Theater Schmeater to Present SUDDENLY LAST SUMMER

Theater Schmeater is proud to present the critically acclaimed (though seldom produced) Tennessee Williams masterpiece Suddenly Last Summer. Mid-century denial and poignant sexual code underlie a modern Greek tragedy in this powerful work from the playwright's often-overlooked middle period. The story of a decadent young man's demise is locked in the memory of his disturbed young cousin, and now his mother has employed a young psychotherapist to either pull the story or banish it forever from the young woman's mind.

Written by Williams in 1957, Suddenly Last Summer was the result of years of personal therapy, and contains some deeply personal confessions of the playwright's own sexuality, intertwined with the same tragic feelings of guilt and betrayal that had inspired The Glass Menagerie.

The show is directed by Schmeater's artistic director Doug Staley. "I'm coming back to Summer after directing a production in the summer of 1985, so it will be interesting to see how the post MTV millennial audience will react," says Staley. "I think that Williams is best absorbed by ear, that the harmonics of his language are timeless, and I think he still resonates. We shall see if he strikes a chord with a younger, visually inclined audience."

Summer's cast includes a collection of Schmee veterans and newcomers, including Jaryl Draper, Ashley Flannegan, Lauryn Rilla Hochberg, Ashlen Hodge, Julie Jamieson, Amelia Meckler, and Andrew Shanks.

Suddenly Last Summer opens on September 11th and is offered on Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays through October 10th. A Pay What You Can Preview will be offered on Thursday September 10th. Tickets are available for all shows online, either by going through our website at www.schmeater.org or through Brown Paper Tickets (www.brownpapertickets.com). For more information, please go to our website or our Facebook home (https://www.facebook.com/TheSchmee).

General admission tickets purchased on-line in advance for all shows are $25 or $22 for students and seniors. General admission tickets purchased at the box office are $29 or $25 for students and seniors.

Advance tickets are available online at http://www.schmeater.org or through Brown Paper Tickets by phone at 1-800-838-3006. Thursdays are Pay-What-You-Can at the door for any same day, available unreserved tickets. Box office opens at 7:00 p.m. on day of show.

Theater Schmeater is located at the New Schmee, 2125 Third Ave in Belltown. For more information about our season or any other Theater Schmeater event, please go to http://www.schmeater.org or call 206-324-5801.