Holiday Comedy - A.R. Gurney's 'Indian Blood'

By: Beau Higgins Nov. 24, 2008

A Holiday Treat at Florida Rep

Florida Repertory Theatre announced the November 28th opening of its next production, a holiday season comedy, Indian Blood by A.R. Gurney.

Indian Blood, a play the New York Times called a "snow globe for the stage," is a touchingly funny family portrait, that takes audiences back to Buffalo in 1946, when this family - and the country was at a crossroads.

"Indian Blood is a Norman Rockwell painting onstage," said Producing Artistic Director, Robert Cacioppo, "and it is really very funny. It's a uniquely nostalgic play that has a perfect message for the holidays."

From the author of Florida Rep's 2006 hit, The Middle Ages, Indian Blood tells the story of mischievous 16-year-old Eddie who is suspended from school just before Christmas. Much to the chagrin of his staid family, Eddie's blames his bad behavior on his Native American Heritage - his restless "Indian Blood."

The cast features some very familiar faces, as well as some actors making their Southwest Florida debuts with the Rep. As Eddie, the 16-year-old hero, Florida Rep audiences will recognize Daniel Benzing, who was seen in two past Rep productions, Brighton Beach Memoirs and Lost in Yonkers.

Joining him as Harvey and Jane, Eddie's mother and father, are Peter Thomasson and Carrie Lund. Thomasson's work at the Rep includes The Rainmaker and Enchanted April, while Lund has been a regular since the Rep's founding in 1998, and was seen recently in Born Yesterday, Rabbit Hole and Enchanted April. Neither Lund nor Thomasson are strangers to Gurney's work, and were seen opposite one another in the 2006 hit, The Middle Ages.

As Eddie's grandparents, audiences will recognize David S. Howard (Visiting Mr. Green, Tuesdays with Morrie) and Ginny Brown Graham (Mornings at Seven in 2004.) Howard is a 40 year veteran and company member at the Asolo Rep in Sarasota, and performed on Broadway in I'm Not Rappaport as well as on film in Moonstruck, Crimes and Misdemeanors and Meet Joe Black. Graham has performed with theatres acorss the country and has appeared in numerous films including Girl, Interrupted with Winona Ryder and Angelina Jolie.

As Eddie's cousin and arch-nemesis, Lambert, Florida Rep acting intern and Marietta College (Ohio) graduate, Patrick Simone makes his debut on the Arcade stage with Indian Blood.

Also in the cast are Chris Clavelli and Jan Wikstrom. Clavelli serves as Florida Rep's Associate Artistic Director and was seen recently in Born Yesterday and Stones in His Pockets, and has directed numerous productions including The Glass Menagerie, Almost Maine and Rounding Third. Jan Wikstrom, making her Florida Rep debut, hails from Jacksonville, Florida, and will be seen later this season in Dancing at Lughnasa.

Robert Cacioppo, Florida Rep's Producing Artistic Director, directs the piece, and is joined by an expert team of designers including set designer, Richard Crowell (A Funny Thing...Forum, The Rainmaker,) lighting designer, Graham Kindred (A Funny Thing...Forum, Stones in His Pockets,) Florida Rep's resident costumer, Roberta Malcolm and sound designer, Marc Hurst.

"It's difficult to find a new story to tell at the holidays because it's all been done before," Cacioppo finished, "so we're very excited to bring this funny and loving new play to Southwest Florida."

Indian Blood by A.R. Gurney plays at Florida Rep November 28 through December 21, 2008. Performances are Tues. - Sat. at 8pm, with 2pm matinees on Wed., Sun. and selected Saturdays with a Twilight Performance at 7pm on Sunday, November 30th. Indian Blood carries a PG-13 rating and contains some brief adult language. Indian Blood is not recommended for young audiences.

Tickets are now available online at www.floridarep.org.

Florida Repertory Theatre is located on Bay Street between Jackson and Hendry in the Historic Arcade Theatre in the Fort Myers River District. Subscriptions and single tickets are available through the Box Office (239.332.4488), or visit Florida Rep online at www.floridarep.org.

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