Forum Theatre's THE ILLUSION, Directed by Mitchell Hébert, Runs Now thru 6/16

After sold out houses and 8 Helen Hayes nominations for Angels in America, Forum Theatre returns to the work of Tony Kushner with The Illusion (freely adapted from Pierre Corneille's L'illusion comique) from tonight, May 24 through June 16, 2012 with opening night on May 26. The show is directed by Mitchell Hébert.

Desperate to reach his long-lost son, an aging father turns to a sorcerer for insight. As the sorcerer conjures three episodes from the young man's life, his father is led deep into a maze of romance, intrigue, conspiracy, and murder. But just how much of it is true? In his witty and passionate adaptation of Corneille's seventeenth -century classic L'illusion comique, Tony Kushner weaves illusion with truth --and theater with real life.

Cast includes Aaron Bliden (Spoiler Alert: Everybody Dies, Second City/Woolly Mammoth), Joe Brack (Mad Forest and bobrauschenbergamerica, Forum Theatre), Gwen Grastorf (A Commedia Romeo and Juliet, Faction of Fools; The Green Bird, Constellation) Mark Halpern (Mad Forest, Forum Theatre), Brian Hemmingsen (The Last Days of Judas Iscariot, Forum; Three Sisters and Women Beware Women, Constellation), Nanna Ingvarsson (Helen Hayes Award Winner; The Language Archive, Angels in America and One Flea Spare, Forum Theatre), Scott McCormick (Scorched and The Last Days of Judas Iscariot, Forum) and Brynn Tucker (King Arthur, Othello, and Antony and Cleopatra, Synetic).

"As we are such massive fans of Kushner, this is a play we've looked at for years" said Artistic Director, Michael Dove. "Until we had a clear vision as to how we wanted to do it, though, we wouldn't touch it. It wasn't until sitting down with Mitchell and hearing what he had in mind did I know it was time. We are so interested in how Kushner, who writes like no one else, uses his political and philosophical insight to explore the most political force of all time, love."

Creative team includes scenic designer Daniel Pinha, costume designer Kristy Lee Hall, lighting designer Ariel Benjamin, sound designer Matthew Nielson, properties designer Patti Kalil with magic consultant Brian Curry, assistant director/dramaturg Rob Thompson and stage manager Stephanie Junkin.

Performances are Wednesday-Saturday at 8:00 PM and Sundays at 2:00 PM (no show on Sunday, May 27th). Additional shows Monday, June 11, 2012 at 7:30 PM, and Saturday, June 16, 2012 at 2:00 PM

Open Forum discussions will follow the performances on Thursday, June 7th, Thursday, June 14th, and Saturday, June 16th at 2pm. There will be two Pay-What-You-Can Previews on Thursday, May 24 & Friday, May 25 at 8:00pm.

Tickets are $25 for all performances ($20 for seniors, groups, and Round House subscribers; $15 for students and patrons under 30). To purchase, visit www.forum-theatre.org or call the Round House box office at 240-644-1100.

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