PURE Theater's YEAR OF MAGICAL THINKING Runs 8/28-9/19

PURE Theatre kicks off its seventh season (2009-2010) with The Year of Magical Thinking by renowned writer Joan Didion. Directed by PURE Theatre Artistic Director Sharon Graci and featuring Lucille Arrington Keller. The production opens Friday, August 28, in PURE's space at Upper Lance Hall, located on the grounds of The Circular Congregational Church.

"Several months ago, a friend of mine was telling me about a writer who was trying to create a portmanteau to describe the sweet ache that accompanies good memories," says director Graci. "It occurred to me that the 'sweet ache' is precisely where The Year of Magical Thinking lives. It is the very essence of this play, revealing that the memoir is not so much about the tragedy of loss as it is about the affirmation of living and loving well, and what a true honor and blessing it is to do both. Lucille Keller is a wonderful actor. She is extremely intelligent and undeniably brave. We have a saying at PURE that work finds you for a reason, that you come to a play, at precisely the time you are meant to explore your own life, and your own self through it. The Year of Magical Thinking has been a true pleasure to work on, its filled with gorgeous antidotes, humor, and wisdom. It is wonderfully challenging, and creates a sense of commonality where we recognize shared experiences, and the rights of living that define us all."

The Year of Magical Thinking is a stunning adaptation of Joan Didion's award-winning, bestselling memoir that The New York Times called "an indelible portrait of loss and grief . . . a haunting portrait of a four-decade-long marriage. Didion transforms the story of the sudden and unexpected loss of her husband and their only daughter into a powerful solo performance. The story chronicles the eight months of Didion's life after her husband of forty years passes away from a sudden heart attack.

Didion wrote the book in 2004 and then adapted for the stage in 2006 for Broadway. The first performance on March 29, 2007 starred Vanessa Redgrave and was directed by David Hare.The play has since gained international acclaim with shows in London, Sydney, and Salzburg.

PURE Theatre has garnered a reputation for artistic excellence, risk taking, and thinking outside of the box. The company's intrepid approach to the art and craft of theatre has garnered them numerous critics and audience awards, as well as a loyal following of patrons.
PURE will continue popular special events such as their Bring Your Own Baby performance on Sunday, September 6th. BYOBaby is a unique opportunity for parents of young children to enjoy professional theatre without incurring the cost of child care. Child care is provided free of charge by PURE Theatre, and staffed by childcare professionals from The Circular Congregational Church in their downstairs facility. PURE Theatre also offers a special Pay What You Can preview performance on Thursday, August, 27 at 7:30.

Student Rush tickets are available for $15 with a valid student ID, for tickets remaining at curtain.

YEAR OF MAGICAL THINKING: Cast List
Lucille Arrington Keller (Joan Didion) is a native South Carolinian who has traveled extensively and lived in Australia, Greece, and England, making Charleston her home since 1972. With a master's degree in English from the University of North Carolina, her vocation is teaching, her avocation acting. She describes herself as an amateur in the original sense-a lover of theatre. Favorite roles have included (Community) Vivian Bearing in W;t, Sook in A Christmas Memory, Joy Gresham in Shadowlands, Nettie in The Subject Was Roses, and (Professional) Electra in The House of Atrius and Rosalind in As You Like It. Lucille is the mother of three grown sons and teaches at Academic Magnet High School. The Year of Magical Thinking marks her first production with PURE, and she is delighted.
Sharon Graci (Director) is the artistic director of PURE Theatre. Directing credits include Sheep's Clothing, The Last Five Years, The Seafarer, Underneath the Lintel, and Eurydice. She is an alumnus of the 2007 Lincoln Center Director's Lab. Recent acting credits include Stage: Mara Stockman Kelly in Hogs, Elizabeth in Faith, Hope & Charity, Becca in Rabbit Hole, Celestina in Cloud Tectonics at PURE. Television: Army Wives (Lifetime), One Tree Hill (WB), Surface (NBC).

Joan Didion (Writer) is a renowned American writer. Books include Run, River, Play It As It Lays, Democracy, The White Album, Salvador, The Year of Magical Thinking, and Political Fictions. Screenplays include: Panic in Needle Park, A Star is Born, True Confessions, and Up Close & Personal. A graduate of University of California, Berkeley. Many of her essays have been included in Life, Esquire, The Saturday Evening Post, The New York Times, and The New York Review of Books.

TICKETS:

Phone: PURE Box Office: 843.723.4444 or 800.838.3006

On Line: www.puretheatre.org

In Person: PURE Theatre Box Office

Lance Hall @ Circular Congregational Church

150 Meeting Street

Charleston, S.C. 29401

SPECIAL EVENTS:
BYOBaby. Its BRING YOUR OWN BABY to PURE

PURE knows how difficult it can be to find the time and often the money to do, well really much of anything, when you are busy raising a young family. That's why we are doing our part to help make life a little simpler, and theatre a little more accessible, for young families.

During the run of each show, PURE will offer a Bring Your Own Baby performances and provide childcare at no charge, right downstairs below the theatre, in the Circular Church Nursery. The Church's trained nursery staff provides the sitting, while PURE provides the theatre. Its a great opportunity get out of the house and get PURE.

So, even if your babies have babies of their own, we're pretty certain there is someone in your life who would love a night out at the theatre, with the added piece of mind of knowing that the children are well taken care of, and it didn't cost a thing.
BYOBaby Performance of The Year of Magical Thinking: Sunday September 6.

Pay What You Can Preview

See PURE Theatre at a price that can fit any budget on Thursday, August 27th.

INFO: 843.723.4444 or www.puretheatre.org

 

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