DOUBT, A PARABLE Plays Theater Works in Peoria, Now thru 9/30

Theater Works opens its MasterWorks season with the critically acclaimed play DOUBT, A PARABLE. Charismatic young Father Flynn begins a sermon by asking, "What do you do when you're not sure?" Audiences soon learn that little is certain in John Patrick Shanley's brilliant, aptly titled play.

Winner of a Pulitzer Prize and a Tony Award, DOUBT provides a rare evening of theatre that entertains and captivates emotionally, psychologically, and intellectually. In an extraordinary theatrical sleight of hand, Shanley leaves audiences no simple answers, no pat solutions, and no easy outs. This is theatre that brings audiences to The Edge of their seats and introduces topics that will be discussed long after the final curtain. DOUBT, A PARABLE opens on Friday, September 7th at 7:30 p.m. and runs through September 30th. Tickets are on sale now!

Theater Works production of DOUBT will provide even more emotional intensity, thanks to the intimacy of the McMillin Theater. This play has, of course, been made into a much-acclaimed movie that garnered five Oscar nominations. But it is the stage version that cuts to the very heart of the battle for truth between Sister Aloysius, principal of a parochial school in the Bronx in 1964, and Father Flynn, the parish priest.

Although set in 1964, DOUBT is as timely as tomorrow's newspaper. Is Father Flynn using his position as teacher and coach to encourage youngsters or take advantage of them? Is hard-headed Sister Aloysius, the school principal, protecting children from harm, or is she falsely accusing an innocent man of a shocking betrayal of trust?

Directed by Judy Rollings, founding member of Actors Theatre of Phoenix, she has won the Critics Circle Award for Innovative Programming. Her most current directing credits include Collected Stories, Eleemosynary, Honour, Sudz, and The Road to Mecca. She has also won the Arizoni Lifetime Award for Outstanding Contribution to Theater in 1995 and the Actors Equity Association Theatre Service Award in 2010.

Robyn Allen, Theater Works Artistic Director, plays Sister Aloysius, the hard-nosed disciplinarian. Ms. Allen has worked as a professional in the theater for the past 23 years. During her five years with Theater Works the theater has garnered 268 ariZoni nominations. Father Flynn, the charismatic parish priest, is played by Christopher Haines. Christopher Haines, Artistic Director of iTheatre Collaborative, is a 30+ year theater veteran and graduated from Duke University. Some of his stage work includes Orson Welles in Orson's Shadow,the Librarian in Underneath the Lintel, and Mr. Rich in Celebration.

Mrs. Muller, the mother of a young student, is play by Chanel Bragg. Ms. Bragg's other roles include Regina Lincoln, Dynamite in Hairspray, Ruth in Raisin in the Sun and Joanne in Rent. Amanda Noel performs the role of Sister James, the optimistic young nun and teacher. Ms. Noel received her MFA in Shakespeare and Performance from Mary Baldwin College with the American Shakespeare Center. Recent roles include Margaret in Q is for Queen, Emilia in Desdemona: A Play About a Handkerchief, and Helena in All's Well that Ends Well.

Tickets are now on sale both online at theaterworks.org and at the Peoria Center for the Performing Arts. The Box Office is open from 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. daily and may be reached at 623-815-7930. DOUBT, A PARABLE runs tonight, September 7th - 30th with performances Thursday - Saturday 7:30 p.m. and Sundays 2 p.m. and a special weekday matinee performance on Wednesday, September 19th at 2 p.m. Tickets are only $31 / adult, $28 / senior and $13 / student plus fees. Theater Works is located in the Peoria Center for the Performing Arts at 8355 W Peoria Avenue, Peoria.

Pictured: Robyn Allen (Sister Aloysius), Christopher Haines (Father Flynn), Chanel Bragg (Mrs. Muller) and Amanda Noel (Sister James). Photo by Bo Allen.

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