OSF's A WRINKLE IN TIME Opens 4/20

The Oregon Shakespeare Festival (OSF) will open its sixth production of the 2014 season in the Angus Bowmer Theatre at 1:30 p.m. Sunday, April 20. A Wrinkle in Time, based on the book by Madeleine L'Engle and adapted and directed by Tracy Young, will run through November 1.

This production celebrates the 52nd anniversary of the book's publication. A huge and enduring success and winner of the 1963 Newbery Medal, A Wrinkle in Time is the story of family bonds, time travel, gifted children, and a world where love and empathy defeat evil. It is the story of Meg Murry, her brother Charles Wallace and their friend Calvin, and their journey to save Meg and Charles's father from the evil that threatens the universe.

OSF Artistic Director Bill Rauch noted that audiences have asked for more programming for families, and this has been one of his goals as artistic director. He commented, "I especially love how multiple generations of families experience OSF together, and A Wrinkle in Time takes that long-term commitment to a whole new level."

Director Tracy Young expressed a similar sentiment. "I enjoy finding the ways that people of all ages can come together and share a theatrical experience and discover things in it that speak to each of them. This book is young at heart; it is a fantasy; it's filled with imagination; and it's very delightful, so we want to bring that playful sense of a childlike imagination to the production. And in tandem with that, we don't want to shy away from the very adult aspects that are also carried within A Wrinkle in Time-the things that have been controversial about the book since its publication. So we're trying to bring all that in a very tight, exploding joy ride."

The cast features Alejandra Escalante as Meg Murry, Sara Bruner as Charles Wallace Murry, Joe Wegner as Calvin O'Keefe, Kate Hurster as Mrs. Murry, Dan Donohue as Mr. Murry, Mark Bedard as Dennys Murry, Jeremy Thompson as Sandy Murry, U. Jonathan Toppo as Fortinbras, Judith-Marie Bergan as Mrs. Whatsit, Michele Mais as Mrs. Who, Kate Mulligan as The Happy Medium, Daniel T. Parker as Aunt Beast and Jade Rae Perry as Science Girl.

Scenic design is by Christopher Acebo, costumes by Alex Jaeger, lighting by Rick Martin, video design by Shawn Sagady, composition and sound by Paul James Prendergast and puppet design by Lynn Jeffries. Dramaturg is Lue Morgan Douthit; voice and text director is David Carey and fight director is U. Jonathan Toppo. Kjerstine Rose Anderson and Sarah Lozoff are movement directors. Jill Rendall is stage manager, and Mandy Younger is assisting.

Production Sponsors for A Wrinkle in Time are The Goatie Foundation, Oregon Cultural Trust, Tesseract Society. Production Partners are The Collonge Family, Hitz Foundation, The Teel Family Foundation, and Anonymous Ashland Donors.

The Community Partner is ScienceWorks Hand-On Museum. OSF's educational staff and ScienceWorks in Ashland will collaborate on a series of four Preface Plus events to introduce playgoers of all ages to the world of the story. These Preface Plus events last approximately 45 minutes-to-one hour and are offered on June 22, 26, July 10 and August 28 at Noon in Carpenter Hall. Tickets may be purchased www.osfashland.org or by calling the Box Office at 800-219-8161. ScienceWorks is also offering a 50% discount off the price of museum general admission when OSF patrons present their A Wrinkle in Time tickets (or ticket stubs). Offer is valid April 16 - November 2. Contact the museum for more information at www.scienceworksmuseum.org.

Some tickets remain for A Wrinkle in Time previews on April 18 and 19 and the opening performance on April 20. Visit www.osfashland.org or call the Box Office at 800-219-8161.