VANYA AND SONIA AND MASHA AND SPIKE to Play MTC MainStage

Music Theatre of Connecticut MainStage, Fairfield County's award-winning professional theatre company, continues its 2015/2016 season with the Fairfield County professional premiere of the Tony-Award winning "Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike" by Christopher Durang. Performances are February 26-March 13, Fridays at 8pm, Saturdays at 4pm and 8pm, Sundays at 2pm, at Music Theatre of Connecticut, 509 Westport Avenue (behind Nine West) in Norwalk, CT. Tickets range from $35-$55 and are available by calling 203.454.3883 or visiting www.musictheatreofct.com.

This production of "Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike" marks the Fairfield County professional premiere of the Tony Award-winning comedy by Christopher Durang. Three siblings, one hot mess. This witty mash-up of Chekhov and smartphones is a delightful new farce for our hyperconnected era. Middle-aged, angst-ridden siblings Vanya and Sonia are paid a surprise visit by their glamorous movie-star sister, Masha, and her hunky boy toy, Spike. Don't miss the show that The New York Times calls "Deliriously funny! Broad comic acting is raised to the level of high art!"

The cast of "Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike" includes Christopher DeRosa as Spike, who appeared in the critically-acclaimed MTC MainStage production of "Evita" and was nominated for a Connecticut Critics Circle Award for Best Lead Actor in a Musical for the title role in "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat." Cynthia Hannah plays Sonia, and has been seen in the MTC MainStage productions of "God of Carnage," "Almost, Maine" and the world premiere of "A Christmas Carol: A Live Radio Play" as well as on stage at Westport Country Playhouse, Long Wharf Theatre and on television in "The Guiding Light," "All My Children" and in over a hundred commercials. Carissa Massaro plays Nina, and has appeared on Broadway in "Jane Eyre," at STAGES St. Louis as Chava in "Fiddler on the Roof," as Belle in "Beauty and the Beast" and in MTC MainStage productions including "Evita" and "The Fantasticks." Jim Schilling plays Vanya, and credits include "Upper Broadway" at Westport Country Playhouse, "Hamlet" with Tony Roberts, "South Pacific" with Jamie Farr and MTC MainStage productions including "Yours, Anne," "It's A Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play," "Doubt," "God of Carnage" and "The Fantasticks." Film credits include "Bullets Over Broadway," "Cadillac Man," "Soapdish" and as Sean Penn's double in "Dead Man Walking." Katie Sparer plays Cassandra, and has appeared in MTC MainStage productions including "Doubt" and "Almost, Maine." Other Broadway and Off-Broadway credits include "Awake & Sing," "The Rise and Rise of Daniel Rocket," "Shayna Maidle," "Renovations" and "Ruthless!" She has appeared on television's "American Playhouse," "Candid Camera," "Law & Order" and "The Sopranos." Jodi Stevens plays Masha, and appeared in the original Broadway companies of "Urban Cowboy" and "Jekyll and Hyde." Off-Broadway and regional credits include "Dietrich and Chevalier: The Musical," Barry Manilow's "Harmony" at La Jolla Playhouse and Lily St. Regis in "Annie" at Goodspeed Opera House. MTC MainStage credits include "My Way: A Musical Tribute to Frank Sinatra" and "Love Letters" opposite her husband, Scott Bryce. TV credits include "Sex in the City" and "Central Park West."

"Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike" is directed by Pamela Hill, whose previous MTC MainStage credits include "Rodgers and Hart" and "Side by Side by Sondheim." Regional credits include Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park, Contemporary American Theatre Company, The Human Race Theatre Company, Short North Stage and Actors' Theatre.

The design team includes set design by Carl Tallent, lighting by Joshua Scherr, costumes by Diane Vanderkroef and sound by Sarah Pero. The production is stage managed by Cameron Nadler.

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