Taproot Theater Presents TUESDAYS WITH MORRIE 3/27-4/25

Taproot Theatre Company presents Mitch Albom's Tuesdays with Morrie by Jeffrey Hatcher and Mitch Albom this spring. Based on the best-selling autobiographical book by Mitch Albom, Tuesdays with Morrie invites you to pull up a chair and join Mitch and his beloved, vibrant but terminally-ill professor, Morrie, for some of the greatest lessons life can offer. When you lose your way, sometimes you find it again in the most unexpected places. Tuesdays with Morrie, directed by Karen Lund, opens on March 27 and runs through April 25, with low-price previews on March 25 & 26, plus a pay-what-you-can performance on April 1.

Taproot Theatre is calling for patrons to share stories of people who've taught them something important or even life-changing, be it a teacher, family member or friend. Taproot is collecting such stories through its new Mentor Memoirs blog at http://taproottheatre.org/mentor-memoirs.

"If you enjoyed the book you're going to love the play," said director Karen Lund, adding that the play goes beyond what's covered in the book and brings more of Albom into the story.

"As uplifting, encouraging and life-affirming as the novel is, add humor, live music and dance to the play-Morrie was a dancer-plus the ability to see into the characters in an even more personal way."

Albom, a sports columnist for the Detroit Free Press, has captivated millions of people with his books, including Tuesdays with Morrie and The Five People You Meet in Heaven. Tuesdays with Morrie earned a place on The New York Times' Best-Sellers list, where it remained for more than four years. Following a playwright's residency and public staged readings at the O'Neill Playwrights Conference in 2001, Tuesdays with Morrie-the play-was originally presented by New York Stage and Film Company and the Powerhouse Theatre at Vassar in June 2002 and had its New York premiere at the Minetta Lane Theatre off-Broadway in November 2002.

Taproot Theatre's production features Nolan Palmer as Morrie and Aaron Lamb as Mitch. Palmer has performed and directed around the Puget Sound area. Before coming to Seattle, he cofounded Babylon Theatre in Salt Lake City and participated as a member of The Human Ensemble. He last appeared at Taproot Theatre in the 1930s Broadway hit Susan and God and Over the River and Through the Woods. Lamb has stage credits in various places including Seattle, Tennessee and New York City, and last appeared on Taproot's stage in early 2008 as Orlando in As You Like It and in late 2007 as Algernon in The Importance of Being Earnest. The production team includes scenic and sound designer Mark Lund, costume designer Sarah Burch Gordon and lighting designer Jody Briggs. Joshua Strickler serves as stage manager and Ian Klein as dramaturg.

Taproot Theatre is hosting a behind-the-scenes look at Tuesdays with Morrie on March 14 at the Greenwood branch of the Seattle Public Library, during which patrons can hear about the production from the director and watch the actors read from a portion of the play.

Tuesdays with Morrie is sponsored by Viking Bank. Support for Taproot Theatre's 2009 season is generously provided by 4Culture; ArtsFund; The Charles Simonyi Fund for Arts and Sciences; PONCHO; and Washington State Arts Commission. Thanks to Romio's Pizza and Pasta, our Pizza and a Play sponsor.

Taproot Theatre Company is a professional, non-profit theatre company with a multi-faceted production program. Founded in 1976, Taproot Theatre serves the Pacific Northwest with Mainstage Productions, Touring Productions and Acting Studio. Taproot exists to create theatre that explores the beauty and questions of life while bringing hope to our search for meaning. Taproot Theatre Company is a member of Theatre Communications Group (TCG), Theatre Puget Sound (TPS), and the Greenwood-Phinney Chamber of Commerce.

Friday, March 27, through Saturday, April 25, with low-price previews March 25 & 26. Pay-what-you-can (PWYC) performance on Wednesday, April 1. Opening Night with reception on Friday, March 27.

Taproot Theatre, 204 N. 85th Street in Seattle.

TICKETS: Wednesday and Thursday evenings and Saturday matinees, $26-28; Friday and Saturday evenings, $30-33; previews, $20-22; student/senior discount of $2 off per ticket; ages 25 and under, $10. Senior matinee performance on April 15 is $20.

For tickets contact Taproot Theatre's box office at (206) 781-9707 or call Ticketmaster at (206) 292-ARTS. Group rates are available. For groups, call (206) 781-9708.

Tickets for the pay-what-you-can performance on April 1 go on sale at 5:00 p.m. day of show at the box office. In addition, a limited supply of $10 tickets will be offered from 12:00 to 5:00 p.m. for that evening's performance. Limit six tickets per person from 12:00 to 5:00 p.m. and four per person after 5:00 p.m.

SCHEDULE: Wednesday and Thursday, 7:30 p.m.; Friday and Saturday, 8:00 p.m.; Saturday matinee, 2:00 p.m.

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