Cygnet Theatre's PASSION Kicks Off Playwright Companion Series, 4/12 & 4/13

With accolades pouring in for its current production of Sweeney Todd, Cygnet Theatre is excited to introduce its "Playwright Companion Series" with a Concert Staging of Sondheim's Passion. This rarely staged musical, with music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim and book by James Lapine, will feature some of Cygnet's finest artists and joins the list of other Sondheim works already produced or produced in staged-readings on Cygnet's stages. Directed by Kim Strassburger, Passion runs for two nights only - April 12th & 13th, 2010 at Cygnet's Old Town Theatre.

Stephen Sondheim's Passion is a gorgeous, haunting musical that examines the landscape of the human heart. In a remote military outpost in Italy in 1863, a handsome army captain, separated from his beautiful but married mistress, is forced to re-evaluate his beliefs about love when he becomes the object of the obsessive, unrelenting passion of Fosca, his Colonel's plain and sickly cousin. Passion explores the theme of love as something not necessarily pretty or safe, but rather as a blazing lifeforce that consumes and enlightens. Passion is notable for being the only other show, apart from Sweeney Todd, that Stephen Sondheim himself conceived.

Although Sondheim's romantic production was the 1994 winner of four Tony Awards, including Best Musical, Best Original Score, Best Book of a Musical and Best Actress for Donna Murphy (Fosca), Passion is one of Sondheim's least produced works. It is, in fact, notable for holding the record for the very shortest Broadway run of any Tony-winning musical. The New York Times review of the production praised its over-all power, beauty and force, yet referred to the story about a young military officer "drawn into an intense relationship with a sick, ugly woman" as disturbing and unsettling. Perhaps the atypical, gender-reversed "Beauty and the Beast" theme has kept this moving Sondheim gem one of his best kept secrets. This Fall, London's Donmar Warehouse hopes to give it new life in a grand revival. Cygnet's Concert Staging of Passion will be its San Diego Premiere.

Passion is emblematic of the staged-readings Cygnet will present through its Playwright Companion Series. In an effort to deepen the theatre-going experience for Cygnet audiences, the program - headed by Associate Artistic Director Francis Gercke - will offer "partner pieces" to each of Cygnet's main-stage shows. Gercke plans to find alternate works by playwrights featured in the Cygnet season, as well as complementary pieces to illuminate the artistry and influence of each playwright upon the American Theatre.

The cast of Passion comprises a list of Cygnet favorites, including Sandy Campbell (Noises Off, Mauritius, Communicating Doors) as Fosca, Jason Heil (Noises Off) as Giorgio, Amy Biedel (My Fair Lady, It's a Wonderful Life, Invention of Love) as Clara, Jim Chovick (A Christmas Carol, Desire Under the Elms, Copenhagen, Invention of Love, Cat on a Hot Tin Roof) as the Doctor Tambourri, David McBean (It's a Wonderful Life, Fully Committed, Pageant, Burn This, The Book of Liz) as Count Ludovic, Jeannine Marquie (It's A Wonderful Life, The Matchmaker) as the Mistress and Andy Collins (Pageant) as Colonel Ricci. Actors making their Cygnet debut include Brian Barbarin as Fosca's Father, Gigi Coddington as Fosca's Mother, Tony Houck as Sergeant Lombardi, Justin Martin as Private Augenti and Eric Vest as Lieutenant Torasso.

Cygnet's Concert Staging of Passion will be directed by Kim Strassburger who directed the highly-lauded Concert Staging of Sondheim's Assassins for Cygnet Theatre in 2009. Strassburger is a Theatre Teacher at Coronado's School of the Arts and has been seen as an actor on multiple San Diego stages - most recently in the Cygnet's Critic's Circle Award Winning Noises Off. Cygnet's Passion also features the musical talents of Mark Danisovszky who serves as Musical Director and plays Piano/Keyboard.

Performances of Passion will play on two off-nights during the run of Cygnet's Sweeney Todd... Monday, April 12th and Tuesday, April 13th at 7:00 pm on Cygnet's Old Town Stage located at 4040 Twiggs St. in Old Town San Diego State Historic Park. Tickets are $25 general admission and $20 for Cygnet Subscribers.

Tickets can be purchased by visiting Cygnet's website at www.cygnettheatre.com or 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.