Merrimack Repertory Theatre to Present THE BEST BROTHERS in 2015

Daniel MacIvor's play "The Best Brothers" quickly became a hit in Canada after its 2012 world premiere at the Stratford Shakespeare Festival. Merrimack Repertory Theatre will produce its East Coast premiere (and second production ever in the United States) this January, directed by Charles Towers.

The 90-minute play will run from January 8 - February 1, with press performances at 2:00 pm and 7:00 pm on Sunday, January 11, with a reception following the evening performance. All performances will be held at the Nancy L. Donahue Theatre, located at 50 East Merrimack Street in historic downtown Lowell. Tickets range from $60 - $20 and are on sale now through www.mrt.org or by calling 978-654-4678.

In this inventive new comedy, Kyle and Hamilton Best struggle to find common ground after their mother dies in a bizarre accident at a gay pride parade. They bicker over the details of the obituary, Kyle's unfortunate taste in men, and whom Mom loved best - only to find it may very well have been the dog.

According to Charles Towers, MRT's Artistic Director who will also direct the play, "I'm indebted to my Canadian friends and colleagues Seana McKenna and Miles Potter (the actor and director of Shakespeare's Will which was produced here at MRT two years ago) for bringing this play to my attention. I read this play one morning and sought to get the rights to it that afternoon. It is rare when I laugh out loud reading a play in my living room, so I pay attention when that happens."

After debuting at Stratford in 2012, "The Best Brothers" went on to a successful run in the fall of 2013 at Toronto's Tarragon Theatre, where MacIvor is the resident playwright. The been popping up all over Canada ever since. Santa Barbara's Ensemble Theatre Company stages the play's American premiere this month and a late January production is scheduled in Michigan.

Playing the two Best brothers will be Michael Canavan and Bill Kux. Michael Canavan is returning to MRT, where he directed "Three Songs" and appeared in "A Moon for the Misbegotten". His extensive credits also include work Off-Broadway, Chicago's Steppenwolf Theatre and numerous other regional theatres, as well as dozens of television guest star appearances. Bill Kux is making his MRT debut. He was recently seen by local audiences in Huntington Theatre Company's production of "Ether Dome." He has also performed roles on Broadway, including Gore Vidal's "The Best Man" and "The Trip to Bountiful," in the national tour of "Death of a Salesman," as well as Off-Broadway and in regional theatres around the country.

Playwright Daniel MacIvor, who is also an actor, played the role of Hamilton in the world premiere production. The play was inspired by his own Italian Greyhound puppy, Buddy. Daniel has written numerous award-winning theatre productions and is very well-known in his native Canada. His work has been translated into French, Portuguese, Spanish, Czech, German and Japanese. He has received Canada's Governor General's Literary Award for Drama in 2006 for his collection of plays "I Still Love You" and in 2008 he was awarded the Elinore and Lou Siminovitch Prize for Theatre. He is also the recipient of a New York Village Voice Obie Award and a GLAAD Award for his play "In On It".

Towers is joined on the creative team by Scenic Designer Bill Clarke, Costume Designer Arthur Oliver, Lighting Designer Dan Kotlowitz, and Sound Designer David Remedios.

Tickets range from $60 - $20 and are available at www.mrt.org or by calling 978-654-4678. Senior discount 10% off adult ticket price. Student tickets $15. Group discounts are available for groups of six or more by calling 978-654-7561. $5 Night: Thursday, January 8 at 7:30 pm. Patrons may purchase tickets for $5, cash only, at the Box Office between 4:30 pm - 7:30 pm. Limit 2 tickets per person. Lowell Night: Wednesday, January 14 at 7:30 pm. Lowell residents may purchase tickets for $10 at the box office from 4:30 pm-7:30 pm. Proper ID required, limit 2 per person. A Military Discount of $10 off per ticket (up to four tickets per production) applies to any performance for active duty, retired, veteran, and reservist members of the military.

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