WIT To Open At Dayton Playhouse 11/12

Dayton Playhouse presents the third production of our 2010/2011 Mainstage Season, Wit by playwright Margaret Edison - opening Friday, November 12, 2010 and running through November 21st. The play is directed by Matthew Smith, lights by Anita Bachmann, costumes by Michael Stockstill, and stage management by Jamie McQuinn.

Wit - The Plot: Dr. Vivian Bearing (Barbara Coriell in a riveting performance) is every professor you have ever dreaded having; the hard-nosed, acerbic, academic martinet and zealot - who quite often ended up being the one from whom you learned the most! We meet her at a critical juncture in her life: she has just been diagnosed with Stage IV ovarian cancer. The play follows Dr. Bearing as she uses every weapon at her disposal, most notably her wit, against pompous, uncaring doctors and a medical establishment more interested in science than in their patients' epic struggles. Words are her only defense, since the hospital gown and Boston Red Sox cap cannotprotect her from a body that has turned into an enemy, and a cure that may be worse than the disease.Wit - The ScriptWritten in 1999, and winning the Pulitzer Prize, Drama Desk and New York Drama Critics Circle awards, Wit came about partly through the author's experiences as a unit clerk in a teaching hospital.

Observing how nurses treated patients with life ending diseases in comparison to the scientifically focused research doctors, she populated Wit with both the human and caring side of health care professionals and the cold, analytical side of research scientists who forget that there are people attached to the charts."This is a tour de force for both actors and audience alike." says Director Matthew Smith. "We see our leading lady in an heroic struggle against overwhelming odds, fight with intelligence, humor and humanity. I challenge anyone not to be moved by this exquisite script and the strength of our cast's performance."Wit - The Cast:The complete cast of Wit includes: Barbara Coriell, Jonathan Berry, Chuck Larkowski, Jeri Williams, Chris Hammond, Gloria Doty, Ellen Ballerene, Marcus Simmons II, and Carol Narigon.

Performance times are: Friday evenings at 8:00PM, Saturday evenings at 8:00PM and Sunday matinee at 2:00PM.

About The Dayton Playhouse:

The Dayton Playhouse celebrates the performing arts with accessible, affordable, community theater presentations, events and cultural activities ... Including the area's largest annual festivalof new works, FutureFest. Located in the beautiful Wegerzen Gardens just off East SiebenthalerAvenue in Dayton, The Playhouse features a 180 seat auditorium with safe, lighted, easy parking, right next to the spectacular gardens maintained by Five Rivers Metroparks