Flat Rock Playhouse Stages CRIMES OF THE HEART, Now thru 9/6

The Flat Rock Playhouse 2015 season will continue with the Pulitzer Prize and New York Drama Critics Circle Award winning Crimes of the Heart, which will run from August 20th through September 6th at the Playhouse Downtown in Historic Downtown Hendersonville.

This hilariously heartfelt play written by renowned American playwright Beth Henley follows the story of three estranged sisters whose troubles and turmoil have brought them back together in a whirlwind of absurdly endearing circumstance. Meg, Babe and Lenny, the Magrath sisters, just your typical southern sisters, reconvene in their hometown of Hazlehurst, Mississippi at the home of their Old Grandaddy. Oh, but this is not your typical family reunion. Babe has just shot her abusive husband, and their mother has hung herself...and the beloved family cat. What unfolds is a beautifully rendered, often heartbreaking, often hilarious story of love, compassion and sisterhood. Offered for the first time ever on the Flat Rock Playhouse stage, Crimes of the Heart promises to be a huge hit that you will not want to miss.

Crimes of the Heart first premiered in 1980 at the Manhattan Theatre Club in New York, and had its Broadway debut in 1981 after it had already won the Pulitzer Prize for Drama. The Broadway production starred Mia Dillon, Mary Beth Hurt and Lizbeth Mackay. It was adapted into a film in 1986 starring Diane Keaton, Jessica Lange, and Sissy Spacek and received three Academy Award nominations including Beth Henley for Best Adapted Screenplay. In 2007, it had an off-Broadway revival at the Roundabout Theatre Company starring Lily Rabe, Jennifer Dundas, and Sarah Paulsen.

Starring as the three absurdly amusing Magrath sisters are longtime Vagabonds Paige Posey, who serves on the Flat Rock Playhouse Board, and Lisa K. Bryant, Artistic Director of the Playhouse, along with Molly McAdoo playing Lenny, Meg and Babe respectively. Sharing the stage with Posey, Bryant and McAdoo is Grayson Powell as Barnette Lloyd and returning Vagabond, Brian Robinson as Doc.

Crimes of the Heart will be directed by JJ Ruscella. Joining Ruscella on the production team are Chris Mueller, CJ Barnwell, Ashli Arnold, and Kurt Conway as the Scenic, Lighting, Costume and Sound designers respectively. Connie Silver will serve as Stage Manager with Amelia Driscoll as Assistant Stage Manager. Paul Feraldi will be designing the properties.

Crime of the Heart is presented by our Downtown Series sponsor Rug and Home, and Opening Night Sponsor BMW of Asheville. The Executive Producers of Crimes of the Heart are Dennis and Victoria Flanagan and Coldwell Banker King.

Crimes of the Heart will run August 20th through September 6th at Flat Rock Playhouse Downtown. Performances Wednesday through Saturday evening at 8 PM, matinees Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday at 2 PM. Tickets are $15 - 40 and can be purchased by calling the Playhouse box office at 828-693-0731, toll-free at 866-732-8008 or online at www.flatrockplayhouse.org.