Southern CA Premiere of McDonagh's A BEHANDING IN SPOKANE Opens at Cygnet Theatre 1/28

Rehearsals are currently underway for Cygnet's upcoming stunner, Irish Playwright Martin McDonagh's A BEHANDING IN SPOKANE.  Guest Director Lisa Berger is tackling the Southern California Premiere of McDonagh's first and only US-based comedy that, despite its change in location, stays true to the playwright's overriding themes of gore and wit. The cast includes Jeffrey Jones, Mike Sears and Cygnet newcomers Kelly Iversen and Vimel. Previews begin January 19th, 2012, and Press Opening is January 28th, 2012. 

A BEHANDING IN SPOKANE received overwhelming response during its 2010 Broadway run, both for the grisly subject matter and its gleefully dark humor.  Award-winning playwright Martin McDonagh is famous for his volatile comedies (The Lieutenant of Inishmore, The Beauty Queen of Leenane, The Lonesome West) and McDonagh's BEHANDING stays true-to-form.  The story centers on Carmichael, who has been searching for his missing hand for a quarter century.  His run-in with two bickering, love-bird, con-artists and a hotel clerk with an aversion to gunfire sets the stage for a theatre experience as side-splitting as it is delightfully cringe-worthy.  The original Broadway cast included a Tony-nominated performance by Christopher Walken as the man in search of his hand and Sam Rockwell as the blundering hotel clerk.  (WARNING:  Contains Strong Language and Violence)    

Guest Director Lisa Berger (a teacher and specialist of the Meisner technique) has made her mark in San Diego with her raw, unflinching takes on such productions as Tracy Letts' Killer Joe at Compass Theatre and Sam Shepard's Simpatico at New Village Arts.  Upon seeing Berger's production of Killer Joe, Artistic Director Sean Murray felt certain that she was the perfect director to take on McDonagh's edgy Spokane-based spectacle.  "I was struck by her balance of extremely dark content and wonderful Gothic comedy," statEd Murray.  "Also, it's a true actor's piece and her Meisner background cinched it for me.  The show is in superb hands."     

Cygnet's production includes Jeffrey Jones (Man from Nebraska, Atwater: Fixin' to Die, Burn This -Critics Circle Best Actor) as Carmichael, Mike Sears (Man from Nebraska) as hotel clerk, Mervyn, and Cygnet newcomers Kelly Iversen and Vimel as con-artists Marilyn and Toby.   

In collaboration with Cygnet's latest show, Executive Director Bill Schmidt and Artistic Director Sean Murray are delighted to launch Cygnet's Under 30 Club!  The free-membership Club, which offers $20 tickets to audience members under the age of 30 (a savings of up to 60% off the regular price), fits perfectly with the upcoming production of BEHANDING.  "The play is very raw and very funny," stated Schmidt.  "We know our younger audiences are going to love it and it's nice to have an affordable option for them to see it."   Cygnet's Under 30 Club is also available to "struggling artists" of all ages, whose only requirement is proof of performance in a local play over the last year.  Under 30 Club tickets can be purchased days or even months in advance and are available for all the shows in Cygnet's current season.  For more information or to join the Under 30 Club, go to http://www.cygnettheatre.com/under30/ or contact the Cygnet box office at (619) 337-1525.  

A BEHANDING IN SPOKANE will begin previews Thursday, January 19th, 2012 @ 7:30 pm at Cygnet Theatre located at 4040 Twiggs St. in Old Town San Diego State Historic Park. Opening Night is Saturday, January 28th, and the show runs until Sunday, February 19th.Cygnet's performance schedule for A BEHANDING IN SPOKANE will be Wednesdays & Thursdays at 7:30pm, Fridays at 8pm, Saturdays at 3pm and 8pm and Sundays at 2pm and 7pm.  Special Events are scheduled throughout the run.
  
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.