The REP Announces Their 2010-2011 Season, Opens 9/10/2010

Point Park University's professional theatre company, The REP, will produce four works, including two world premieres, in the 2010- 2011 season, which opens September 10, 2010 and runs through April 17, 2011 at the Pittsburgh Playhouse.

In September The REP premieres The Umbrella Man, by Edward J. Delaney, based on the screenplay The Umbrella Man written by Edward J. Delaney, story by Edward J. Delaney, Michael A. Grasso and Joseph M. Grasso. Robert A. Miller returns to Pittsburgh and Point Park University to direct the stage production. The Umbrella Man is the story of love, loss and "against all odds" survival of one couple's relationship. Set in the late 1980s in Pittsburgh, the play follows Lyle Assay's downward spiral from grief over his young son's death and obsession with conspiracy theories surrounding the assassination of President John F. Kennedy. The Umbrella Man premieres on stage at the Pittsburgh Playhouse and then becomes a full-length film of the same name, with shooting to begin in Pittsburgh in November.

The REP's production of The Umbrella Man previews on Thursday, Sept. 9, and runs from Friday, Sept. 10 through Sunday, Sept. 26 in the Rauh Theater. The cast will be available for a talkback on Friday, Sept. 17, 2010.

La Ronde by Arthur Schnitzler, translation by Frank and Jacqueline Marcus, runs Oct. 8 - 24. Robin Walsh directs this look at sexual morals and class ideology through 10 interconnected scenes, each featuring a pair of lovers. Set in Vienna in the 1890s, La Ronde continues to be controversial decades after first being produced. The REP's previews La Ronde on Thursday, Oct. 7, and the production runs from Friday, Oct. 8 to Sunday, Oct. 24 in the Studio Theater. The cast will be available for a talkback on Friday, Oct. 15, 2010.

The Lonesome West runs February 11-27, 2011. Written by contemporary Irish playwright Martin McDonagh, The Lonesome West is part of the Connemara trilogy, which includes The Beauty Queen of Leenane and A Skull in Connemara. All three depict the shocking and murderous goings-on in the western Ireland town of Leenane. Filled with dark humor and comic twists, The Lonesome West follows the Connor brothers, who are tied to each other through isolation and violence. Kim Martin directs the production, which marks the first time the play has been done in Pittsburgh.

The Lonesome West previews on Thursday, Feb. 10 and runs Friday, Feb. 11 through Sunday, Feb. 27 in the Studio Theater. The cast will be available for a talkback on Friday, Feb. 18, 2011.

The REP ends its season with the world premiere of Mercy and the Firefly, by Amy Hartman, directed by Melissa Martin.

Mercy is a high school student who witnesses the murder of a classmate in East L.A. and is brought to Homestead, Pennsylvania by Sister Lucy. Brutally funny and heartbreaking, Mercy and the Firefly is a chilling tale and tasking journey through neglect, rage, loss, forgiveness and love.

Mercy and the Firefly previews Thursday, March 31 and runs Friday, April 1 through Sunday, April 17 at the Studio Theatre. Performances are Thursdays through Saturdays at 8 p.m. and Saturdays and Sundays at 2 p.m. The cast will be available for a talkback on Friday, April 8, 2011.

The REP 2010-2011 season subscriptions-which save patrons up to 35% off single ticket prices-are available now. Subscribers are invited to Point Park University's exclusive season-opening party. Those who purchase three subscriptions get the fourth free. To order a season subscription, contact the Pittsburgh Playhouse box office by phone 412-621-4445 or online www.pittsburghplayhouse.com.

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