Cygnet Theatre to Stage Two Noel Coward Classics This Fall

Cygnet's tradition of shows performed in rotating rep continues with Noël Coward's Hay Fever (dir. Rob Lutfy) and The Vortex (dir. Sean Murray). These two plays turned Coward into an overnight sensation, one light and madcap, the other dark and shocking. Written at the same time, they represent opposite sides of Coward's talent. San Diego favorite Rosina Reynolds takes on the strong female roles in both these productions. Opening night for both productions is Saturday, October 3rd at 3 (Hay Fever) and 8 pm (The Vortex).

Rob Lutfy, recently appointed as Cygnet's Associate Artistic Director, returns to San Diego for good to direct Hay Fever. Lutfy, who directed critically acclaimed mountings ofThe Motherf**ker with the Hat and Sons of the Prophet, was most recently the 2014-2015 National New Play Network Producer-in-Residence at Marin Theatre Company. He has worked on plays in development at The Kennedy Center, The O'Neill Theatre Center, and Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company. He was the 2012-13 William R. Kenan, Jr. Directing Fellow at The John F. Kennedy Center.

"When Sean and I started talking about this Rep, we wanted to honor Coward by showing two very different sides of the same man," Lutfy explained. "Despite being known for his high comedies, he was a very unhappy gay man. These two plays show both of those personas."

Sean Murray, who appeared in and directed Coward's Private Lives at Cygnet in 2009, is eager to mount The Vortex, a rarely produced Coward gem. "I've been enamored with Coward since high school when I was first attracted to his wit, glamour and talent. Then I began to discover a deeper level in his work and the biting commentaries on society and culture underneath the wit," Murray explained.

"This is the play that really catapulted Noël Coward to stardom. It was considered an incredibly scandalous piece for its time, and continues to be just as shocking to this day," he added.

Sharing directing duties while working with the same actors and designers can be a rousing challenge and exercise in compromise and coordination. For the actors, it can be a thrill. Reynolds says of her roles, "Judith and Florence are women with similar stories but hugely different ways of living their lives... a kind of yin and yang of a woman. To explore both of them at the same time is a challenge...and a gift."

Reynolds returns to the Cygnet stage where she wowed audiences in her 2011 award-winning turn as Amanda Wingfield in The Glass Menagerie. She also appeared in Noises Off, Arcadia, Little Foxes and Copenhagen.

Joining Reynolds are Charles Evans, Jr. in the dual roles of Nicky Lancaster and Simon Bliss (Dogfight, My Fair Lady, A Christmas Carol, Spring Awakening) and Rachael VanWormer as both Bunty Mainwaring and Sorel Bliss (The Importance of Being Earnest, Travesties, Arcadia). All making their Cygnet debuts, the cast is rounded out by Rhona Gold, AJ Jones, James Saba, Lauren King Thompson, Jill Van Velzer, andPaul Eggington.

The production team features costume design by Jacinda Johnston-Fischer, set design by Sean Fanning, lighting design by R. Craig Wolf, sound design by Matt Lescault-Wood, and properties design by Syd Stevens. Jennifer Kozumplik will stage manage.

Performances dates are September 23 through November 8. Show times are Wednesdays and Thursdays at 7:30pm, Fridays at 8:00pm, Saturdays at 3:00pm and 8:00pm, and Sundays at 2:00pm and 7:00pm. For more information regarding tickets, please contact the box office at 619-337-1525 or visit www.cygnettheatre.com. Tickets may be purchased in person at the box office located at 4040 Twiggs Street. Discounts are available for students, active-duty military, seniors and groups of 10 or more.

Cygnet Theatre Company produces a year-round season of professional Off-Broadway-style theatre as well as thought-provoking and engaging educational programming. Cygnet is committed to maintaining high standards of artistic and fiscal integrity, and serves more than 40,000 patrons annually from San Diego and beyond. Cygnet performs its mainstage productions at the state-of-the-art theatre in Old Town San Diego State Historic Park. An active member of the San Diego community, Cygnet has outreach programs serving tens of thousands of students and community members annually. For more information, visit www.cygnettheatre.com.

Believing in the power of theatre to startle the soul, ignite debate and embrace the diversity of the community it serves, Cygnet Theatre Company is fearlessly committed to the dissection, examination and celebration of the human story through the medium of live theatre.

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