Straz PAC Presents Miss Abigail's Guide to Dating, Mating and Marriage 6/9-7/3

The David A. Straz, Jr. Center for the Performing Arts (formerly the Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center) in association with Davenport Theatrical Enterprises will present the world premiere of Miss Abigail's Guide to Dating, Mating and Marriage in the Jaeb Theater, beginning a limited engagement on Wednesday, June 9 and continuing through July 3. Written by Ken Davenport (Altar Boyz, My First Time, The Awesome 80s Prom) and Sarah Saltzberg (25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee), Miss Abigail's Guide to Dating, Mating and Marriage is based on Abigail Grotke's popular book of the same name that promises "classic advice for contemporary dilemmas." Mr. Davenport directs Laurie Birmingham in the title role, along with Mauricio Perez as Paco. The scenic design for this production is by Scott Cooper with lighting design by Joseph P. Oshry and costume design by Rick Criswell.

At Miss Abigail's Guide to Dating, Mating and Marriage, you'll learn how to find and keep your perfect mate by listening to relationship guru Miss Abigail's classic romance advice from yesteryear! Whether you've been married for decades or your deepest relationship is with your dog, grab your date, your mate (or even your ex!) and come to Miss Abigail's Guide to Dating, Mating and Marriage.

Laurie Birmingham recently made a big move to New York City and landed the role of Miss Abigail. A veteran stage actor for 35 years she has performed in regional theaters across the country including the Asolo Theatre, Milwaukee Repertory Theatre, Alabama Shakespeare Festival and Virginia Stage Company where her favorite roles included Josie in A Moon For The Misbegotten, Madame Arcati in Blithe Spirit, Queen Margaret in Richard III, Claire in A Delicate Balance and Penny Sycamore in You Can't Take It With You.

Mauricio Perez is making his Straz Center debut. Perez was seen off-Broadway in Altar Boyz and regionally at the Cincinnati Playhouse, Repertory Theatre Of St. Louis and Colorado's Arvada Center for the Arts.

On Broadway, Sarah Saltzberg played Logainne Schwartzandgrubenairre for two years in The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee. She created and developed her character in C-R-E-P-U-S-C-U-L-E (upon which Spelling Bee is based), which she co-produced at the Theatorium in NYC, and appeared in both Barrington Stage productions. She most recently appeared in Fat Camp (NYMF), and has appeared off-Broadway in Junie B. Jones (Lortel Theatre), her one-woman show Dear Diary (Ars Nova), as well as throughout NYC in long-form improv comedy with the Upright Citizen's Brigade. Sarah can be seen in the late-night Broadway-themed improv show Don't Quit Your Night Job, which she co-created and co-produces (www.dontquitnyc.com). She is also a co-artistic director of Stage 13, a theater/Production Company dedicated to cultivating new and original stage, web and film pieces (www.stage-13.com).

Ken Davenport's recent Broadway productions include Oleanna starring Bill Pullman and Julia Stiles, Speed-the-Plow starring Raul Esparza, Will Ferrell's You're Welcome America, Blithe Spirit starring Angela Lansbury, and 13. Ken is the only independent producer to have had three shows running simultaneously Off-Broadway - Altar Boyz, The Awesome 80s Prom and My First Time. He was recently featured on a national commercial for Apple's iPhone, named one of Crain's "Forty Under 40" in 2008, and dubbed the "P.T. Barnum of Off-Broadway" by the New York Times. Current projects include Broadway revivals of Godspell and Aaron Sorkin's A Few Good Men, his musical adaptation of Somewhere In Time, and a documentary on one of the top unsigned rock bands in the country - Red Wanting Blue. His blog, TheProducersPerspective.com, has been featured in Vanity Fair, New York Magazine, The Gothamist and many others. He has written articles for Forbes, Mashable, Imedia and others. Ken also runs a number of theatrical websites including Broadway's #1 social networking site - BroadwaySpace.com.

Performances of Miss Abigail's Guide to Dating, Mating, and Marriage are scheduled Tuesday through Saturday evenings at 7:30 p.m. with matinees on Saturdays at 2 p.m. and Sundays at 4 p.m. There is a special added matinee performance on Thursday, June 17 at 2 p.m. Tickets start at $29.50 and may be purchased by calling 813/229-STAR (7827) or 800/955-1045 toll free or online at www.strazcenter.org. For more information, please visit the Straz Center's website at www.strazcenter.org or visit the official website at www.MissAbigailsGuide.com

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