Pittsburgh Irish & Classical Theatre Presents CRIME AND PUNISHMENT 9/10-10/3

A brilliant young student, an unorthodox detective, and a young woman forced into a life of prostitution are hurtled together by a brutal act of murder in Crime and Punishment. Clocking in at 80 minutes, this fast-paced psychological journey into the mind of a killer stars Joel Ripka, Larry John Meyers, and Susan Goodwillie. The show is directed by Matthew Gray, and the design team is comprised of Gianni Downs (set), Jim French (lighting), Pei-Chi Su (costumes) Joe Pino (sound), and Cory Goddard (properties).

Joel Ripka plays the student Raskolnikov. Crime and Punishment marks his fifth appearance with PICT. His previous PICT credits include George Wickham in Pride and Prejudice and Charles Surface in The School for Scandal. A Point Park University graduate, his most recent appearance was in the world premiere of Rob Zeller's Harry's Friendly Service at Pittsburgh Public Theatre.

Porfiry is played by Larry John Meyers. Meyers has performed in more than a dozen PICT shows over the past seven seasons, most recently appearing as John in the December 2008 production of Dublin Carol. Other PICT credits include the Earl of Gloucester in 2008's season opener King Lear, the acclaimed 2006 production of Samuel Beckett's Endgame (Hamm), and 2007's Julius Caesar (Caesar) and Stuff Happens (Dick Cheney).

Susan Goodwillie plays Sonia. A graduate of the Carnegie Mellon University School of Drama, she played Thea Elvstead in the 2007 PICT production of Hedda Gabler. This winter Susan made her Off-Broadway debut in Mourning Becomes Electra. In New York, credits include Big Money at Ars-Nova and The Last Goodbye at Joe's Pub. On television she has appeared on MEDIUM and ER.

Matthew Gray makes his PICT directorial debut with Crime and Punishment. An Assistant Professor of Acting at Carnegie Mellon University, Gray was recently seen on-stage in the Quantum Theatre production of 36 Views. His many credits include productions in Canada and the UK, most notably directing Bernard Cuffling (Hector in the PICT production of The History Boys) in Hay Fever, as well as in a production of Krapp's Last Tape which toured Canada, won ‘Pick of the Fringe' in Vancouver, and won best performance at the International Beckett Festival in 1997. In the UK, he has directed such productions as Fool for Love in Bristol, the European Premiere of Sam Shepard's Shaved Splits at the Assembly Rooms in Edinburgh, the UK premiere of C. K. Williams' translation of The Bacchae, the London premiere of Guy Picot's People Who Don't Do Dinner Parties, as well as new plays by David Florez and Simon Stephens.

The set is designed by PICT Resident Scenic Designer Gianni Downs. His previous PICT credits include:

The History Boys, Doubt, What the Butler Saw, Boston Marriage, Stuff Happens, Synge Cycle, and Salome, among others. Lighting is designed by Jim French (The History Boys, Rock ‘n' Roll, Synge Cycle and The Lieutenant of Inishmore, among others), and sound by Joe Pino (Heartbreak House, Travesties). Long-time PICT costume designer Pei-Chi Su returns from New York for the production. Some of her many previous PICT designs include costumes for The History Boys, King Lear, Pride and Prejudice, Private Lives, and BeckettFest.

WDUQ, 90.5 FM (www.wduq.org) is the media sponsor for the play. Crime and Punishment plays September 10 through October 3 in the Henry Heymann Theatre, located at the Stephen Foster Memorial in Oakland.

In conjunction with the play, PICT is hosting the free panel discussion "Crime and Punishment: Three Perspectives," on Sunday, September 20th at 3:45 (following the matinee performance). It will be held at the Stephen Foster Memorial in Oakland. Featured panelists include Matt Gray, Assistant Professor of Acting at Carnegie Mellon University, and director of Crime & Punishment; Vladimir Padunov, Associate Professor in the Department of Slavic Languages and Literatures at the University of Pittsburgh; and Dr. Robert Wettstein, Clinical Professor of Psychiatry at University of Pittsburgh.

Panelists will share thoughts on some of the questions raised in the play from their unique perspectives. Some topics may include: what is included and what is left out when a book is adapted into a play; the director's preparation how he prepares the actors; what happened to position the characters at the critical juncture we find them at when the play opens; what is the psychological state of the accused murderer, Raskolnikov, and would he be convicted by a modern court of law or let off by virtue of insanity. Our three presenters will speak for about ten minutes each leaving plenty of time for audience questions and input.

The panel discussion is free of charge and open to the public.

PICT will also host a post-show talk-back with the company following the Sunday, September 13 matinee performance, as well as two pre-show discussions beginning at 7:00 on Wednesday, September 16 and Thursday, September 17. The pre-show discussions are free of charge and open to the public.