Know Theatre's Season to Continue with THE HANDMAID'S TALE

In the near future, what's left of the United States has become a theocracy known as the Republic of Gilead. As with many women in Gilead, Offred has had her name and family taken from her and been forced to become a Handmaid, a vessel for population growth, valued only for her viable ovaries. Amidst the oppressive new regime, and armed with memories of life before the revolution, Offred struggles to maintain her individuality, personhood, and hope for a better possible future.

Know Theatre presents The Handmaid's Tale, Margaret Atwood's dystopian masterpiece of speculative fiction, adapted for the stage by Cincinnati native, Joe Stollenwerk, January 23-February 21, 2015.

The Handmaid's Tale is directed by CSC's Brian Isaac Phillips and stars Corinne Mohlenhoff as Offred. Creating the world for the show is Know Theatre's resident design team: scenic and lighting designer Andrew Hungerford, Costume Designer Noelle Wedig, and Sound Designer Doug Borntrager.

"I first read The Handmaid's Tale in a course on feminism and utopia/dystopia in literature in 2002. This was in the wake of 9/11 and it seemed that our country might all too easily be teetering on the brink of something reminiscent of Gilead from this novel. I immediately began thinking about turning it into a play," says adapter Joe Stollenwerk. The first draft of the script, completed in 2006, was well over six hours long. "I cut, and cut, and cut, always trying to be mindful that I wanted to preserve the plot and characters but also the social/political commentary as well as the marvelous language Atwood employs."

The resulting script was originally workshopped at Cincinnati Shakespeare Company with a reading in 2009, and produced at CSC as a dark night production in 2011.

Know Artistic Director Andrew Hungerford says, "When I designed the lighting for The Handmaid's Tale at CSC in 2011, I was incredibly moved by what we were able to create using limited equipment and the set from another show. I'm thrilled to have the opportunity to have Brian and Corinne join our team at the Know to bring this story to a wider audience in a fully realized, dedicated production. It's also a great fit for Know's commitment to second productions of plays and our development of local works."

Cast

Offred - Corinne Mohlenhoff*

*Member of Actors' Equity Association, the Union of Professional Actors and Stage Managers in the United States, appearing under a Special Appearance Contract.

Production Team

Director - Brian Isaac Phillips

Scenic & Lighting Design - Andrew Hungerford

Costume Design - Noelle Wedig

Sound Design - Doug Borntrager

Design and Production Associate - Sarah Beth Hall

Technical Director - Nick Koehlke

Calendar Listing

Production: The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood, adapted for the stage by Joe

Stollenwerk

When: 8:00pm January 23, 24, 28, 29, 30, 31; February 4, 5, 6, 7, 11, 12, 13, 14, 18, 19, 20, 21

3:00pm January 25; February 1, 8, 15

Where: Know Theatre of Cincinnati. 1120 Jackson Street, Cincinnati, OH 45202.

In historic Over-the-Rhine.

Tickets: $20 in advance

$10 Rush tickets at the door 10 minutes prior to curtain (when available)

FREE performances on Wednesdays, as part of Know's Welcome Experiment initiative. Subject to availability. Please note that pre-reserved Welcome Experiment tickets must be claimed 15 minutes before the performance or be subject to redistribution.

Tickets can be purchased by visiting knowtheatre.com or calling 513.300.5669 (KNOW).