Jeff Daniels's ESCANABA IN DA MOONLIGHT Run Extended 11/16

The Purple Rose Theatre Company is pleased to announce a two-week performance extension of ESCANABA IN DA MOONLIGHT by Jeff Daniels. Originally scheduled to close December 17, Escanaba in da Moonlight will now run through Saturday, December 31, 2011. Tickets will go on sale for the extension on Thursday, November 17 at 10:00 AM. Performances for the remainder of the engagement are Wednesdays through Saturdays at 8:00 PM with select Tuesday performances at 8:00 PM, select Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday matinees at 3:00 PM and Sunday matinees at 2:00 PM. There will be a 3:00 PM and 8:00 PM show on New Year's Eve.

Support for ESCANABA IN DA MOONLIGHT comes from the 2011/2012 Lead Season Sponsor, The Ford Motor Company Fund, Excelda, The Helppie Family Charitable Foundation, WJR and Michigan Radio. All performances will be held at The Purple Rose Theatre Company, 137 Park Street, Chelsea, Michigan 48118.

Set on the eve of the opening day of deer season 1989, ESCANABA IN DA MOONLIGHT tells the story of Reuben Soady, the only son in a family of U.P. hunters never to bag a buck. Joined by his pop Albert, brother Remnar and local oddball Jimmer Negamanee, Reuben is hoping to get his shot and shed the mantle of "the buckless yooper." But before dawn approaches, the arrival of a strange DNR employee and a series of weird occurrences will threaten Reuben's ultimate goal. Will he bag the buck or go down in family history as a failure? ESCANABA IN DA MOONLIGHT by Jeff Daniels premiered at the Purple Rose in 1995, and was subsequently produced in 1997, setting record attendance numbers for the company. The play has also been produced locally at the Boarshead Theatre in Lansing and had a successful run at Detroit's Gem Theatre in 1999-2000. The fifth play in Daniels' playwriting career, ESCANABA IN DA MOONLIGHT spawned a feature film version in 2001 shot on location in Escanaba, Michigan. The play has also become part of the "Escanaba trilogy," as Daniels has written the prequels ESCANABA IN LOVE, and ESCANABA, all produced by the Purple Rose.
The production is directed by PRTC Artistic Director and Escanaba native, Guy Sanville. The cast features Wayne David Parker (Dearborn, MI) in the role he originated, Jimmer Negamanee, Michael Brian Ogden (Berkley, MI) as Reuben Soady, Jim Porterfield (Northville, MI) as Albert Soady, Matthew David (Flint, MI) as Remnar Soady, Nate Mitchell (Novi, MI) as Ranger Tom Treado and Rhiannon Ragland (Flint, MI) as Wolf Moon Dance.

Tickets for the extension will go on sale Thursday, November 17. Ticket reservations can be made by calling The Purple Rose Theatre Company Box Office at (734) 433-ROSE (7673); Box Office hours are Monday and Tuesday from 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM, Wednesday through Friday from 10:00 AM - 10:00 PM, Saturday 12 - 10 PM, and Sunday 12 - 4 PM. Tickets are also available for purchase at www.purplerosetheatre.org.

Founded in 1991 by acclaimed actor and Chelsea native Jeff Daniels, The Purple Rose Theatre Company
137 Park Street
Chelsea, MI 48118
BUSINESS: 734.433.7782
BOX OFFICE: 734.433.7673
FAX: 734.475.0802
Visit the WEB SITE to find the full performance schedule: www.purplerosetheatre.org

(PRTC) is a leading American theatre dedicated to producing the new American play and creating opportunities for Midwest theatre professionals. The PRTC is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit professional theatre operating under a Small Professional Theatre agreement with the Actors' Equity Association. The PRTC promotes the development of new American theatre and its practitioners, provides valuable educational opportunities for young artists, and, through consistently high quality production values, has earned the respect of local and National Theatre communities.