CANDIDA to Play Pittsburgh Public Theater, 4/17-5/18

Pittsburgh Public Theater's Masterpiece Season continues with George Bernard Shaw's sparkling comedy, Candida, directed by Ted Pappas. Candida runs April 17 - May 18, 2014 at the O'Reilly Theater, Pittsburgh Public Theater's home in the heart of Downtown's Cultural District. For tickets call 412.316.1600 or visit ppt.org.

Candida features three accomplished actors who are returning to Pittsburgh Public Theater to be part of the Masterpiece Season. Playing the passionate poet, Eugene Marchbanks, is Jared McGuire, who appeared in last season's popular production of Clybourne Park. Playing the practical parson, Reverend James Morell, is David Whalen, who is back at The Public for the seventh time and was seen most recently in Good People. In the title role of Candida is the dazzling Gretchen Egolf, the radiant Rosalind in The Public's hit As You Like It, and the elegant Jackie Kennedy in The Secret Letters of Jackie and Marilyn.

In Candida, Reverend Morell is a socialist reformer and his intelligent wife Candida, sometimes called Candy, manages their London vicarage. When idealistic young Marchbanks comes to visit, he is infatuated with the beautiful Candida and hopes to disrupt the couple's domestic order. In this romantic tug of war, she must decide what love really means. Also present in the household are Candida's jocular father, Mr. Burgess (John O'Creagh), Morell's curate, Reverend Alexander Mill (Matthew Minor), and secretary Proserpine Garnett (Meghan Mae O'Neill). Shaw's play made its American premiere in 1903 and is still a triumph of sophisticated wit.

The design team for Candida is James Noone (Scenic), Andrew B. Marlay (Costumes), Kirk Bookman (Lighting), and Zach Moore (Sound). The Dialect Coach is Don Wadsworth and Casting is by Pat McCorkle, McCorkle Casting Ltd. The Production Stage Manager is Fredric H. Orner and the Assistant Stage Manager is Alicia DiGiorgi.

About the Playwright: George Bernard Shaw was born in Dublin, Ireland in 1856 and learned an appreciation of the arts from his mother, who was a singer and music teacher. He rebelled against formal education but taught himself through reading, attending the theater, and visiting museums. Shaw moved to London at age 20 and from then on he was a prolific writer, first as a drama critic and member of the socialist group the Fabian Society, for which he wrote political pamphlets. Inspired by playwright Henrik Ibsen, in a burst of creativity in the 1890s Shaw began to write plays himself. By 1898 he published Widowers' House, The Philanderer, Mrs. Warren's Profession, Arms and the Man, Candida, The Man of Destiny, and You Never Can Tell. By shortly after the turn of the century, he had great critical and financial success in both England and America. Other famous plays by Shaw include The Devil's Disciple, John Bull's Other Island, Man and Superman, Major Barbara, The Doctor's Dilemma, Pygmalion, Heartbreak House, Back to Methuselah, and Saint Joan. He was awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1925 and the Oscar for his screen adaptation of Pygmalion in 1938. Shaw died in 1950 at age 94.

Pittsburgh Public Theater Presents

Candida

April 17 - May 18, 2014

Performance Schedule

Tues. at 7 pm; Wed. thru Sat. at 8 pm

Sat. at 2 pm (except April 19 & 26). Also 2 pm on Thurs., May 15

Sun. at 2 & 7 pm (except Sun., May 18 when the final performance is at 2 pm)

Press Night is Thursday, April 24. Opening Night is Friday, April 25.

Ticket Prices: $23 to $55. Students and age 26 and younger $15.75 with valid ID.

For tickets call 412.316.1600 or visit ppt.org.