Olney to Present NNPN World Premiere of RANCHO MRAGE, 9/26-10/20

Olney Theatre Center is pleased to announce it will kick off the National New Play Network (NNPN) Rolling World Premiere of Steven Dietz's Rancho Mirage. Written by one of America's most widely-produced playwrights (Yankee Tavern, Halcyon Days,Lonely Planet), Rancho Mirage will begin its Rolling World Premiere at Olney Theatre Center September 26 - October 20, 2013.

Olney Theatre Center has received a $21,000 grant from The Edgerton Foundation New American Play Awards for this production. The grant gives new plays in development an extended rehearsal period for the entire creative team, including the playwright.

Rancho Mirage is a bitingly funny black comedy about what happens when the fictions that hold our lives together are exposed. In Mr. Dietz's sharp and surprising sojourn into the psyche of 2013 America - where affluence is perhaps our greatest mirage - three couples, long-time friends, find themselves at a dinner party where everyone finally decides to tell the truth.

The show will be Artistic Director Jason Loewith's debut as director at Olney Theatre Center.

"My first professional gig was assisting on Steven's play God's Country, back twenty-some years ago," says Mr. Loewith. "So I'm beyond honored to direct his newest piece. And by mounting a Rolling World Premiere of the play, we're staking out collaborative, risk-taking territory for Olney Theatre Center in this landmark season."

The cast of Rancho Mirage includes actors long-time Olney Theatre Center patrons will recognize - Toyna Beckman (The Millionairess), James Konicek (Annie, King of the Jews, Democracy, The Elephant Man), Susan Lynskey (The 39 Steps, Farragut North, The Laramie Project, The Miser, Coffee With Richelieu) , Paul Morella (A Christmas Carol, Over the Tavern, Witness for the Prosecution, Opus, Dinner With Friends, Rabbit Hole, The Mousetrap, among others); Tracy Lynn Olivera (Cinderella, The Sound of Music, Carousel, The Madwoman of Chaillot) and Michael Russotto (Neville's Island, Present Laughter). Sydney Lemmon, makes her Olney Theatre Center debut in Rancho Mirage after touring with Olney Theatre Center's National Players Tour 64.

The NNPN Rolling World Premiere of the play continues after Olney Theatre Center's production at former Artistic Director Jim Petosa's theater, New Rep (Watertown, MA), followed by productions at Phoenix Theatre (Indianapolis) and Curious Theatre (Denver).

Tickets are $32.50-$65. Discounts available for groups, seniors, military, and students.

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