Mary-Arrchie Theatre Co. Presents SUPERIOR DONUTS, 2/16

Mary-Arrchie Theatre Co. will open Superior Donuts by Pulitzer Prize winner Tracy Letts on Thursday, February 16 at 8 p.m. Performances continue Thursdays-Saturdays at 8 PM and Sundays at 3 PM through March 25. Tickets are $18 on Thursdays and Sundays, $20 on Fridays and $22 on Saturdays. There will be previews on February 14 and 15 at 8 p.m. Tickets for previews will be $5. (Parking is available at the Mobil gas station across from the theater for a fee.) For more information on the company and to purchase tickets, visit www.maryarrchie.com. For reservations call 773-871-0442.

Superior Donuts is the story of Arthur Przybyszewski, an aging anti-war activist and the proprietor of a rundown donut shop in the Uptown neighborhood of Chicago. When Arthur hires Franco Wicks, a fast-talking African-American kid with big dreams and bigger troubles, Arthur’s world is quickly changed—quite possibly for the better.

Playing the role of Arthur is Mary-Arrchie founding member and Artistic Director, Richard Cotovsky. Mr. Cotovsky has a long history with the play: he was a part of the original development workshops at Steppenwolf, understudied Michael McKean in the 2008 Steppenwolf production, and later went on to play the role at the Studio Theatre in Washington, D.C. in 2010. He is excited to reprise the role back in Chicago in Mary-Arrchie’s intimate theatre space located just blocks from the actual setting of the play.

Making his Chicago theatre debut in the role of Franco Wicks is Preston Tate, Jr. Rounding out the cast are Millie Hurley (Randy), Bradford Stevens (James), Paige Smith (Max), Susan Monts-Bologna (Lady), Karl Potthoff (Luther), Dereck Garner (Kevin) and Bryan Kelly (Kiril).

Director Matt Miller’s recent credits include Oblivion for Steppenwolf’s First Look Repertory, A Girl With Sun In Her Eyes for Pine Box Theater, Conor McPherson’s St. Nicholas with SEP Productions, and the Jeff nominated production of The Weir for Seanachai Theatre. (www.mattmillerdirect.com)

Playwright Tracy Letts received the 2008 Pulitzer Prize for Drama for his play August: Osage County. His adaptation of Chekhov’s Three Sisters will receive a production at Steppenwolf this summer.