TheaterWorks Hartford Premieres 'DEAD MAN'S CELL PHONE' 1/30

TheaterWorks in downtown Hartford presents the New England Premiere of Dead Man's Cell Phone, the latest comedy by one of America's hottest contemporary playwrights, Sarah Ruhl (The Clean House, Eurydice, 2006 winner of the MacArthur "Genius Grant"). The production runs January 30 through March 15, 2009 (please note the change in previously announced dates). Written in Ruhl's signature juxtaposition of keenly observed realities and hilarious flights of fantasy, Dead Man's Cell Phone "takes surprising twists and leaps" (The New York Times). TheaterWorks' production is directed by Rob Ruggiero.

The just-announced cast for the play includes Lee Heinz (Broadway revival of Peter Pan), Anne-Lynn Kettles (Hartford Stage's A Christmas Carol), Joey Parsons (TheaterWorks' Rabbit Hole), Mark Shanahan (Westport Country Playhouse'sTryst and Sedition), Finnerty Steeves (Off-Broadway's Almost, Maine) and Craig Wroe (Aquila Theatre's Catch-22).

In Dead Man's Cell Phone, a woman in a café finds that the man with the ringing cell phone next to her is "out of minutes." When Jean answers his phone, she gets swept into the complicated personal and professional life of the late owner. Reveling in the intrigue, she opens a Pandora's Box of unexpected events in this magical comedy.

Dean Man's Cell Phone (which has its Press Opening on Friday, February 6th at 8 p.m.) plays at TheaterWorks located at City Arts on Pearl, 233 Pearl Street in downtown Hartford (wheelchair accessible). Performances January 30 through March 15, 2009 are Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays at 7:30 p.m.; Fridays and Saturdays at 8:00 p.m., with matinees Saturdays and Sundays at 2:30 p.m.

Tickets are $37 for weeknights and matinees; $47 for Friday and Saturday evenings. Seating is general admission. Center reserved seats are $11 extra. College-age student rush tickets are $11 at show time with valid school ID (subject to availability). Special discounts are available for groups of 11 or more. A limited number of complimentary tickets for residents of downtown Hartford are available for select performances, courtesy of United Technologies (call for details).

TheaterWorks' 2008-2009 Season is sponsored by Aetna. TheaterWorks' City Arts Producer is United Technologies. TheaterWorks also receives support from the Greater Hartford Arts Council, the Connecticut Commission on Culture and Tourism, The Hoffman Foundation, and Hartford Foundation for Public Giving.