Open Book Theatre Company to Present THE SHADOW BOX, 9/18-10/3

Open Book Theatre Company will open its second season with an American classic, the Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award winning play The Shadow Box by Michael Cristofer.

The play follows a day in the lives of three terminally ill patients and their families living in a hospice facility. Surprisingly funny and touching, each character deals with their situation in their own way. Director Topher Alan Payne explains "The Shadow Box reminds me how similar we all are as human beings. In a world where too many things divide us, there is a shared human experience that brings us together. The Shadow Box sheds light on that human experience and the pain and struggle we go through when we come to the end of that shared experience." Actor Bailey Boudreau, who plays Mark, added "So many plays about death focus on the suffering of the people dying. Shadow Box is unique in that it hones in on how the living are impacted by the suffering of loved ones, and how often times the dying are left in the position to comfort and console. It's a beautiful juxtaposition of the mental and emotional states of those afflicted and those in pre-mourning."

The show features a cast of strong actors well recognized for their work on stages across metro Detroit: Bailey Boudreau, Jan Cartwright, Jaclynn Cherry, Wendy Katz Hiller, Ethan Kankula, Dennis Kleinsmith, Lisa Melinn, Sean Paraventi and Krista Schafer Ewbank. Open Book Associate Director Topher Alan Payne is directing, and Harley Miah is designing the lights.

The Shadow Box Performance Dates:

Friday, September 18th at 8pm

Saturday, September 19th at 8pm

Friday September 25th at 8pm

Saturday 26th at 8pm

Sunday, September 27th at 2pm

Thursday, October 1st at 8pm

Friday, October 2nd at 8pm

Saturday October 3rd at 8pm

Tickets are $20, $15 for students and seniors. Groups of 10 or more receive a $3 discount off all tickets. Season tickets are available for $85 ($65 students and seniors) and ticket holders can came to any performance of each of the 5 shows in the season: The Shadow Box, Dean Man's Cell Phone, Bauer, Who Am I This Time? (and Other Conundrums of Love) and Calypso's Corner.

For tickets and more information visit www.openbooktc.com or call 734 288-7753

Performances will be held at Penelope's Venue, 12219 Dix Toledo Road, Southgate, MI 48195.

Open Book is also encouraging participation in the Open BOOK CLUB, designed for lovers of the written word to see a play not just as a performance, but as literature. Dive deeper and discuss character, plot and more with downloadable book club questions available on the website (openbooktc.com) - great for groups that just see the play or go deeper by reading it first!

Open Book Theatre Company is a not-for-profit, professional theatre Downriver, bringing life's stories to the stage!

Photos by Libby Dinwiddie, 42nd Parallel Photography.