St. Clouds plays on Book-It Repertory Theatre's stage at the Center House Theatre June 9 to July 11, 2010. Part Two will take the stage to open the company's 2010-11 season next September.

Spanning eight decades, The Cider House Rules, Part One takes into its epic scope the stories of two men: Dr. Wilbur Larch, the director of St. Cloud's Orphanage-who delivers not only babies but their mothers, too-and his protégé-cum-son, the never-adopted orphan Homer Wells. Trained by Dr. Larch in obstetrics from an early age, Homer becomes the doctor's apprentice even while his moral opposition to his guardian's abortion practice creates a divide and exacerbates his unconventional coming of age. The arrival of Wally and the beautiful Candy set in motion the events that lead Homer into "other parts of the world" (also the subtitle to Part Two).

"An old-fashioned, big-hearted novel...with its epic yearning caught in the 19th century, somewhere between Trollope and Twain..." - The Boston Sunday Globe

Founding Co-Artistic Director Jane Jones, with her friend, actor Tom Hulce, conceived the idea of John Irving's novel as a great first full-length novel for Book-It in the early 1990s. The origination of The Cider House Rules as a Book-It adaptation came to be, in part, through serendipity: Jane and Tom's work together at New York's Playwrights Horizons on The Rise and Rise of Daniel Rocket by Peter Parnell introduced them to their adaptor/playwright; and a chance meeting of Daniel Sullivan (then artistic director of Seattle Rep) on the plaza outside Lincoln Center, led to the producing organization. They made the right connections and assembled the creative team that would ultimately bring the project to fruition at Seattle Repertory Theatre opening the Leo K Theatre in 1997. Jane Jones touts The Cider House Rules as a true Seattle project, much in the vein of "it takes a village." Seattle Rep's producing support gave the team resources-space, personnel, funding, and guidance-that made the essential exploration possible, as well as allowed a larger audience to be introduced to the Book-It Style. Many of those then-new fans are some of Book-It's most ardent fans and supporters today.

John Irving's many best-selling books, several of which have been adapted by Hollywood, include The Cider House Rules (for which he wrote the screenplay), The World According to Garp, A Prayer for Owen Meany (from which Book-It's popular Owen Meany's Christmas Pageant originated), and The Hotel New Hampshire. He has cited as an inspiration, Charles Dickens, and, in conversations with Director Jane Jones, stated, -I wanted to write my own orphan story with The Cider House Rules." In regards to the book's controversial subject of abortion, Irving added, "I didn't intend to write a book about abortion, but in writing about orphans, I found I couldn't get away from it." The Cider House Rules, Part One is adapted by playwright Peter Parnell, whose plays also include Trumpery, QED, and Hyde in Hollywood.

Jane Jones's direction of the production is based on her original direction in partnership with her co-director, Tom Hulce. In the years since the world premiere at Seattle Rep, Jones has directed Cider House many times; the long vetting process has honed and trimmed the world premiere script from 1995, and she announces that "the production we present today is also a premiere-but hours shorter!" While the rest of the company was certain of the choice of Cider House to close the season, Jones was more reticent: "After spending so many years in workshop and production with The Cider House Rules, I wasn't sure I ever needed to re-visit the material again. Then Myra strongly urged we consider it for our 20th celebration; I am so glad she did. The richness of the story, the challenge it presents, and the sheer amount of play there is to work on has the rehearsal room abuzz." Jones's most recent work at Book-It includes The Beautiful Things That Heaven Bears and The Highest Tide, as well as curating, with Co-Artistic Director Myra Platt, the inaugural Novel Workshop Series. She has adapted and directed dozens of novels into theatrical productions, taught the Book-It Style for over 20 years, and is the chief standard bearer for the company's mission for literacy.

The cast of The Cider House Rules, Part One includes Seattle actors Peter Crook as Dr. Larch, Connor Toms as Homer Wells, Emily Grogan as Candy, with Laura Kenny, Julie Jamieson, Jon Lutyens, Terri Weagant, and others. Director Jane Jones says of her cast, -The Seattle talent pool and number of actors who now know and love the Book-It Style has made this process a sheer joy. The company is making this process and re-examination a most satisfying journey indeed."

In the spirit of Book-It's mission of "simple and sensitive production," elements of scenery, costumes, lighting and sound are kept deliberately spare. Designers include Scenic Designer Andrea Bush, costumes by Pete Rush, lighting by Andrew D. Smith, and featuring music composed for the 1996 premiere production by Dan Wheetman, with music direction by Edd Key.

Tickets for The Cider House Rules, Part One range from $15 (students) to $40 (June 12th opening night, includes party) and can be purchased online at www.book-it.org or by calling 206.216.0833. Performances are at 2:00 for matinees, or 7:30 for evening shows. During the run of The Cider House Rules, Part Two, there will be Part One (matinee) and Part Two (evening) "back-to-back" performances on October, 2, 9, and 16. More information can be found on the website.

Support for The Cider House Rules, Part One comes from 4Culture, The Seattle Office of Arts and Cultural Affairs, and PONCHO; Book-It's 2009-10 20th anniversary season is supported, in part by: The Paul G. Allen Family Foundation, The Boeing Company Charitable Trust, The National Endowment for the Arts, ArtsFund, MetLife, Theatre Communications Group, Washington State Arts Commission, The Bill and MeLinda Gates Foundation, The Seattle Foundation, and American Recovery & Reinvestment Act. Online Media Sponsor: Google. Media Sponsor: KUOW 94.9 Public Radio. Book-It Repertory Theatre is a participant in the MetLife/TCG A-ha! Program: Think it, Do it, funded by MetLife and administered by Theatre Communications Group, the national organization for the not-for-profit American theatre. Book-It Repertory Theatre is beneficiary of funds appropriated by Congress to the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.

Book-It Repertory Theatre's 2010-11 Season has just been announced and will feature John Irving's The Cider House Rules, Part Two: In Other Parts of the World; the Holiday Musical favorite Red Ranger Came Calling, A Guaranteed True Christmas Story, by Berkeley Breathed; the inspiration for Irving's Cider House and classic orphan story, Great Expectations, by Charles Dickens; and two contemporary novels by renowned local authors: Prairie Nocturne by Ivan Doig, and Border Songs, by Jim Lynch. The company will also continue its Novel Workshop Series, and present a full season of adaptations for young people through its Book-It All Over education and touring arm (The Prince of the Pond, Henry's Freedom Box, and The Secret Garden will make up the Family Fun Series of public performances). Additional "Special Editions" of Jack London's Call of the Wild, and Women's Votes, Women's Voices (celebrating the 100th anniversary of women voting in Washington State; supported by4Culture) are available for touring. Dates and detailed information can be found on the company's website at www.book-it.org.

About Book-It Repertory Theatre
Book-It Repertory Theatre, a leader in the narrative theatre movement, is celebrating its 20th Anniversary during the 2009-2010 season. Book-It is a non-profit organization with a dedication to great literature and quality theatre experiences through simple, sensitive and imaginative production, and to inspiring its audiences to read. The company is funded, in part, by generous contributions from corporations and foundations, and hundreds of individuals who share our passion for literature.

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