Theatre News: I AM MY OWN WIFE to open in Toronto

"Brilliant." The New Yorker

 "The dramatic event of the year." New York Post

"Astonishing and brilliant." Daily News

 "Ouimette, like von Mahlsdorf, is a master illusionist." Ottawa Citizen

 

Winner of the Tony Award® for Best Play, Pulitzer Prize for Drama, Drama Desk Award, Lucille Lortel Award, Outer Critics Circle Award, Drama League Award, Obie Award

 

TORONTO PREMIERE

I

AM

MY

OWN

WIFE

Written by Doug Wright

Starring Stephen Ouimette

Directed by Robin Phillips

 

Toronto, ON…From Doug Wright, the Obie Award-winning author of Quills, comes this acclaimed one-man show which explores the astonishing true story of Charlotte von Mahlsdorf, a transvestite and celebrated antiques collector who successfully navigated the two most oppressive regimes of the past century, the Nazis and the Communists. Openly gay and defiantly in drag, von Mahlsdorf was both hailed as a cultural hero and accused of colluding with the Stasi.

 

In an attempt to discern the truth about Charlotte, Doug Wright has written "at once a vivid portrait of Germany in the second half of the 20th century, a morally complex tale about what it can take to be a survivor and an intriguing meditation on everything from the obsession with collecting to the passage of time." (Chicago Sun-Times)

 

This demanding tour de force stars Stephen Ouimette (CanStage's The Beard of Avon) as Charlotte von Mahlsdorf, in addition to 35 other fascinating characters, and is directed by Robin Phillips (CanStage's Larry's Party).

Joining Mr. Phillips is a creative team that includes set designer Hisham Ali (CanStage's Larry's Party), costume designer Susan Benson (CanStage's Indian Ink), lighting designer Louise Guinand (CanStage's The Syringa Tree), sound designer John Lott (CanStage's Ain't Misbehavin'), composer Laura Burton, stage manager Larry Copeland (CanStage's Larry's Party) and assistant stage manager Jane Vanstone Osborn.

 

Details   PREVIEWS: February 6 - 8, 2006   OPENS: February 9 and runs until March 4, 2006   SCHEDULE: Monday-Saturday 8:00 p.m., Wednesday matinee 1:30 p.m., Saturday matinee 2:00 p.m.   TICKETS: $36-$80   LOCATION: CanStage – Bluma, 27 Front Street East   BOX OFFICE: Tickets* are available in person at the CanStage Customer Service Centres, 26 Berkeley St. or  27 Front St. E., by telephone at CanStage 416-368-3110 and Ticketmaster at 416-872-1111, and online at www.canstage.com.   Rush Seats are available for any performance one hour prior to show time. Rush Seats are half the regular ticket price. For Monday-night performances only, pay-what-you-can tickets are available in person at the CanStage Box Office beginning at 10:00 a.m. on the day of the performance.   *Single tickets for I Am My Own Wife are on sale now. Subscription seats available now.   Special Group rates available. For more information please contact us at groups@canstage.com.   Other activities to enhance your theatre going experience: CanStage Theatre Club – Join your fellow audience members to discuss themes, characters and relationships in I Am My Own Wife on Saturday, March 4th, 10:30 a.m. to noon at CanStage - Berkeley. Theatre Club is offered free of charge. For more information, please call (416) 367-8243 ext, 245. Theatre Enhancement Sponsor: Manulife Financial   CanStage Talks – These informal post-performance question and answer periods give you an opportunity to meet the artists immediately following a production. CanStage Talks take place every Tuesday (evening) and Wednesday (matinee), except during the first week and are free of charge. The dates for I Am My Own Wife are February 14, 15, 21, 22, 28 and March 1.