Cygnet Theatre to Close Season with THE MOTHERF**KER WITH THE HAT, 5/15-6/22

Saving the most hilarious and provocative for last, Cygnet is closing their 11th season by bringing The Motherf**ker with the Hat by Stephen Adly Guirgis (The Little Flower of East Orange) to San Diego for its premiere. The high-octane, verbal cage match about love, fidelity and misplaced haberdashery, is set smack in the center of New York's Hell's Kitchen. A Broadway hit that is exhilarating, hilarious and totally irreverent, this comedy/drama is also an examination of acceptance, loyalty and above all love. As is apparent from its title, this stunningly written play contains drugs, violence, sexual situations and strong f**king language. The production runs May 15th through June 22nd at the Old Town Theatre. Opening Night is May 24th.

The production will be helmed by up-and-coming young director Rob Lutfy, the latest in a long line of North Carolina School of the Arts graduates that Artistic Director Sean Murray has recruited to San Diego. "I have been following Rob's career since he graduated and look forward to his young energy and ideas," said Murray. He is articulate and passionate. He has a great feeling for the humanity of the characters in the show, and is focusing on telling a great story that features truthfully drawn characters."

Set in the middle of New York's mean streets, critics have called this engrossing and entertaining play "a deeply intense, frequently funny, truly affecting exploration of love, acceptance and addiction. Or, love in spite of addiction." The Wall Street Journal called it "one of the best new plays in ages," and USA Today proclaimed it "hilarious...as provocative as it is absorbing."

The cast, which includes several actors new to the Cygnet Theatre stage, features Laurence Brown (The Piano Lesson, Gem of the Ocean), Esteban Andres Cruz, Minerva Garcia, Steven Lone and Whitney Brianna Thomas.

The Motherf**ker with the Hat will be performed at Cygnet's Old Town Theatre May 15 - June 22, 2014. Opening Night is May 24, 2014. Show times are Wednesdays and Thursdays at 7:30 pm, Fridays at 8pm, Saturdays at 3pm and 8pm, and Sundays at 2pm and 7pm.

Tickets can be purchased by visiting Cygnet's website at www.cygnettheatre.com or by calling the box office at 619-337-1525. Tickets can also be purchased in person by visiting Cygnet's box office located at the Old Town Theatre, 4040 Twiggs St. in Old Town San Diego State Historic Park.