Writers’ Theatre Presents the World Premiere of The Detective’s Wife 5/24

Writers' Theatre Artistic Director Michael Halberstam and Executive Director Kathryn M. Lipuma announce the world premiere of The Detective's Wife by Keith Huff, directed by Gary Griffin and featuring Barbara Robertson. The Detective;s Wife runs May 24 - July 31, 2011 at Writers' Theatre, 664 Vernon Avenue in Glencoe. The press performances are June 1 and 2, 2011 at 7:30pm.

Three of Chicago's finest talents come together to create a tour-de-force evening of theatre: playwright Keith Huff, fresh from his box office record breaking Broadway debut and award-winning writer for AMC's Mad Men; Broadway director and multi award-winning favorite Gary Griffin and Barbara Robertson, one of Chicago's greatest actresses, bring you this exclusive Limited Engagement.

Alice Conroy is the mother of two grown children, owner of a book store and wife of a Chicago homicide detective. When her husband is gunned down on the job, she is determined to find out who did it...and why.

"I have been looking for the better part of ten years for a play that can capture the thrill and style of a good crime or mystery novel. As it happens, transference from the page to the stage is exceptionally difficult. Difficult for everyone except Keith Huff it seems!," says Artistic Director Michael Halberstam. "We have assembled a magnificent team to realize this thrilling part in Keith's trilogy and I cannot think of a better way to segue from our 19th season into our 20th Anniversary than with this delectable new play."

The production features scenic design by Kevin Depinet, costume design by Janice Pytel, lighting design by Heather Gilbert, original music and sound design by Rob Milburn and Michael Bodeen, projections design by Mike Tutaj and properties design by Nick Heggestad. Rebecca Pechter is the Stage Manager.

ABOUT THE ARTISTS
Keith Huff (Playwright) is thrilled to be at Writers' Theatre to premiere The Detective's Wife, which is the second part of a loose trilogy of Chicago cop plays that includes A Steady Rain (Broadway production featured Daniel Craig and Hugh Jackman) And Tell us of the Night (selected for development at the 2011 O'Neill Theater Center's National Playwrights Conference). Other recent productions include The Bird and Mr. Banks (The Road Theater), Pursued by Happiness (Steppenwolf Theatre Company and The Road
Theater Company) and productions of A Steady Rain in Budapest, Barcelona, Paris and Mexico City. Huff's most recent stage plays include Big Lake-Big City, Sylvia's Travels (a trilogy) and Nine Toes.

Huff is currently writing the film adaptation of A Steady Rain for Barbara Broccoli (EON Films), an original screenplay Kill Switch for Alexandra Milchan (EMJAG Films), the cable seies The Brothers Buczakowski for HBO, the cable series Why We Fight for Steven Spielberg/Dreamworks. He just completed a stint as Writer/Co-Producer for AMC's Emmy and Golden Globe Award-winning series Mad Men (2011 Writers Guild Award, Best Drama Series).

Huff has an MFA from the University of Iowa's Playwright's Workshop, is a long-time Resident Playwright at Chicago Dramatists and is the recipient of a Joseph Jefferson Award, a Drama-Logue Award, the Cunningham Prize, the John Gassner Award, the Berrilla Kerr Award and three Illinois Arts Council Playwriting Fellowships. He currently divides his time between Chicago and Los Angeles, but his home base is Chicago, where he lives with his wife, Georgette and his daughter, Robin.

Gary Griffin (Director) returns to Writers' Theatre where he last directed Loot. He is associate artistic director at Chicago Shakespeare Theater where he has directed As You Like It, Private Lives, Amadeus, A Little Night Music, Sunday In The Park With George and Pacific Overtures, a production which transferred to London's Donmar Warehouse (Olivier Award for Outstanding Musical Production). In Chicago he has also directed for Court Theatre, Marriott Theatre in Lincolnshire, Northlight Theatre, Famous Door and Pegasus Players. For the Lyric Opera of Chicago he has directed The Mikado and The Merry Widow. Griffin has completed his third season at the Stratford Festival of Canada with productions of West Side Story, Evita and Camelot. In New York he has directed The Color Purple and The Apple Tree on Broadway as well as six productions for City Center Encores.

Barbara Robertson (Alice Conroy) makes her Writers' Theatre debut. Robertson is honored to be working again with Keith Huff after the premiere of his play Pursued by Happiness (Steppenwolf Theatre Company) and with Gary Griffin after A Little Night Music (Joseph Jefferson Award Nomination, Chicago Shakespeare Theater) and The Real Thing (Court Theatre). Some of her Chicago credits include Working (Broadway Playhouse), Wicked (Cadillac Theatre and Oriental Theatre) and Yeast Nation (Joseph Jefferson Award nomination, American Theatre Company). She has appeared at Court Theatre in Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? (Joseph Jefferson Award), Mary Stuart (Joseph Jefferson Award Nomination), La Bete (After Dark Award), Tartuffe (Joseph Jefferson Award Nomination), The House of Blue Leaves (Joseph Jefferson Award Nomination) and Grand Hotel (Joseph Jefferson Award, Drury Lane Water Tower). She has appeared at Chicago Shakespeare Theater in Hamlet, Kabuki Lady Macbeth (After Dark Award), Winter's Tale, at Goodman Theatre in The Goat, or who is Sylvia? (Joseph Jefferson Award Nomination), House and Garden (After Dark Award), Pal Joey (Joseph Jefferson Award), Black Snow (Joseph Jefferson Award), Emma's Child (Sarah Siddons Award, Victory Gardens Theater), Detachments (Joseph Jefferson Nomination, After Dark Award, Center Theater), Kabuki Medea (Helen Hayes Award and Joseph Jefferson Award, Wisdom Bridge Theatre and Kennedy Center), Chicago (Joseph Jefferson Award, Marriott Theatre in Lincolnshire) and Angels in America I & II (Joseph Jefferson Award, Royal George Theater and the First National Tour). Film credits include The Company (Robert Altman), A Straight Story (David Lynch's), Hunter, Soul Survivors and the soon to be released LOL. Television credits include a mini series for NBC, movies of the week for NBC, Disney and appearances in The Untouchables and Early Edition. Robertson is very proud to be a member of Actors Equity Association and a teacher at Columbia College Chicago.

TICKET INFORMATION
Performances are May 24 - July 31, 2011. The press performances are on June 1 and 2, 2011, at 7:30 p.m. Curtain times are Tuesdays and Wednesdays at 7:30 p.m; Thursdays and Fridays 8:00 p.m.; Saturdays at 4:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m.; and Sundays at 2:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m. There is no 2:00 pm performance on July 3. There are no 6:00 p.m. performances on July 3 & 31. The Wednesday matinees are at 2:00 p.m. on June 29 & July 27.

Tickets are $50-$60 and are available at the Box Office, 376 Park Avenue, Glencoe; 847-242-6000 or online at www.writerstheatre.org.

TWEET SEATS
Follow Writers' Theatre on Twitter (Twitter.com/WritersTheatre) and everyday by 3pm, Writers' will Tweet a code that can be used to purchase remaining seats for that day's performance at a discount. Tweet Seats are available for purchase only through the Writers' Theatre website at writerstheatre.org.

WRITERS' PARTNERS
The Writers' Theatre season is underwritten, in part, by a grant from the Illinois Arts Council, a state agency.

Writers' Theatre welcomes back 2010/11 Season Restaurant Partner, Winnetka's award-winning Restaurant Michael. Featuring impeccably crafted cuisine of the freshest local and organic ingredients, Restaurant Michael prepares classic, haute cuisine, in a unique and contemporary presentation with French country flair. Writers' Theatre patrons receive 10% off their guest check when they present their ticket stub when ordering. Just 10 minutes from the theater at 64 Green Bay Road, Restaurant Michael is the perfect fit for any dining occasion. Call 847-441-3100 to make your reservation.

For more information about Writers' 2010/11 Season Restaurant Partners and offer restrictions visit writerstheatre.org/visitus.

ABOUT WRITERS' THEATRE
Writers' Theatre is a professional company focusing on the Word and the Artist. Remaining true to the intention of the playwright and nurturing the artist stand at the center of the mission. Now in its 19th season, the company both revives classic scripts and cultivates new works and adaptations while invigorating them with fresh energy in the intimacy of its venues. Founded in 1992, Writers' Theatre performed exclusively at Books on Vernon, 664 Vernon Avenue for the first 12 years. In the fall of 2003, the organization opened a new 108 seat performance venue at 325 Tudor Court. Today, Writers' Theatre continues to produce in both spaces, maintaining an intimate theatrical experience for audiences. Since 2000, the subscriber base has grown almost 250%, from 1,500 to more than 5,700 today. With an operating budget of $3.4 million, Writers' Theatre is supported by a staff of 20 full-time employees and a 31-member Board of Trustees.

You can find Writers' Theatre on Facebook or follow Writers' Theatre on Twitter at Twitter.com/WritersTheatre. For more information, visit www.writerstheatre.org.

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