Emmy Winner Michael Learned to Star in ZACH Theatre's MOTHERS AND SONS

ZACH Theatre announces that Emmy Award-winning actress Michael Learned, best known for playing the mother on The Waltons TV show, will join Martin Burke, Nicholas Rodriguez, and William May in the upcoming production of Mothers And Sons the touching new family drama by four-time Tony Award-winner and native Texan Terrence McNally. Mothers and Sons will play at ZACH's Topfer Theatre from May 27, 2015 - June 21, 2015 under the direction of ZACH's Producing Artistic Director Dave Steakley.

Mothers and Sons is a provocative, beautiful new play about a mother who pays a surprise visit to the New York apartment of her late son's ex-partner, who is now married to another man and has a young son. Challenged to face how society has changed around her and without her, she is finally able to see the rich life her son might have led.

"Terrence McNally's writing has played a significant role in the life of ZACH Theatre - Ragtime, Master Class, Love! Valour! Compassion!, Frankie and Johnnie in the Clair de Lune, to name just a few of his plays that we have produced," says Steakley. "Mothers and Sons is a beautiful play of this moment in time as our country, and our state, struggles to define what constitutes a family, and who has the right to marry. This Spring at ZACH we are focused on equality, from the Civil Rights legislation at the heart of All The Way, to the dialogue around marriage equality today. As we have witnessed societal change occurs slowly and then there are certain junctions in our history where progress toward equality moves swiftly. We are poised at one of those moments in American history, and I'm delighted we are one of the first to produce McNally's thoughtful, human, compassionate play."

Michael Learned recently portrayed the mother, Katharine Gerard, at Philadelphia Theatre Company to critical acclaim. Learned is a four-time Emmy Award-Winning Actress, three for her work as Olivia Walton on the acclaimed TV series, The Waltons, and one for her role as Mary Benjamin in her own series Nurse. She is also a Peoples' Choice Award Winner and four-time Golden Globe Nominee. Martin Burke (This Wonderful Life, Peter and the Starcatcher, and the The Santaland Diaries at ZACH Theatre) will play the role of Cal Porter. Nicholas Rodriguez (LES MISERABLES, Master Class and Love! Valour! Compassion! at ZACH Theatre) will play the role of Will Ogden. Nicholas is perhaps best known for the role of Nick Chavez on ABC's One Life to Live, and for his Broadway role as Tarzan in the Disney production of Tarzan. Bud Ogden-Porter will be portrayed by young actor, William May (A Christmas Story, and Tiny Tim in A Christmas Carol at ZACH Theatre).

Special events in celebration of Mothers and Sons include:

· Press Night: Saturday, May 30 Please RSVP to llovell@zachtheatre.org

· GLBT Wilde Party Night: Thursday, May 28

· Champagne Opening Night: Thursday, June 4

· Nicholas Rodriguez Concert and CD release party: June 16 at 7:30pm, $25 tickets

· Z Lounge: Pre-show musical entertainment in the Topfer Theatre's Main Lounge

Tickets start at $25 and are available online at www.zachtheatre.org, by phone at 512-476-0541 x1, or in person at the ZACH Theatre Box Office, in the Topfer Theatre, 202 South Lamar Blvd. (corner of Riverside Drive and South Lamar Blvd.) Monday through Saturday, 12 noon - 7 p.m. ZACH Theatre is wheelchair accessible. Discounts are available for groups of 8 or more. Student Rush Tickets are $18 one hour before show time (with valid ID).

The National Endowment for the Arts is the Presenting Sponsor of Mothers and Sons. The Alice Kleberg Reynolds Foundation is the Title Sponsor. Kathleen and Harvey Guion are Executive Producer Sponsors with Lee Manford and Casey Blass. Pamela and Scott Reichardt are Producer Sponsors. Mercedes Benz of Austin is the Official Car of ZACH Theatre.

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