Writers Theatre Extends MARJORIE PRIME

Artistic Director Michael Halberstam and Executive Director Kathryn M. Lipuma announce an additional two weeks of performances for the critically-acclaimed production of Marjorie Prime by Jordan Harrison, directed by Kimberly Senior. Due to demand, the show will now run through March 13, 2016 at Books on Vernon, 664 Vernon Ave, Glencoe.

It's the age of artificial intelligence, but 86-year old Marjorie is worried that her memory may be fading. That is, until the appearance of Walter, a mysterious and charming young visitor programmed to help Marjorie uncover the intricacies of her own past. As Walter's true nature is revealed, new levels of complexity emerge, leading to profound questions about the limits of technology and whether memory might be a purely human invention.

This clever and captivating new drama explores what it means to be human, the complicated nature of familial relationships and the moments in life that we might choose to forget, if given the chance. Directed by Kimberly Senior in the Writers Theatre bookstore venue, Marjorie Prime will take audiences on a twisting journey into uncharted theatrical terrain.

The cast of Marjorie Prime includes Kate Fry (Tess), Erik Hellman (Walter), Nathan Hosner (Jon) and Mary Ann Thebus (Marjorie). Beginning February 16, 2016, the role of Tess will be played by Stacy Stoltz, who last appeared with Writers Theatre as Stella in Director David Cromer's production of Tennessee Williams' A Streetcar Named Desire.

The designers are Brian Sidney Bembridge (Scenic & Lighting Designer), Jenny Mannis (Costume Designer), and Rick Sims (Sound Designer/Composer). The Stage Manager is David Castellanos.

AUDIENCE ENRICHMENT

Post Show Conversation: The Word

Join us after every Wednesday evening performance (excluding previews) for a 15-minute talk-back featuring actors from the production, facilitated by a member of the WT Artistic Team. Post-show discussions provide a forum for audience members to ask questions of the artists in the production and gain new insight into the work.

Making of... Marjorie Prime - Monday, January 11, 2016

Ever wondered what goes on behind the scenes of the shows you love?
Literary Manager Bobby Kennedy will lead a 1-hour conversation and question-and-answer session with actress Mary Ann Thebus. The pair will discuss Thebus's storied acting career in Chicago, how she developed the two very distinct versions of the character Marjorie that she performs in the play, and what it is like to perform in the intimate bookstore venue for the first time. This event is free and open to the public. Due to limited seating, a reservation is required.

RIDE METRA TO WRITERS THEATRE

In an effort to promote taking public transit to the Theatre, Writers Theatre launched a new promotion in 2013. Any audience member who purchases a ticket to a Writers Theatre production and rides Metra's Union Pacific North Line to the Theatre may snap a photo of themselves on the train and post it to their Facebook page or Twitter feed with a tag of @writerstheatre and #[the title of the show], and upon showing the post at the Writers Theatre Box Office, will receive $5 in cash as a way of saying thanks for going green by choosing public transportation.

This promotion is available for a limited time only, and may end without warning. Ticket must have been paid for in advance. Not valid on complimentary tickets. More information available at writerstheatre.org/metra

ABOUT WRITERS THEATRE

Over the past twenty-three seasons, Writers Theatre has become a major Chicagoland cultural destination with a national reputation for excellence. Under the artistic leadership of Michael Halberstam and the executive leadership of Kathryn M. Lipuma, Writers Theatre has been deemed the "best drama company in the nation" by The Wall Street Journal. The company, which plays to a sold-out and discerning audience of 35,000 patrons each season, has garnered critical praise for the consistent high quality and intimacy of its artistry. Prized for the finest interpretations of classic and contemporary theatre in its two intensely intimate venues, Writers Theatre's acclaimed work includes Artistic Director Michael Halberstam's world premiere in Glencoe and subsequent productions of A Minister's Wife at Lincoln Center Theater and West Coast premiere at the San Jose Repertory Theatre; David Cromer's productions of A Streetcar Named Desire and Picnic; and the commissioning, world premiere and New York premiere of Crime and Punishment, which has received more than 30 subsequent regional theater productions.

Writers Theatre continues with the $34 million On to a New Stage Campaign, of which $32million has been raised to date. The campaign will establish the company's first permanent home in a new theatre center in downtown Glencoe, designed by the award-winning, internationally renowned Studio Gang Architects, led by Founder and Design Principal Jeanne Gang, in collaboration with Theatre Consultant Auerbach Pollock Friedlander. This will allow the Theatre to continue to grow to accommodate its audience, while maintaining its trademark intimacy. The new facility will resonate with and complement the Theatre's neighboring Glencoe community, adding tremendous value to Chicagoland and helping to establish the North Shore as a premier cultural destination.