Vineyard Theatre Extends MIDDLETOWN Thru 12/5

Having opened to a host of positive reviews and strong ticket sales, Vineyard Theatre's world-premiere production of Will Eno's play MIDDLETOWN will extend its run an additional two weeks - through December 5 - it has been announced by Douglas Aibel, artistic director of The Vineyard (108 E. 15 St.). Directed by Ken Rus Schmoll, MIDDLETOWN was originally scheduled to run through November 21.

In his review of MIDDLETOWN - Mr. Eno's moving and funny play that explores the universe of a small American town - New York Times critic Charles Isherwood writes, "Mr. Eno's gift for articulating life's absurd beauty and its no less absurd horrors may be unmatched among writers of his generation. The play provides a steady stream of quiet pleasures and glimmers from start to finish with tart, funny, gorgeous little comments on big things. Mr. Schmoll and his uniformly excellent cast are all acutely in tune to Mr. Eno's particular brand of light-fingered depth in this pitch perfect production."

Jennifer Farrar in the Associated Press says, "In MIDDLETOWN, you'll find yourself in the middle of being totally engrossed in what will happen next. Wth brisk direction by Ken Rus Schmoll, a dozen talented actors portray townsfolk who seem both real and gently surreal, but always thoughtful and entertaining, and they fully engage the audience in their hopes and problems."

Andy Propst of TheaterMania writes, "MIDDLETOWN is richly engaging and satisfyingly theatrical, with heart and humor. A modern-day equivalent to Thornton Wilder's OUR TOWN." Michael Sommers of the New Jersey Newsroom says the play is "A beautiful, even profound study in human existence. A hauntingly acted production." And Linda Winer of Newsday notes, "'MIDDLETOWN' is a lusciously written, strangely poignant dizzyingly modern spin on life."

Earlier this season, MIDDLETOWN was named the inaugural recipient of the newly established Horton Foote Prize for Promising New American Play.

The all-star cast of MIDDLETOWN features Heather Burns, Cindy Cheung, JohAnna Day, Georgia Engel, David Garrison, Ed Jewett, McKenna Kerrigan, James McMenamin, Michael Park, Linus Roache, Olivia Scott and Pete Simpson.

Mr. Eno's play "THOM PAIN (based on nothing)" was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize for Drama and enjoyed a year-long run Off-Broadway in 2004 following its debut at the International Edinburgh Fringe Festival and a subsequent transfer to London's Soho Theatre. His play "THE FLU SEASON" won the 2004 Oppenheimer Award for best debut production. His other plays include TRAGEDY: a tragedy, and "OH, THE HUMANITY and other exclamations," which debuted at The Flea Theater.

Ken Rus Schmoll directed the Vineyard Theatre's production of Anne Washburn's play THE INTERNATIONALIST, and won an OBIE for his direction of TELEPHONE by Ariana Reines, at the Cherry Lane. Other productions include WHAT WE ONCE FELT by Ann Marie Healy at Lincoln Center, HELLO FAILURE by Kristen Kosmas at P.S. 122, the NY premiere of AMAZONS AND THEIR MEN by JorDan Harrison and DEMON BABY for Clubbed Thumb, and GIRL BLOG FROM IRAQ at The Culture Project.

Vineyard Theatre is one of the nation's leading non-profit theatre companies dedicated to developing and producing bold new plays and musicals and is the recipient of the Tony Award for the musical AVENUE Q, while continuing as a producer of the musical's current production at New World Stages in New York. The Vineyard has also produced Broadway transfers of its hit musicals [title of show] as well as THE SCOTTSBORO BOYS, which opened this week on Broadway.

In addition, The Vineyard has produced the Pulitzer Prize-winning productions of Edward Albee's THREE TALL WOMEN and Paula Vogel's HOW I LEARNED TO DRIVE. Other recent productions include the world premiere of Tarell Alvin McCraney's acclaimed WIG OUT!, The Civilians' THIS BEAUTIFUL CITY, A BOY AND HIS SOUL, written and performed by Colman Domingo, the world premiere engagement of the musical THE SCOTTSBORO BOYS with music and lyrics by John Kander and Fred Ebb, book by David Thompson, and direction and choreography by Susan Stroman, the world premiere of Adam Rapp's THE METAL CHILDREN and the new musical THE BURNT PART BOYS by Mariana Elder, Nathan Tysen and Chris Miller, directed by Joe Calarco.

Douglas Aibel is Artistic Director of Vineyard Theatre; Jennifer Garvey-Blackwell is Executive Director.

Scheduled through December 5, performances of MIDDLETOWN are Tuesdays at 7:00pm, Wednesdays through Fridays at 8:00pm, Saturdays at 3:00pm and 8:00pm, and Sundays at 3:00pm. Tickets to MIDDLETOWN are $65 and can be reserved by calling the Vineyard Theatre box office at 212-353-0303 or online at www.vineyardtheatre.org. Additionally, there is a $20 day-of student rush ticket.