NextStop Theatre Company to Present CRIMES OF THE HEART, 2/25-3/20

NextStop Theatre Company's third professional season continues in February 2016 with the Pulitzer Prize-winning Southern Gothic tragicomedy, Crimes of the Heart. NextStop's production will open February 25 and run through March 20, 2016.

"The real crime would be to miss Crimes of the Heart," said Producing Artistic Director Evan Hoffmann.

The cast will be led by Anna Fagan as Lenny Magrath, Carolyn Kashner as Meg Magrath, and Rebecca Pearl Hausman as Babe Magrath. Kashner last appeared on NextStop's stage in its production of Richard III in its first season. Fagan, Kashner, and Hausman will be joined by Matt Baughman, Robert Pike, and Jaclyn Young.

Crimes of the Heart is the story of three sisters who must overcome family drama and tough odds together. Lenny, the oldest sister, is unmarried at thirty and facing diminishing marital prospects; Meg, the middle sister, who quickly outgrew Hazlehurst, is back after a failed singing career on the West Coast; while Babe, the youngest, is out on bail after having shot her husband in the stomach. Their troubles, grave and yet, somehow, hilarious, are highlighted by their priggish cousin, Chick, and by the awkward young lawyer who tries to keep Babe out of jail while helpless not to fall in love with her.

Fagan, Kashner, and Hausman are no strangers to their roles. Each of the women grew up in their respective character's birth order, with Fagan as the oldest girl in her family, Kashner as the middle child who grew up to be an artist, and Hausman as the youngest child in her family. Young also has experience with cousin dynamics, being one of 48 cousins.

The creative team behind the production includes Suzanne Maloney (director), Jack Golden (scenic design), AnnMarie Castrigno (lighting design), Kristina Martin (costume design), Jonathan Powers (sound design), and Amanda Srok (properties design). Laura Moody serves as the Production Stage Manager.