SPT Presents Theresa Rebeck's THE UNDERSTUDY, 1/25-2/17

ABOUT THE UNDERSTUDY

High Concept meets the down-and-dirty of the entertainment business when Jake, a grossly overpaid Action Movie star, decides to turn an undiscovered Franz Kafka play into Broadway hit. Things begin to implode when Harry, an embittered and idealistic understudy, arrives for rehearsal and discovers the stage manager is his ex-fiancée.

"The Understudy is much more than just a backstage farce," says Director Kelly Kitchens. "It examines the collision of art and commerce and ultimately asks some hard questions about the health of the American Theater-without losing its heart for the artists struggling to make a life in this industry. Like the characters in The Understudy and in the play-within-the-play, actors have all of these unseen forces working upon their lives that can create some pretty absurd circumstances. And in the end, Rebeck's characters have a decision to make about how to forge ahead into an uncertain future."

"As a director, Kelly Kitchens is meticulous, specific and exacting of herself and her actors," says SPT Artistic Director Shana Bestock. "Her gift to actors and audiences alike is rock-solid storytelling, truthfulness and authenticity, her love and respect for the craft, her compassion and desire to see everyone succeed, and her own personal aesthetic. Style, integrity, and elegance define her core."

The Understudy features the acting talents of Mike Dooly (Book-It's The Art of Racing in the Rain), Brenda Joyner (Seattle Rep's The Glass Menagerie), and John Ulman (ACT's One Slight Hitch). Bestock showers The Understudy cast with well-deserved praise: "I'm honored to have Brenda, John, and Mike on board for this show. They are all three consummate stylists and actors of great authenticity, who bring comedic panache and soulful honesty in equal measure to their work-all three have a light touch that allows Rebeck's play to be completely entertaining while also leaving room for the audience to tease out the themes and metaphors, and let the ideas roll around in our minds even as we are rolling on the floor with laughter."

The Understudy also features the design talents of Richard Schaefer (Scenic and Lighting Design), Dustin Morache (Sound Design), Michael Notestine (Costume Design) and Max Pagel (Properties Design)

THE UNDERSTUDY performances run January 25-February 17, 2013. Tickets may be purchased by phone at (206) 524-1300 or online at www.seattlepublictheater.org.