MetroStage Kicks Off 'In Rep' Series with THE THOUSANDTH NIGHT and UNDERNEATH THE LINTEL, Now thru 5/25

MetroStage will be producing its first In Rep series this spring featuring two one man shows The Thousandth Night by Carol Wolf starring Marcus Kyd (today, Apr. 3-May 18) and Underneath the Lintel by Glen Berger starring Paul Morella (Apr. 17-May 25.) Both will be directed by John Vreeke.

In honor of its 30th anniversary The Thousandth Night, originally produced during the 2001-2 season, will be reprised. The story of a French actor arrested in Paris who finds himself on a train heading for a concentration camp in 1943, using The Arabian Nights tales to try to convince the gendarmes that he should be released to return to his innocent life at the Café Shaherazad, is a remarkable theatrical experience. The storytelling and versatility of an actor playing 38 characters offers an audience an evening of entertainment and heartbreaking pathos. The stories form The Arabian Nights are far more subversive than they might appear.

Underneath The Lintel is another remarkable play that features a Dutch Librarian on a world-wide journey to find the owner of a book 113 years overdue. In a makeshift lecture hall (on The Thousandth Night set) he describes his travels as he tries to uncover a mystery which turns out to be a far greater mystery than it might first appear to be. A metaphysical detective story with a clue residing in the Zebrina Pendula plant, that might just uncover the meaning of life.

Two fascinating one man plays, two of MetroStage's favorite actors, a director who has always found the most depth and delicacy in the "little gems" we choose to produce every spring, AND an opportunity to see both shows together in rep or within a close time frame. Both have an intellectual core, a historic base, and tremendous entertainment value all the while touching the hearts of an audience.

John Vreeke has directed many shows at MetroStage, most recently Ghost-Writer, and Heroes, which won the Helen Hayes Award for Outstanding Ensemble. He has also directed Lonely Planet, The Real Inspector Hound, One Good Marriage and For The Pleasure of Seeing Her Again at MetroStage. He was been nominated for Outstanding Director eight times. He is a Company Member at Woolly Mammoth. Following MetroStage's in rep shows, he will be directing productions at Woolly Mammoth, Round House, and Forum Theatre.

Marcus Kyd (Guy de Bonheur, The Thousandth Night) was last directed by Vreeke at Metrostage in One Good Marriage in 2005. He was most recently seen at Round House Theatre in The Lyons, also directed by Vreeke, and Taming of the Shrew at Folger. He is a co-founding company member and Artistic Director of Taffety Punk Theatre Company. He will follow this production with Midsummer Night's Dream in Baltimore.

Paul Morella (The Librarian, Underneath the Lintel) has previously appeared at MetroStage in Ghost-Writer, Sidney Bechet Killed A Man, Burn This, and Speed-the-Plow. He has performed leading roles at the major theaters in the area, including, most recently, Richard III at Folger, God of Carnage at Signature Theatre, and Over the Tavern, and a reprise of his one-person A Christmas Carol, both at Olney Theatre.

Designers are James Kronzer (set), Ivania Stack (costumes), Robert Garner (sound) and Alexander Keen (lighting). William E. Cruttenden III is the Production Stage Manager.

Performances for The Thousandth Night and Underneath the Lintel will vary due to the rep schedule. They will be Tuesday and Wednesdays at 7:30 always followed by a talk back, Thursdays and Fridays at 8, Saturdays at 3 or 5 (depending on the week) and 8, and Sundays at 3 and 7, April 3-May 25.

For The Thousandth Night Thursday Apr. 3 at 8pm will be a PWYC (minimum $10). Press night is Sunday Apr. 6 at 7 pm.

For Underneath the Lintel Thursday April 17 at 8pm will be a PWYC (minimum $10). Press night is Saturday Apr. 19 at 8 pm.

For ticket reservations call 800-494-8497 or go online to www.metrostage.org. For information and group sales call 703-548-9044. MetroStage is located at 1201 North Royal St. in North Old Town Alexandria. There is a free parking lot and fine dining nearby. The theatre is handicap accessible.

Photo Credit: Chris Banks

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