The Purple Rose Theatre Hits 100-Play Milestone with VINO VERITAS

The Purple Rose Theatre Company celebrates its 100-play milestone by bringing back an audience favorite, "Vino Veritas," by Detroit playwright David MacGregor.

The play, which MacGregor describes as "a dark comedy about the truth-how some people need it to survive, while others need to avoid it at all costs,"runs from Thursday, March 23 through Saturday, May 27, 2017. Previews, with reduced-price tickets, are available through Thursday, March 30; opening night is Friday, March 31. The play contains adult language. General ticket sales begin Monday, Feb. 13.

"Vino Veritas" takes place on Halloween night as two couples prepare to attend an annual costume party. Though the evening begins as usual, familiar traditions unravel when the foursome shares a bottle of South American ceremonial wine made from the skin of blue dart tree frogs. Under the influence of this tribal truth serum, the couples experience an unpredictable night of unbridled honesty that stretches the bounds of their friendship forever.

"The idea for it began on the first tee of Tyrone Hills Golf Club in Fenton," MacGregor explains, "when a stranger approached my friend and me and asked if he could join us. 'No,' my friend replied, 'you go on ahead. We're going to be talking about things you would find very disturbing.' By 'disturbing' he meant that our conversation would be about anything and everything, with no filters and no judgment. That is what the play is about. Do you really want the truth or do you only want the truth you want to hear? And how many of your friendships and relationships would survive if other people knew what was really on your mind?"

MacGregor, a professor of writing and film at Wayne State University, was born in Detroit and is a graduate of Michigan State University. His plays have been performed on stages around the world, including London, New York, Tel Aviv, Dubai, Seoul, Sydney, and Tasmania.

In addition to "Vino Veritas," which was a world premiere at The Purple Rose in 2008, MacGregor's other works performed on the Purple Rose stage include "The Late Great Henry Boyle" (2006), "Gravity" (2010), and "Consider the Oyster" (2011). In 2013, "Vino Veritas" was adapted to the screen and starred Carrie Preston (HBO, "True Blood") and Bernard White ("The Matrix").

Directed by Rhiannon Ragland, the cast features Kate Thomsen (Portage), David Bendena (Chelsea), Aphrodite Nikolovski (Birmingham) and Alex Leydenfrost (Ann Arbor). Set design is by Sarah Pearline, properties by Danna Segrest, costumes by Katherine Nelson, lighting by Dana White and sound by Tom Whalen. Thomas Macias is the stage manager.

Underwriting support for the season comes from the Ford Motor Company Fund, The Hamp Family Fund, the Michigan Council for Arts & Cultural Affairs, the Sage Foundation, The Shubert Foundation, and the Matilda R. Wilson Fund. Production sponsors are Phil & Kim Curtis and Jackson School of the Arts. Media sponsors include Michigan Radio, ChelseaMich.com, Detroit Performs and Applied Storytelling.

Ticket Information

All performances will be held at The Purple Rose Theatre Company, 137 Park Street, Chelsea, Michigan 48118.

Ticket prices range from $20.50 to $46 with special discounts for students, seniors, teachers, members of the military and groups. For more information or to make reservations call (734) 433-7673 or go to www.purplerosetheatre.org.

About The Purple Rose Theatre Company

Founded in 1991 by actor, playwright, musician and Chelsea native Jeff Daniels, the Purple Rose Theatre Company is a creative home for original American plays. In the 168-seat theatre, patrons experience an intimate encounter with live theatre.

The PRTC also provides an apprenticeship program, performance classes, readings, lectures and tours. It commissions new work from established and early-career playwrights. As a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit professional theatre, the PRTC operates under a Small Professional Theatre agreement with the Actors' Equity Association.

For more information contact PRTC Managing Director Katie Hubbard at (734) 433-7782, khubbard@purplerosetheatre.org.

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