Academic Theatre at CCBC Essex Presents IN THE NEXT ROOM, Opening 3/21

Ranging from the tender to the farcical, "In the Next Room" ponders marriage and intimacy in the Victorian era. Academic Theatre students at CCBC Essex will stage Sarah Ruhl's evocative comedy 8 p.m. Thursday through Saturday, March 21-23; 10 a.m., Monday, March 25 and at 1 p.m., Tuesday, March 26 in the B Building Theatre at CCBC Essex, 7201 Rossville Boulevard, Baltimore 21237. Tickets ($8 general admission and $5 students, seniors, CCBC faculty, staff and alumni) are available from the CCBC Box Office at 443-480-ARTS (2787) or at http://www.ccbcmd.edu/performingarts/actheatre.html. This production has adult themes and situations and is not suitable for children.

Nineteenth-century doctors believed that they could treat "hysteria" in women by inducing a "paroxysm" of the womb. The play centers on Dr. Givings, a proper gentleman and scientist who specializes in treating this "hysteria" in women with a new mysterious therapeutic machine - the vibrator. A 2010 Pulitzer Prize Finalist, "In the Next Room" offers a humorous look at the strange intimacies of medicine and the intimate strangeness of marriage.

The ensemble cast features: Diego Tapia of Baltimore (Dr. Givings), Emily Wesselhoff of Rosedale (Mrs. Givings); Ashley Saville of Dundalk (Dr. Givings' patient Mrs. Daldry), Steve Olaguer of Parkton (Mr. Daldry), Sarra Lewis of Parkville (Dr. Givings' assistant), A'anisah K. Saunderlin of Baltimore (Mrs. Givings' wet nurse Elizabeth) and Sean Kelly of Essex (another patient consulting Dr. Givings).

Guest artist Linda Chambers directs. Terri Raulie is in charge of the set and lighting design; James J. Fasching created the costumes; Kate Gage is the sound designer and Lex Myers serves as the Stage Manager. Precious Stone, assistant professor of Speech and Mass Communication, serves as the Production Coordinator.