Love Letters To Raise Money for the Utah Shakespeare Festival 2/4-5

Join the Utah Shakespeare Festival for a special Valentine's Day presentation of "Love Letters" starring new Artistic Director Brian Vaughn and popular Festival actress Melinda Pfundstein. The Guild of the Utah Shakespeare Festival will present this exciting fundraising event on February 4 and 5 at 7:30 p.m. in the Randall L. Jones Theatre.

"It is always an honor to share the stage with Brian, and to work artistically with David," said Pfundstein. "Our time and history together lend such an ease to the process. If our past projects together tell us anything, we are in for a very rewarding experience, both personally and professionally."

Tickets are $25 and $45 and they are available now at www.bard.org or by calling 1-800-PLAYTIX (435-586-7878). The $45 VIP ticket includes admission to an exclusive reception with the cast. Student tickets are available for $15 at the ticket office. Contact the ticket office for information on group discounts.

"'Love Letters' tickets are a fantastic gift for a friend or loved one," said Susan Wooten, Guild representative. "Not only will your gift provide a delightful and entertaining evening at the theatre, it will also benefit the Utah Shakespeare Festival. It's a great way to remember the people you love as well as give a little back for all the Festival does in our community."

A.R. Gurney's popular romantic comedy is a tribute to lasting friendship. Throughout this two-person show, childhood friends Andy and Melissa read a lifetime of letters to one another as they revisit their journey from childhood friends, to teen-age sweethearts, to secret lovers. Despite their deep feelings for one another, fate is against them. "Love Letters" is a story about the endurance of a true romantic connection in spite of life's trials and tribulations, even if it is only expressed through letters.

Real life husband and wife Brian Vaughn and Melinda Pfundstein will present this love story. Both Vaughn and Pfundstein attended Southern Utah University in Cedar City, and both have acted in numerous productions at the Festival throughout the past 20 years.

David Ivers, the Festival's other new artistic director, will direct "Love Letters." Proceeds from the event will benefit the Festival's Artistic Initiative Fund, designed by the new artistic leadership to promote the Festival's growth in artistic excellence. Goals of the fund include establishing a core group of Festival Theatre artists, enhancing the size and scope of the production design aesthetic, and increasing the Festival's national and international exposure.

"To date most of the revenue for the Artistic Initiative Fund has been raised through artistic programming," said Ivers. "This fundraiser is a perfect example. We are performing an artistic event in the venue that we will use the Initiative funds to help expand. Supporters will enjoy a great evening of theatre in exchange for their donation, and their donation will help us continue to produce the product they are watching."

Tickets are on sale now for the Festival's 50th anniversary season, which will run from June 23 to Oct. 29, 2011. The eight-play season includes Shakespeare's "A Midsummer Night's Dream," "Richard III," "Romeo and Juliet," and "The Winter's Tale." The season will also include Meredith Willson's great American musical "The Music Man," Tennessee Williams' "The Glass Menagerie," Michael Frayn's "Noises Off!" and the mystery thriller "Dial M for Murder" by Frederick Knott. For more information and tickets visit www.bard.org or call 1-800-PLAYTIX.