 News from ATF - Contact: 518-798-7478 or atf@atfestival.org June 7, 2000 - FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Wit,
by Margaret Edson Veteran
stage actress and star of The 2000 Adirondack Theatre Festival will open Thursday, June 22 with the Northeast's first regional production of the drama WIT by Margaret Edson at ATF's Former Woolworths Store Theatre in Downtown Glens Falls, NY. WIT has been hailed as one of the finest plays of the last decade and recently concluded a triumphant 18-month run Off-Broadway in New York City, as well as record-breaking runs at the Wilbur Theatre in Boston and the Kennedy Center in Washington. ATF is proud to continue its record of being the first in our region to present the finest in contemporary drama - past highlights have included regional premieres of Three Tall Women, As Thousands Cheer, and the world premiere of Fully Committed which is now running in New York. WIT tells the story of Vivian Bearing, a middle-aged college professor who has had a successful academic career studying the eighteenth century poet John Dunne best known for his intellect, humor, and wisdom. This academic success, however, has left Ms. Bearing unprepared for the emotional struggle of a terminal diagnosis. The play was heralded by the Wall Street Journal as "an original and urgent work of art…among the finest plays of the decade" and the New York Times said that "WIT is the kind of theatrical experience of which legends are made." Playing Vivian Bearing for ATF will be Mary Beth Peil, a veteran of the New York stage who has become familiar to a wider audience playing the role of "Grams" on the WB Network's hit series Dawson's Creek since it began in 1997. Ms. Peil's New York stage credits include MISSING PERSONS for which she won an Obie Award, SYLVIA, the Off-Broadway version of Irving Berlin's revamped AS THOUSANDS CHEER (produced by ATF in 1999) and National Tours of THE KING AND I and THE SOUND OF MUSIC. She is also familiar with the region having played two summers with the Lake George Opera in the late seventies. WIT will be directed by ATF's Artistic Director Martha Banta whose past ATF credits include Three Tall Women, and Times Of War. Ms. Banta, currently rehearsing Wit in New York City says "This play has been a nation-wide phenomena since it opened Off-Broadway in 1998, and we're proud to be the first in our region to produce it. The play really strikes a chord with audiences as it deals with the biggest questions we face both in our lives and the lives of our loved ones. We have a fantastic cast headed up by Mary Beth Peil, who is truly one of the finest and warmest actors I have ever worked with." Her performance of Dr. Vivian Bearing is joined by Valda Setterfield as E.M Ashford, mentor to Dr. Bearing. Ms. Setterfield, along with numerous acting credits in theatre and dance, was one of the co-authors of The Family Business produced by ATF in 1998. Also in the cast are Tyrone Henderson (as the young resident doctor Jason Posner) who was recently in the National Tour of the Broadway smash Bring in The Noise, Bring in the Funk and ATF co-founder Megan Hollingshead, whose credits include the voice of Nurse Joy in the POKEMON television show and movie, as the nurse Susie. They are joined by Clay Adams, Reneé Borys, Alex Goldberg, and Kelly VanZile as medical students and lab technicians. Sets will be designed by Eric Renschler whose Off-Broadway credits include THE LAST SESSION. Eric also designed TIMES OF WAR for ATF in 1999 as well as a recent production of TWELFTH NIGHT at SUNY Albany. Returning to design lights for his ninth show will be ATF co-founder Matthew Frey, and he will be joined by Susan Slack designing costumes and Sound Designer Jill Duboff who designed the National Tour of WIT which recently closed in San Francisco. PRESS OPPORTUNITIES: WIT performs at 8:00pm June 21 - 24, June 27 - 30, and July 1 - 2. Members of the press may reserve tickets for any performance of WIT beginning Thursday, June 22 at 8:00pm. The June 21 performance is a Preview. Mary Beth Peil and Martha Banta are available for telephone interviews in New York City now through June 16. Their availability June 17 - 22 is limited by rehearsal schedules in Glens Falls. Television stations are encouraged to attend Opening Night's post-show reception anytime between 9:30 - 11:30pm on June 22 which will have opportunities for live or tape interviews with Ms. Peil and other cast members as well shooting the performance's curtain call. The Adirondack Theatre Festival's sixth season will run June 21 - July 22, all performances (except Cabarets) at the Former Woolworths Store, 217 Glen St. in Downtown Glens Falls. Tickets are $6 - $18 and can be ordered by calling 798-7479, mailing checks to ATF, PO Box 3203, Glens Falls, NY 12801, or going to www. ATFestival.org. ATTENTION MEMBERS OF THE PRESS! High-quality digital photographs from ATF productions are available to be downloaded directly from our website throughout this season! Photos of Mary Beth Peil and Wit rehearsal photos are now available www.ATFestival.org/press |
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