Writers' Theatre Presents THE BLONDE, THE BRUNETTE AND THE VENGEFUL REDHEAD, 5/22-7/29

Writers' Theatre, under the direction of Artistic Director Michael Halberstam and Executive Director Kathryn M. Lipuma, concludes its 20th Anniversary Season with The Blonde, the Brunette and the Vengeful Redhead by Robert Hewett, directed by Joseph Hanreddy, and featuring Deborah Staples.The production runs May 22 – July 29, 2012 at Writers' Theatre, 664 Vernon Avenue in Glencoe. The Press Openings are Wednesday, May 30 and Thursday, May 31, 2012 at 7:30 p.m.

Thwarted housewife Rhonda Russell loses herself in a heated moment of passion, setting into motion an unbelievable series of events that ripple through the lives of everyone around her. One performer intricately weaves together the many different sides of Rhonda's story with engrossing narrative, wit and compassion. An international hit, The Blonde, the Brunette and the Vengeful Redhead is a surprising and touching tale of loss and ultimate redemption.

"Robert Hewett's play was crafted in order to showcase the talents of a marvelous actress and Writers' Theatre is very lucky to be presenting this work with the considerable talents of Deborah Staples at its center. Having previously performed the play to great acclaim at Milwaukee Repertory, Deborah and the Rep's former artistic director Joseph Hanreddy reunite in Glencoe to stage an all new production of this perfect celebration of word and artist in the intimate confines of our bookstore venue," comments Artistic Director Michael Halberstam.

The Blonde, the Brunette and the Vengeful Redheadfeatures Deborah Staples as Rhonda Russell. The designers are Linda Buchanan (scenic), Keith Parham (lighting), Martha Hally (costumes), Barry Funderberg (sound)and Nick Heggestad (properties).

Joseph Hanreddy (Director) makes his Writers' Theatre debut. Regional credits include: Milwaukee Repertory Theater (Artistic Director 1993-2010), where he has directed over 40 productions including: The Government Inspector, Anna Karenina, King Lear, Mary Stuart, The Seagull, Arcadia, Escape From Happiness and premieres of Armadale, Silence, Paragon Springs and Force of Nature. Hanreddy directed/wrote Seven Keys to Slaughter Peak and adaptations of Six Characters in Search of an Author, Yes, No, Maybe So (Pirandello). Regional credits continued: Macbeth and Private Lives (Utah Shakespeare Festival), Our Country's Good and Mary Stuart (Resident Ensemble Players, University of Delaware), Othello (American Player's Theater) and the Madison Repertory Theater: (Artistic Director 1986-1993) he directed over 20 productions including: The Crucible, The Norman Conquests, The Importance of Being Earnest, The

Recruiting Officer, Our Country's Good, 10 November, American Buffalo and Speed-the-Plow. Off-Broadway credits include: The Misanthrope and The Pearl Theater (nominated for Lucille Lortel Award for "Best Revival").

Robert Hewett (Playwright) began his career in the theatre as an actor. An Honors graduate of Flinders University, he joined the Melbourne Theatre Company working extensively in theatre, film, television and radio. The Blonde, the Brunette and the Vengeful Redhead, premiered in Sydney, February 2004 and toured Australia for 4 years. Further productions occurred in Switzerland, Greece, Ireland, New Zealand, Hong Kong, Canada's Stratford Festival for two consecutive sellout seasons, Vancouver Playhouse, Citadel Theatre Edmonton, Manitoba Theatre Centre, Cincinnati Playhouse, Asolo Repertory Theatre, Dallas Theater Center, Triad Stage, Milwaukee Repertory Theater and Merrimack Repertory amongst others. The Spanish language premier ran for 8 months in Mexico City, whilst 2012 sees another Greek language production at Kappa Theatre, Athens. Next is the German language premiere in Vienna. Other plays include the multi award winning Gulls, The Adman, Just …One Last Dance, Waking Eve, Goodbye Mrs Blore and the cabaret Taught by Experts.

Deborah Staples (Rhonda Russell) makes her Writers' Theatre debut. She began her career in Chicago, where her credits include Cressida in Troilus And Cressida, Desdemona in Othello, Celia in As You Like It and Portia in Julius Caesar (outreach tour) at Chicago Shakespeare Theater; "Mouth" in the one woman - one act Not I for the Buckets o' Beckett Festival, multiple shows at Shaw Chicago and Bailiwick Directors' Festival. Regional credits include: roles for Indiana Repertory Theater, Syracuse Stage, Meadow Brook Theater, Iowa Shakespeare Festival, Wisconsin Shakespeare Festival, New Court Theatre and New American Theater. Staples relocated ninety miles north when she became a company member with the Milwaukee Repertory Theatre (and married David Cecsarini, Next Act Theater's Artistic/Producing Director). She has been with The Milwaukee Repertory Theatre for sixteen seasons, where she has just appeared as Emilia in Othello and as Jean Louise in To Kill A Mockingbird. Highlights from her more than fifty other Milwaukee Repertory Theatre credits are Jane/Valerie in Speaking In Tongues, Lydia Gwilt in Armadale, Kitty in Happy Now?, Billie Dawn in Born Yesterday, Nora in A Doll's House, Regan in King Lear, Louise in The Underpants, Elmire in Tartuffe, Nancy in Frozen, Catherine in Proof, Lady Caroline in Enchanted April, Natalya in A Month In the Country and the title roles in Mary Stuart, Anna Karenina, Mirandolina and The Blonde, the Brunette and the Vengeful Redhead. Last summer marked her seventh season with American Players' Theatre, where some favorite roles include Ariel in The Tempest, Elvira in Blithe Spirit, Beatrice in Much Ado About Nothing, Helena in All's Well That Ends Well, Hermione in The Winter's Tale, Roxane in Cyrano De Bergerac, Phedre in Phedre, Yelena in Uncle Vanya and Gwendolen in The Importance of Being Earnest. Films credits include: Baraboo and Waterwalk. Staples is a commercial and voiceover talent. She can be seen next season at The Milwaukee Repertory Theatre and the summer following at American Players' Theatre.

The Blonde, the Brunette and the Vengeful Redhead will be presented at Writers' Theatre, 664 Vernon Avenue in Glencoe, fromMay 22 to July 29, 2012. The press performances are scheduled for Wednesday, May 30, 2012 and Thursday, May 31, 2012 at 7:30pm. Curtain times are Tuesday and Wednesdays at 7:30pm; Wednesday matinees at 2:00pm (June 27 and July 25 only.); Thursdays and Fridays at 8:00pm (performances on May 31 and June 1 at 7:30pm); Saturdays at 4:00pm and 8:00pm and Sundays at 2:00pm and 6:00pm (No 6:00pm show on July 1 or 29).

Tickets are $45-$65 and are available at the Box Office, 376 Park Avenue, Glencoe; 847-242-6000 or online at www.writerstheatre.org.

Follow Writers' Theatre on Twitter (Twitter.com/WritersTheatre) and everyday by 3:00pm, Writers' will Tweet a code that can be used to purchase remaining seats for that day's performance at a discount. Tweet Seats are available for purchase only through the Writers' Theatre website at writerstheatre.org.

Over the past nineteen seasons, Writers' Theatre has become a major Chicagoland cultural destination with a national reputation for excellence. Under the artistic leadership of Michael Halberstam and the executive leadership of Kathryn M. Lipuma, Writers' Theatre has been deemed the "best drama company in the nation" by the Wall Street Journal and achieved nineteen years of surplus operations. The company, which plays to a sold-out and discerning audience of 35,000 patrons each season, has garnered critical praise for the consistent high quality and intimacy of its artistry. Prized for the finest interpretations of classic and Contemporary Theatre in its two intensely intimate venues, Writers' Theatre's acclaimed work includes Artistic Director Michael Halberstam's world premiere in Glencoe and subsequent production of A Minister's Wife at Lincoln Center Theater; David Cromer's productions of A Streetcar Named Desire and Picnic; and the commissioning, world premiere and New York premiere of Crime and Punishment, which has received more than 30 subsequent regional Theater Productions.

In July, 2011, Writers' Theatre announced the hiring of the award-winning, internationally renowned Studio Gang Architects, led by principle Jeanne Gang, FAIA to design a new home for the Theatre in downtown Glencoe which will once again allow the Theatre to grow to accommodate its audience, while maintaining its trademark intimacy. The new facility will resonate with and complement the Theatre's neighboring Glencoe community and will add tremendous value to Chicagoland and the North Shore as a premier cultural destination.

The Blonde, the Brunette and the Vengeful Redhead runs Tuesdays: 7:30pm, Wednesdays: 2:00pm (June 27 & July 25 only) and 7:30pm (no performance July 4), Thursdays & Fridays: 8:00pm (performances May 31 and June 1 are at 7:30pm), Saturdays: 4:00pm and 8:00pm and Sundays: 2:00pm and 6:00pm (no 6:00pm performance July 1 or 29).

The show plays at the Writers' Theatre, 664 Vernon Avenue, Glencoe. Prices for all performances range from $45 - $65. The Box Office is located at 376 Park Avenue, Glencoe; 847-242-6000; www.writerstheatre.org.

Director Joseph Hanreddy, who was the Artistic Director of Milwaukee Repertory Theatre for 17 seasons, makes his Writers' Theatre debut with this production. During his time with Milwaukee Repertory Theatre, he commissioned and directed seven world premieres, including his own adaptation of Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice (co-adapted by J.R. Sullivan) which has since been produced nationwide.

Deborah Staples, making her Writers' Theatre debut, has been a member of the Milwaukee Repertory Theatre's Resident Acting Ensemble for 16 seasons. She began her career in Chicago with roles in productions at Chicago Shakespeare Theater, Shaw Chicago and Bailiwick Directors' Festival.

Hanreddy and Staples, who collaborated on a production of the play at Milwaukee Repertory Theatre in 2008, have re-envisioned the play for the intimate Books on Vernon venue.