Rehearsals begin for Arizona Theatre Company's world premiere production of Jeffrey Hatcher's Ten Chimneys this week in Genesee Depot, Wisconsin at Ten Chimneys, the historical former estate of Alfred Lunt and Lynn Fontanne. Playwright Jeffrey Hatcher, Director David Ira Goldstein, and the entire cast begin rehearsals Friday, December 17, 2010. This unique rehearsal opportunity was made possible by additional rehearsal time provided by the Edgerton Foundation New American Plays Award. Support is also provided by Ten Chimneys Foundation by providing the rehearsal spaces, access to research, staff support and extensive dramaturgical materials. Ten Chimneys rehearsals will return to Arizona at the end of December in preparation for the opening on January 28, 2011 in Tucson and February 19, 2011 in Phoenix.
Love, intrigue, romance and suicide. And that's just in the play they're rehearsing. In the late 1930s, Alfred Lunt and Lynn Fontanne, the two most revered stars of the Broadway stage, decide to perform Chekhov's masterpiece The Sea Gull. But first they must retreat to 'investigate' the play at Ten Chimneys, their legendary Wisconsin estate, where they are surrounded by actors, family and hangers-on. When a young actress named Uta Hagen arrives, a romantic triangle begins to mirror the events in Chekhov's play about passion and art. The result is a sweet, sad, funny and revealing look at the private lives of artists who are always on the stage. Ten Chimneys is a world premiere by Jeffrey Hatcher, author of ATC's Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, Ella and Tuesdays with Morrie.On May 26, 2003, the Lunts' gorgeously restored estate in the Wisconsin woods opened to the public as a world-class museum and a national resource for theatre and the arts. Exactly one year later, it was formally dedicated as a National Historic Landmark. Alfred Lunt and Lynn Fontanne are widely considered the greatest acting team in the history of American theatre. Summer after summer, the Lunts came to Ten Chimneys to retreat, relax, and rejuvenate. Because the Lunts were so widely loved and respected, "anyone who was anyone" in theatre, arts, and literature wanted to come to Ten Chimneys to be with and work with the Lunts. The estate, almost inevitably, became an important place for artistic creation, discussion, and inspiration. More than just the Lunts' home, Ten Chimneys was a home for the arts-literally and metaphorically.The world premiere production of Ten Chimneys, directed by Arizona Theatre Company Artistic Director David Ira Goldstein, will run in Tucson from January 22-February 12, 2011 and in Phoenix from February 17-March 6, 2011. The stellar cast includes two former Lunt-Fontanne Fellows, Suzanne Bouchard as Lynn Fontanne and Naomi Jacobson as Louise Greene. The cast also includes Steve Hendrickson as Alfred Lunt, Anna Bullard as Uta Hagen, Michael Winters as Sydney Greenstreet, Linda Stephens as Hattie Sederholm and Marcus Truschinski as Carl Sederholm. Set design is by John Ezell, costumes by Marcia Dixcy Jory, lighting by Dennis Parichy, composer and sound designer is Joshua Schmidt. The dramaturg is Jennifer Bazzell and the Production Stage Manager is Glenn Bruner.
For more information about Arizona Theatre Company's 2010-2011 Season, including the world premiere of Ten Chimneys, visit www.arizonatheatre.org.For more information about the Ten Chimneys Foundation, visit www.tenchimneys.org For more information about the Edgerton Foundation New American Play Awards, visit www.tcg.org.Videos