Open Stage of Harrisburg Offers Ticket Specials For 2010

In celebration of the new decade, Open Stage of Harrisburg, the Capital area's professional regional theatre, is offering special New Year's incentives during the run of CURSE OF THE STARVING CLASS.

All single ticket prices are reduced to $20.10. Two-for-$25 tickets are available for Sunday performances. Pay-What-You-Will performances will be offered on Thursdays. Pay-What-You-Will tickets are available at the door on the night of the performance.

The theatre's lobby opens one hour prior to curtain. Other discounts will not be honored with New Year's incentive offers.Sam Shepard's Curse of the Starving Class comically dissects the corruption of American values. On a run-down Californian farmstead, at The Edge of the desert and within migrating distance of the Mexican border, an alcoholic husband and his wife are each scheming to sell off their family home without the other's knowledge, while their children struggle to come to terms with the harsh reality of the world they have been born into. Debt, stolen dreams and a fear of the future fuel the family's self-destructive behaviors, as they sacrifice their meager values, and each other, to attain something of the better life they envision for themselves.

Behind Shepard's exploration of the corruption of money and the all-consuming lure of
corporation is a painfully funny portrait of a family in decline, unsure whether to reject or embrace the label of America's "starving class" while teetering on The Edge of poverty, sanity, and society itself.

Shepard's work explores many similar themes to playwrights such as Arthur Miller and
Eugene O'Neill, but through more contemporary eyes, and with a brash, raw energy that befits the playwright often described as the "bucking bronco" of American theatre.

Open Stage's Artistic Director Don Alsedek (DOUBT, HEDWIG AND THE ANGRY INCH, AROUND THE WORLD IN EIGHTY DAYS, BETRAYAL), leads the creative team which includes set designer Steve Yanek, light designer Nick Marino, costume designer Gwen Alsedek and sound designer David Walker. Karen Ruch, the production stage manager, will be assisted by Chris Krahulec.

Open Stage welcomes a strong cast including Sean Adams (THE THREEPENNY OPERA) as the son, Lisa Haywood (BETRAYAL) as the wife, Richard Johnson (THE GOAT, OR WHO IS SYLVIA?) as the husband, and Vesta Rash in her Open Stage debut as the daughter.

Performance dates:
February 5, 6, 11, 12, 13 ,14, 18, 19, 20, 21, 25, 26, 27, 2010
Curtain: 8 p. m. on Thurs., Fri., & Sat. and 2 p. m. on Sun.

Opening Night Performance & Party February 5
Pay-What -You-Will-Thursdays February 11,18, 25
Post-Performance Discussion February 14
Two-for-$25 Sundays February 14, 21

Open Stage, 223 Walnut St., is located on the street level of the Walnut Street Garage in downtown Harrisburg. Visit our web site at www.openstagehbg.com. This production is funded, in part, by the Cultural Enrichment Fund, the capital region's united arts fund. Open Stage of Harrisburg is a Constituent of Theatre Communications Group (TCG), the national organization for American theatre.

For advanced reservations, call 214-ARTS (2787) or go to www.openstagehbg.com. Subscribers and groups call 717-232-OPEN. Ticket buyers must reference code SUN to obtain the two-for-$25 Sunday matinee discount price. Two-for-$25 discounts are not available online.

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