Florida Rep to Stage Donald Margulies' COLLECTED STORIES, 11/6-12/7

Florida Rep's ArtStage Studio Theatre opens Wednesday with Collected Stories, a gripping and powerful drama from the Tony and Pulitzer Prize-winning author, Donald Margulies.

Collected Stories is a treacherous dance of friendship, professional jealousy, and poetic license, and plays in the ArtStage through Dec. 7. The popular Discounted Previews on Nov. 6 and 7 are nearly sold out.

"Collected Stories is a provocative and heart stopping drama," said Producing Artistic Director Robert Cacioppo, "and audiences in the intimate ArtStage Studio Theatre will be a part of the action. It is the perfect play for a theatre space like the ArtStage, because you will feel like you're in the room with the two characters as their relationship turns from friendship into rivalry."

Ruth is a celebrated author at the end of a long and successful career; Lisa is an eager young graduate student at the beginning of her journey as a writer. When Ruth takes Lisa on as her protégé the lines between 'teacher and student' and 'fact and fiction' begin to blur.

One of the most prolific contemporary American Playwrights, Donald Margulies, has produced some of the most insightful works of the last decade. Margulies took home the Pulitzer Prize for Drama in 2000 with his play, Dinner with Friends (produced at Florida Rep in 2002), and his plays, Sight Unseen and Collected Stories, were finalsts for the Prize in 1992 and 1997, respectively. Margulies is currently working on an adaptation of Jeffrey Eugenides' novel, Middlesex for HBO.

Collected Stories is a powerful two-woman tour-de-force, and stars Deanna Gibson and Sara Morsey. New York Actress Deanna Gibson has been seen extensively onstage with Florida Rep and returns after a two-year absence. Her appearances with Florida Rep include The 39 Steps, Dial M for Murder, Boeing-Boeing, and Born Yesterday.

Florida Rep Ensemble member and stage veteran, Sara Morsey, is no stranger to playing strong women at Florida Rep. She was seen most recently in last season's Other Desert Cities and as the cold-blooded matriarch, Regina Giddens, in Florida Rep's nationally acclaimed production of The Little Foxes. Her many appearances with the Rep include, A Year of Magical Thinking, August: Osage County, The Last Romance and The Glass Menagerie.

Florida Rep Associate Artistic Director and Ensemble Member, Chris Clavelli (Lend Me a Tenor; Time Stands Still) directs the production and is joined by an expert creative team including set designer, Robert Cacioppo; lighting designer, Kate Smith (Educating Rita); resident costume designer, Roberta Malcolm (The Little Foxes); sound designer, Tim Cobb (Camping with Henry and Tom); and production stage manager, Janine Wochna (Other Desert Cities).

Collected Stories plays in the ArtStage Studio Theatre Nov. 8-Dec. 7, with nearly sold out preview performances on Nov. 6 and 7. Regular performances are Tues. - Sat. at 8pm, with matinees on Wed., Sun., and selected Saturdays at 2pm.

Collected Stories is generously sponsored by John and Marjorie Madden and The News-Press.

Subscriptions and single tickets are now on sale through the box office at 239-332-4488 and online at www.floridarep.org. Subscribe now for the best seats and biggest savings. Single tickets are priced at $40 and $25 for discounted previews.

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