Magenta Giraffe Theatre Co Presents Michigan Premiere of THE AGONY & THE AGONY, Opens 1/14

Magenta Giraffe Theatre Company of Detroit presents the Michigan premiere of The Agony & The Agony, by Nicky Silver, directed by Lisa Melinn (Educational Director, Magenta Giraffe Theatre Co.). The show runs from January 14-February 5, 2011. Tickets are $15-$18, with pay-what-you-can tickets available to all performances other than opening night, which is half-price. Tickets may be reserved by phone at 313-408-7269 or at www.magentagiraffe.org.

The Agony & The Agony delves into an issue with which no Detroiter is unfamiliar: when one has been doing the same thing for so long, and it's no longer working, what does one do? What does it mean to age? What is the nature of success?

Richard Aglow, a (failed?) playwright, has just begun to write a play hoping to illuminate the issue through the character of Nathan Leopold, Jr., a self-proclaimed Nietzschean superman who rose to infamy by committing "the crime of the century" at the age of 17 and then seemingly vanished into obscurity. Richard's wife Lela (who married him in spite of his homosexuality) has just had a chance run-in with a Broadway producer who may be able to resurrect her career, but the plans of both come skidding to an impasse with the arrival of Lela's lover, his pregnant girlfriend... and Nathan Leopold, Jr., who does not think so much of Richard's play. In true Nicky Silver fashion, all is eventually resolved and important conclusions reached, but not before the playwright has us aching from laughter and psychic discomfort, reveling in the humor of this bizarre situation and empathizing with its undeniable familiarity.

The cast includes Connie Cowper (Rochester Hills), Jonathan Davidson (Ferndale), Keith Kalinowski (Ann Arbor), Alan Madlane (Ferndale), Molly McMahon (Detroit) and Dalibor Stolevski (Oakland Twp.). Gwen Lindsay exhibits her scenic design; lighting by Neil Koivu; costumes by Katie Casebolt.

Magenta Giraffe Theatre Company's production of The Agony & The Agony will take place at 1515 Broadway, Detroit, MI 48226. Reservations are available via phone at 313-408-7269, at www.magentagiraffe.org, or at the door the day of the performance. Cash or check only. Tickets are $18/$15 Students & Industry, but are available on a pay-what-you-can basis at all performances other than opening night, which will be half-price.

The Agony & The Agony will run Thursdays at 8 pm, Fridays at 8 pm, and Saturdays at 4 and 8 pm,. There will be no Sunday matinees. Dates and times are:

Friday, January 14, at 8 pm
Saturday, January 15, at 4 pm
Saturday, January 15, at 8 pm
Thursday, January 20, at 8 pm
Friday, January 21, at 8 pm
Saturday, January 22, at 4 pm
Saturday, January 22, at 8 pm
Thursday, January 27, at 8 pm
Friday, January 28, at 8 pm
Saturday, January 29, at 4 pm
Saturday, January 29, at 8 pm
Thursday, February 3, at 8 pm
Friday, February 4, at 8 pm
Saturday, February 5, at 4 pm
Saturday, February 5, at 8 pm

Audience members paying the full ticket price may wish to take advantage of our "Repeat Offender" offer: If you've paid the suggested rate for a ticket and would like to see the show a second, third or fourth time (we love those who love theatre!) bring back a paying customer each time and see it free of charge!

ABOUT Magenta Giraffe Theatre Company - Magenta Giraffe Theatre Company is a 501(c)3, nonprofit organization that acts to eliminate apathy, violence, prejudice and barriers to education through theatre productions, projects and programs; and further acts to reestablish and expand Detroit's theatre district. The Agony & The Agony, by Nicky Silver, directed by Lisa Melinn, is the theatre's seventh production.

For additional information on the production of The Agony & The Agony, contact Frannie Shepherd-Bates or visit www.magentagiraffe.org. 

Photo Credit: Charles Nowak

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