'VANYA AND SONIA' Event Series Kicks Off with Local Musicians, Eateries, and Experts at Syracuse Stage Tonight

Special events during the 2014/15 Season at Syracuse Stage will kick-off with live music, tastings, lectures, and talks throughout the run of Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike, the Tony-Award winning "ripped-roaring" comedy running now through October 12.

Following the opening night performance tonight, September 26, the post-show party in the lobby will feature music by Castle Creek, with SAMMY award-winning vocalist Kim Monroe, and Chris Eves, who has toured with national acts including Justincase and American Idol. Complementary food from Phoebe's Restaurant will be available for guests, and the Stage bar will stay open late.

On Thursday, October 2, Happy Hour will start at 6 p.m., a free event with cider and donuts for grown-ups. Fall-themed martini tastings will be offered by World Lounge & Martini Bar, and gourmet cupcakes and donuts will be provided by Picasso's Pastries and Café. Half-priced drinks will be available at the Stage bar from 6 to 7:30 p.m.

For the Wednesday @ 1 Lecture series on October 1, Chris Woodworth, an assistant professor of Theatre at Hobart & William Smith Colleges, will speak on "Chekhov in PA: Durang's Riff on Nostalgia, Longing, and the Importance of Place." Wednesday Lectures take place at 1 p.m. in the Sutton Pavilion, before 2 p.m. Wednesday matinees.

Three times throughout the run, pre-show discussions with actors will take place as part of Stage's Prologue series. Prologues are moderated, 20-minute discussions that begin one hour before select performances. Vanya prologues will take place on September 28 at 1 p.m., October 4 at 2 p.m., and October 9 at 6:30 p.m.

On Sunday, October 5 following the 7 p.m. performance, an Actor Talkback will take place in the theatre where audience members may interact with cast members.

Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike is Christopher Durang's 2013 Tony Award-winning comedy celebrated by The New York Times as "deliriously funny." Smashing together Chekhov's classic themes of loss and longing with really impressive abs, Disney's Snow White, and a prophetic housekeeper, Vanya turns a dysfunctional family's reunion into a weekend of hilarity. The result is raucous comedy that plays like Arrested Development.

Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike performs Sept. 24 - Oct. 12 in the Archbold Theatre at the Syracuse Stage/Drama Complex, 820 East Genesee Street. Tickets and info are available at www.syracusestage.org, by phone at 315-443-3275, and in person at the Syracuse Stage Box Office (Mon-Fri, 10am-5pm). Discounts are available for groups of 10 or more at 315-443-9844. Discounts are also available for seniors, students, and U.S. military personnel and veterans. Sign interpretation, open captioning, and audio description services are available for select performances.

The Syracuse Stage production of Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike is made possible through the support of generous sponsors. The Presenting Sponsor is Pomco Group. The Sponsor is NBT Bank. Media Sponsors are iHeartMedia, Business Journal News Network, and the Syracuse New Times. The 14/15 Season Sponsor is Syracuse Media Group.

SPECIAL EVENT LISTING - FREE FOR TICKET HOLDERS

Sept. 26 Opening Night Party

After the 8pm show, mingle with the cast, enjoy live music and free food
Live music featuring Castle Creek.
Food provided by Phoebe's Restaurant & Café.

Sept. 28 Prologue at 1 p.m.

An intimate 20-minute pre-show discussion with actors. Bring your questions!

Oct. 1 Wednesday @ 1 Lecture
Lecture at 1 p.m. in the Sutton Pavilion, before the 2 p.m. matinee

Chris Woodworth, Assistant Professor of Theatre at Hobart & William Smith Colleges, on "Chekhov in PA: Durang's Riff on Nostalgia, Longing, and the Importance of Place"

Oct. 2 Happy Hour at 6 p.m. -- "I've Been Spiked / Cider and Donuts for Grown-ups"

Free food and half-price drinks
World Lounge & Martini Bar hosts a martini tasting celebrating the tastes of fall.

Gourmet donuts and cupcakes provided by Picasso's Pastries and Café.

Oct. 4 Prologue at 2 p.m.

An intimate 20-minute pre-show discussion with actors. Bring your questions!

Oct. 5 Actor Talkback

Lively post-show discussion with the Actors following the 7 p.m. show.

Oct. 9 Prologue at 6:30 p.m.

An intimate 20-minute pre-show discussion with actors. Bring your questions!

ABOUT SYRACUSE STAGE - Syracuse Stage is Central New York's premier professional theatre. Founded in 1974, Stage has produced more than 300 plays in over 40 seasons including a number of world, American, and East Coast premieres. Each season 70,000 patrons enjoy an adventurous mix of new plays, and bold interpretations of classics and musicals, featuring the finest theatre artists. In addition, Stage maintains a vital educational outreach program that annually serves more than 15,000 students from 14 counties. A solid core of subscribers and supporters helps keep Syracuse Stage a vibrant artistic presence in Central New York. Additional support comes from the government, foundations, corporations and Syracuse University. Syracuse Stage is a constituent of the Theatre Communications Group (TCG), the national organization for the American theatre, and a member of the Arts and Cultural Leadership Alliance (ACLA), the University Hill Corporation and the East Genesee Regent Association. Syracuse Stage is a member of The League of Resident Theatres (LORT), the largest professional theatre association in the country.