Richard Dreyfuss to Star in Mark St. Germain's New Play RELATIVITY in Hartford

TheaterWorks announced today that Academy Award winner Richard Dreyfuss will be joining the cast of RELATIVITY, a new play by Mark St. Germain directed by Rob Ruggiero. RELATIVITY will run October 7 through November 13, 2016 and is the first show of TheaterWorks' 31st season.

Rob said "I am thrilled that we are launching our season with the news that our production of RELATIVITY will star the Academy Award winning actor Richard Dreyfuss in the role of Albert Einstein. Dreyfuss is an 'Einstein enthusiast' and will bring not only his intelligence and sensitivity to the role, but also a deep connection to Einstein, the man. We are delighted to bring an actor of his renown to Hartford and thrilled to present Mark's penetrating look at family, ambition and choices."

RELATIVITY is a new play by Mark St. Germain. As a writer, Mark is particularly adept at bringing historical characters to life on stage. Einstein was beloved and a hero to many, but he was also a deeply complicated and difficult man. RELATIVITY challenges our preconceived notions of who Einstein was and delivers a far more nuanced and humane understanding of the man behind the genius.

In 1902, Albert and Mileva Einstein had a baby daughter. After 1904, she was never heard from again. Years later in Princeton, when a young reporter confronts Einstein, he must face his greatest challenge: his past. RELATIVITY explores the bonds of family and the cost of genius. Do you need to be a good man to be a great man? From the playwright that brought you FREUD'S LAST SESSION, DANCING LESSONS and Becoming Dr. Ruth.

ABOUT THE ARTISTS

Richard Dreyfuss (Einstein) has been acting in American theatre and films for 45 years and is one of America's most versatile and individualistic actors. Early in his career, he appeared in television and in many notable films including American Graffiti, The Apprenticeship of Duddy Kravitz, Jaws and Close Encounters of the Third Kind. Richard won the Oscar for his performance in The Goodbye Girl and he was nominated for his performance in Mr. Holland's Opus. As a community leader, his current focus and passion is to encourage, revive, elevate and enhance the teaching of civics in American schools. He is the Founder of the non-profit organization, www.TheDreyfussInitiative.org. He is a spokesperson on the issue of media informing policy, legislation, and public opinion, both speaking and writing to express his sentiments in favor of privacy, freedom of speech, democracy, and individual accountability. "All people have a right to know who they are and why they are who they are. Clarity of thought and honesty in self-reflection are more than needed utilities - they are the building blocks of our national moral character." (From: Why I Love My Country). Richard serves on the committee for Education with the American Bar Association, has served 12 years on the Board of the National Constitution Center, is a Member of the Council on Foreign Relations and served as Senior Research Advisory Member of St. Antony's College, Oxford University.

Mark St. Germain (Playwright) TheaterWorks: Dancing Lessons, Becoming Dr. Ruth and Freud's Last Session. At Barrington Stage Company (BSC): The world premieres of Scott & Hem in the Garden of Allah, Dr. Ruth, All The Way, The Best of Enemies, Freud's Last Session, The God Committee, Ears on a Beatle, and Ciao! as well as the 2006 production of The Collyer Brothers at Home & Period Piece. He has also written the plays Camping with Henry and Tom and Forgiving Typhoid Mary. Mark wrote the musical comedy, The Fabulous Lipitones, with John Markus. With Randy Courts he wrote the musicals The Gifts of the Magi, Johnny Pye and Jack's Holiday. His musical Stand by Your Man was written for Nashville's Ryman Theater. Television includes The Cosby Show. Mark co-wrote the screenplay for Carroll Ballard's film Duma and directed and produced the documentary My Dog featuring Richard Gere, Lynn Redgrave and Billy Collins, and wrote the award winning children's book, Three Cups. Mark is proud to be a Board Member and Associate Artist at BSC, a member of the HB Writer's Lab, and honored to have his name on the BSC Stage 2 theatre.

Rob Ruggiero (Director / Producing Artistic Director) has been a part of TheaterWorks' artistic leadership for 23 years. He has directed over 50 shows, including Sex with Strangers, Third, Good People, Christmas on the Rocks, Annapurna, The Other Place and Time Stands Still. Rob has earned national recognition for his work on plays and musicals. His Broadway credits include Looped (starring Valerie Harper in a Tony-nominated performance) and High (starring Kathleen Turner). Off-Broadway, he conceived and directed the original musical revue entitled Make Me a Song: The Music of William Finn(Nominated for the Drama Desk and the Outer Critics Circle Awards). Rob conceived and directed the world premiere musical portrait of Ella Fitzgerald entitled Ella, which was seen on more than 24 regional theater stages from 2005-2010 before beginning a National Tour. His work has received multiple awards and recognition here in Connecticut, as well as in other cities around the United States. Rob most recently directed La Cage aux Folles, his ninth collaboration with Goodspeed Musicals where he also directed highly successful productions of Fiddler on the Roof (Connecticut Critic's Circle Award for Best Direction), The Most Happy Fella (Connecticut Critic's Circle Award for Best Direction), Carousel(Broadway World Award), Annie Get Your Gun, Camelot, Big River, 1776 and a new adaptation of Show Boat (Connecticut Critic's Circle Award for Best Direction). This new version is now being licensed by the Rogers & Hammerstein Organization. www.robruggiero.com

Celebrating its 31st season, TheaterWorks produces high quality, contemporary theater that is relevant to our audiences, engages a diverse community, and provides insight into the human experience. Founded in 1985, TheaterWorks has produced over 145 plays and presents approximately 225 performances per season. TheaterWorks also owns and manages the historic property at 233 Pearl Street, known as City Arts on Pearl. City Arts provides an affordable home and services to a diverse family of non-profit arts organizations.