Megan Dodds to Star Off-Bway in My Name is Rachel Corrie

Megan Dodds will reprise her role in the American premiere of the award-winning Royal Court Theatre production of My Name is Rachel Corrie.

Dodds performed the role of Rachel Corrie in the April 2005 Royal Court Theatre production, and reprised the role both at The Royal Court and at The Playhouse Theatre in London's West End in Spring 2006. My Name is Rachel Corrie will begin previews on October 5 and open at off-Broadway's Minetta Lane Theatre on Sunday, October 15 for a run of 48 performances only through Sunday, November 19.  On the Saturday and Sunday matinees, Bree Elrod will perform the role of Rachel Corrie.

The play was originally produced at London's Royal Court Theatre, where it opened in April 2005 and returned for an encore engagement in October 2005. In Spring 2006, it played for nine weeks at the Playhouse Theatre in London's West End. "Compiled from writings left behind in the diaries, letters and e-mails of American activist Rachel Corrie, a 23-year-old protester who was killed by an Israeli bulldozer in Gaza, My Name is Rachel Corrie chronicles the human, social and political evolution in the life and controversial death of a young woman. The play traces the life of Rachel from her early days in Washington State through her experiences as an activist seeking to learn more about the community within Gaza," according to press notes.

Dodds made her Broadway debut in School for Scandal at the Lyceum Theatre, directed by Gerald Freedman.  She made her West End debut in Ben Elton's Popcorn. Additional West End credits include Up for Grabs opposite Madonna and Hamlet, for which she received an Ian Charleson Award nomination for her performance as Ophelia.  She originated the role of Rachel Corrie in My Name is Rachel Corrie in London.  Dodds received the 2006 London Theatregoers' Choice Award for Best Actress, and was nominated for London's Time Out Award for Best Actress.  She will be seen opposite John Cusack and Morgan Freeman in Bruce Beresford's upcoming The Contract. Her other film credits include Ever After and HBO's "The Rat Pack."

My Name is Rachel Corrie received the 2006 London Theatregoers' Choice Award for Best Play, Best Director and Best Actress; and was nominated for a Time Out Award (Best Actress), a South Bank Show Award (Best Production) and an Olivier Award (Outstanding Achievement).

The play is edited by Alan Rickman and Katharine Viner, Features Editor with The Guardian newspaper in London, in collaboration with the Royal Court Theatre's International Department and produced with the kind permission of the Corrie family. 

My Name is Rachel Corrie will feature set and costume design by Hildegard Bechtler, lighting design by Johanna Town, sound and video design by Emma Laxton.  Dena Hammerstein and Pam Pariseau for James Hammerstein Productions will produce the show Off-Broadway.

Tickets are now on sale through Ticketmaster.com at 212-307-4100 or at the Minetta Lane Theatre box office at 212-420-8000.

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