The Old Globe's THE MYSTERY OF IRMA VEP, Starring Bender And Cariani, Opens 8/6

The Old Globe's production of Charles Ludlam's gothic spoof, The Mystery of Irma Vep stars Jeffrey M. Bender and John Cariani are a "cast of thousands," taking on the roles of Lady Enid, Lord Edgar, Nicodemus Underwood - and a mummy - among many others. Directed by Henry Wishcamper. The Mystery of Irma Vep will run in the Globe's Arena Stage at the San Diego Museum of Art's James S. Copley Auditorium through Sept. 6, 2009. Opening night is Aug. 6 at 8:00 p.m. Tickets may be purchased online at www.TheOldGlobe.org, by phone at (619) 23-GLOBE or by visiting the Box Office.

Ludlam's Obie-winning farce has enjoyed a run as one of the most-produced plays in America. On a "dark and stormy night," Lady Enid arrives at an estate with her new husband, who is under the spell of his deceased first wife and haunted by something that's prowling the grounds. Strange things begin to happen around Lady Enid while the mysterious portrait of Irma Vep hanging over the fireplace gazes down upon her. The Mystery of Irma Vep is a hilarious comedy that satirizes everything from Alfred Hitchcock's Rebecca to Victorian Melodrama to The Mummy's Curse.

The creative team includes Robin Vest (scenic design), Jenny Mannis (costume design), Jason Bieber (lighting design), Paul Peterson (sound design) and Kathryn Davies (stage manager).

Tickets to The Mystery of Irma Vep can be purchased online at www.TheOldGlobe.org, by phone at (619) 23-GLOBE or by visiting the box office at 1363 Old Globe Way in Balboa Park. Performances begin on July 31 and continue through Sept. 6. Ticket prices range from $29 to $59. Low-priced preview performances are available from July 31 to Aug. 5. Performance times: Previews: Friday, July 31 at 8:00 p.m., Sunday Aug. 1 at 2:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m., Tuesday, Aug. 4 and Wednesday, Aug. 5 at 7:00 p.m. Regular Performances: Tuesday and Wednesday evenings at 7:00 p.m., Thursday, Friday and Saturday evenings at 8:00 p.m., Saturday and Sunday matinees at 2:00 p.m., and Sunday evenings at 7:00 p.m. Discounts are available for full-time students, patrons 29 years of age and under, educators, seniors and groups of 10 or more.

The Old Globe is located in San Diego's Balboa Park at 1363 Old Globe Way. There are numerous free parking lots available throughout the park. Valet parking is also available ($10). For additional parking information visit www.BalboaPark.org.

The Tony Award-winning Old Globe is one of the country's leading professional regional theaters and has stood as San Diego's flagship arts institution for 74 years. Under the direction of Executive Producer Louis G. Spisto, The Old Globe produces a year-round season of 15 productions of classic, contemporary and new works on its three Balboa Park stages: the 580-seat Old Globe Theatre, the 250-seat Arena Stage at the San Diego Museum of Art's James S. Copley Auditorium (an interim second stage during construction of the new 280-seat Conrad Prebys Theatre Center) and the 612-seat outdoor Lowell Davies Festival Theatre, home of its internationally renowned Shakespeare Festival. More than 250,000 people attend Globe productions annually and participate in the theater's education programs and outreach services. Numerous Broadway-bound premieres and revivals, such as The Full Monty, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, A Catered Affair, and the annual holiday musical, Dr. Seuss' How The Grinch Stole Christmas!, have been developed at The Old Globe and have gone on to enjoy highly successful runs in New York and at regional theatres across the country.

For more information, visit www.TheOldGlobe.org.

Photo by Craig Schwartz.

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