Springs Ensemble Theatre Stages DEAD MAN'S CELL PHONE, Now thru 3/1

Springs Ensemble Theatre ("SET") begins our sixth season with Sarah Ruhl's Dead Man's Cell Phone, a serio-comedy about connecting in a landscape of over-connectedness.

An incessantly ringing cell phone in a quiet café. A stranger at the next table who has had enough. The owner of the cell phone doesn't answer because, as the title suggests, he is dead. Jean, however, does pick up, and when she discovers that the cell phone owner has passed away, she takes ownership of his phone in order to keep him alive in a strange, yet significant way. Wanting to bring closure and a sense of fulfillment to his family, friends, associates, and mistress, Jean creates confabulations about the man's last moments, and subsequently opens herself up to experience life directly instead of vicariously. Whimsical, wistful, and absurd, Dead Man's Cell Phone explores the paradox of modern technology's ability to both unite and isolate people in the digital age. Winner of the 2007 Helen Hayes Award for Outstanding Play, SET is thrilled to be kicking off Season Six with this play from one of America's most exciting theatrical voices!

Winner of the Helen Hayes Award for best new play in 2007, Dead Man's Cell Phone first premiered off Broadway in 2008 featuring Mary Louise Parker (Weeds, Angels in America) as Jean.

SET's production is directed by Sarah S. Shaver and features performances by SET members Jenny Maloney, Karl Brevik, Erin King, June Scott Barfield, and Micah Spiers with guest artists Jane Fromme, Sue Bachman, and Warren Epstein.

Dead Man's Cell Phone will be performed at Springs Ensemble Theatre, located at 1903 E. Cache La Poudre Street, Colorado Springs, CO 80909. The play runs tonight, Feb 12th-14th, 19th-22nd, 26th-28th and March 1st. Thursday, Friday, and Saturday performances are at 7:30 p.m., Sunday performances are at 4:00 p.m. Seating is limited, so reservations are recommended. Tickets are $15, with group rates available. $10 student rush tickets are available for every performance (valid ID is required, rush tickets are only available at the box office 5 minutes before the performance).

For more information or to make reservations, call SET's box office line at (719) 357-3080, email springsensembletheatre@gmail.com or visit our website: springsensembletheatre.org.

CAST:
JEAN: Jenny Maloney
GORDON: Warren Epstein
MRS. GOTTLIEB: Sue Bachman
DWIGHT: Karl Brevik
HERMIA: Jane Fromme
OTHER WOMAN/STRANGER: Erin King
Featured Dancers: June Scott Barfield and Micah Speirs

PRODUCTION TEAM:
Executive Producer & Director: Sarah S. Shaver
Co-Producers: Matt Radcliffe, Emory John Collinson
Stage Manager: Gabriel Espinoza-Lira
Props Master: Karl Brevik
Costume Design: Heather Clark
Lighting Designer: Brianna G. Pilon
Sound Design: Jon Margheim
Set Design: June Scott Barfield
Choreographers: June Scott Barfield and Micah Speirs
Fight Choreographer: Max Ferguson
Poster Design: Linda Nichols
Trailer Design: Steve Emily and Jessica Weaver

About Springs Ensemble Theatre - Springs Ensemble Theatre produces intimate, live theatre in collaboration with artists throughout the Pikes Peak region. By telling diverse stories on our stage, we explore problems and examine choices central to the human condition. We believe that theatre should engage its audience and build community by exercising the conscience, entertaining the mind, and inspiring the imagination.