Lyric Arts Opens PICNIC Tonight

Lyric Arts invites guests to a steamy summer day in the midst of winter this January with Picnic.

Flo Owens is the mother of two blossoming young women. Her oldest daughter, Madge, is a stunning beauty engaged to a wealthy man, who is worried that her looks are all people see. Millie, Madge's younger sister, is an incredibly creative, artistic woman worried that her looks are something that no one seems to see. On Labor Day weekend, a handsome drifter with a troubled past wanders into a small Kansas town. His unexpected presence and animal vitality stir up some long buried emotions amongst the women of this once peaceful community, starting a chain reaction that causes Madge to consider gambling her potential marriage for a chance at true love with a rebellious and sensitive stranger.

"Lyric has been taking on some really important classic American pieces of theater," says director Scott Ford, referring to works such as 2010's Cat on a Hot Tin Roof and last year's critically acclaimed production of Death of a Salesman, "in this upcoming season, Picnic is the show that is cut from the same cloth."

As one of Lyric Arts' two Resident Directors, Scott Ford has previously directed gems like Cat on a Hot Tin Roof and last season's smash-hit musical Hairspray, both of which garnered critical acclaim. "Picnic speaks to what every young adult goes through as they are forging their identities," says Ford. "It's about how they figure out who they want to be, and how they want people to see them, and I really think that there is a ring of truth in it."

Theater enthusiasts are also welcome to join in an exciting talk-back question and answer session with the Picnic cast and crew on January 19th, 2014. Talk-back sessions are offered for every show on the third Sunday of the run. All talk-back events take place after the show and are open to the public. To reserve your place contact Cassandra Proball at (763) 233-0804 or cassandra@lyricarts.org

Picnic opens tonight, January 10th and runs through January 26th, 2014. Tickets for the production and reservations can be made by calling the box office at 763-422-1838 or by visiting the Lyric Arts website at www.lyricarts.org.