GUTHRIE ANNOUNCES CASTING FOR UNCLE VANYA

A timeless tragicomedy about longing, desire and the resilience of the human spirit

JOE DOWLING DIRECTS BRIAN FRIELS MODERN ADAPTATION

OF THE CHEKHOV MASTERPIECE

It is hard to imagine a contemporary playwright better suited to adapting Chekhov for modern audiences than Mr. Friel.

--The New York Times

Previews begin September 14; Opening September 20; Playing through October 27

on the Wurtele Thrust Stage at the Guthrie Theater, Minneapolis

(Minneapolis/St. Paul) The Guthrie Theater today announced complete casting for its production of Anton Chekhovs Uncle Vanya. Guthrie Artistic Director Joe Dowling will helm Brian Friels modern adaptation of the Chekhov classic. First produced at the Gate Theatre, Dublin, in 1998, Friels adaptation renders the language of the play into a modern idiom and offers humor and further developed characters roles and relationships. Uncle Vanyaa play that has not been performed on the Guthrie stage in nearly 25 yearsbegins performances on September 14 on the Wurtele Thrust Stage.

Vanya and his niece Sonya work their small country estate, living frugally and keeping their emotions tightly reined in. The return of Vanyas brother-in-law with his beautiful second wife Elena unlocks hidden passions as the entire family is thrown into turmoil.

That balance between the highly theatrical and the highly emotional is one that Friel gets in all his work, says Joe Dowling. People have compared Friel with Chekhov, and these two major artists have been profoundly influential in my life. Friel is a sort of mentor to me, and Chekhovs work is the kind of poetic realism that I grew up on.

The Guthrie has assembled an all-star cast to bring this timeless play to life. The production will feature the Guthrie debut of Andrew Weems (Broadway: Born Yesterday, Inherit the Wind; two solo shows: Namaste Man at Intiman Theater and Damascus Fourth Street Theatre; Film: Sorry, Haters, The Killing Floor; Television: Person of Interest, Law and Order) in the role of Vanya (Ivan) Voynitsky.

The production also features Nathan Barlow (Guthrie: A Christmas Carol, In the Red and Brown Water (a Pillsbury House Theatre and The Mount Curve Company co-production); University of Minnesota/Guthrie BFA Actor Training Program) as Yefim; John Catron (Guthrie: Long Days Journey Into Night, Hay Fever) as Mikhail Astrov; Robert Dorfman (Guthrie: The Merchant of Venice, Volpone) as Alexander Serebryakov; Melissa Hart (Guthrie: Cat on a Hot Tin Roof) as Maria Voynitsky; Barbara Kingsley (Guthrie: Tales from Hollywood, Jane Eyre) as Marina and Valeri Mudek (Guthrie: Time Stands Still, Charleys Aunt; University of Minnesota/Guthrie BFA Actor Training Program) as Elena.

Rounding out the cast, fresh off their performances in the critically acclaimed Clybourne Park, are Emily Gunyou Halaas and Jim Lichtscheidl in the roles of Sonya and Ilya Telegin (Waffles), respectively.

The artistic team includes Michael Hoover (Set Designer), Christine A. Richardson (Costume Designer), Frank Butler (Lighting Designer), Scott W. Edwards (Sound Designer), Jo Holcolmb (Dramaturg), DArcy Smith (Voice and Dialect Coach), Marcela Lorca (Movement), Karen Wegner (Stage Manager), Justin Hossle (Assistant Stage Manager) and Adrian Balbontin (Assistant Director).

Uncle Vanya begins preview performances on September 14, opens September 20 and continues through October 27 on the Wurtele Thrust Stage at the Guthrie Theater. Single tickets start at $29 and are now on sale through the Guthrie Box Office at 612.377.2224, toll-free 877.44.STAGE, 612.225.6244 (Group Sales) and online at www.guthrietheater.org.

The GUTHRIE THEATER (Joe Dowling, Director) was founded by Sir Tyrone Guthrie in 1963 and is an American center for theater performance, production, education and professional training. The Tony Award-winning Guthrie Theater is dedicated to producing the great works of dramatic literature, developing the work of contemporary playwrights and cultivating the next generation of theater artists. With annual attendance of nearly 500,000 people, the Guthrie Theater presents a mix of classic plays and contemporary work on its three stages. Under the artistic leadership of Joe Dowling since 1995, the Guthrie continues to set a national standard for excellence in theatrical production and performance. In 2006, the Guthrie opened its new home on the banks of the Mississippi River in Minneapolis. Designed by Pritzker Prize-winning architect Jean Nouvel, the Guthrie Theater houses three state-of-the-art stages, production facilities, classrooms and dramatic public lobbies. www.guthrietheater.org

FACT SHEET

UNCLE VANYA
by Anton Chekhov

In a version by Brian Friel
directed by Joe Dowling

In our first production in nearly 25 years of one of the worlds great plays, Joe Dowling directs a new version of Anton Chekhovs 1899 classic. Vanya and his niece Sonya work their small country estate, living frugally and keeping their emotions tightly reined in. The return of Vanyas brother-in-law with his beautiful second wife Elena unlocks hidden passions as the entire family is thrown into turmoil. Tea, wine and vodka fuel the tensions in this tragicomic story about unrequited love, thwarted ambition and enduring hope. This adaptation by Brian Friel (Faith Healer, Philadelphia, Here I Come!, Dancing at Lughnasa) was lauded by the U.K.s Telegraph, which noted Friel is often described as the Irish Chekhov here that keen artistic kinship is unmissable.

Company: Nathan Barlow (Yefim/ Laborer/ As Cast), John Catron (Mikhail Astrov), Robert Dorfman (Alexander Serabryakov), Emily Gunyou Halaas (Sonya), Melissa Hart (Maria Voynitsky), Barbara Kingsley (Marina), Jim Lichtscheidl (Ilya Telegin), Valeri Mudek (Elena), Andrew Weems (Vanya Ivan Voynitsky).

Creative Team: Joe Dowling (Director), Michael Hoover (Set Designer), Christine A. Richardson (Costume Designer), Frank Butler (Lighting Designer), Scott W. Edwards (Sound Designer), Jo Holcolmb (Dramaturg), DArcy Smith (Voice and Dialect Coach), Marcela Lorca (Movement), Karen Wegner (Stage Manager), Justin Hossle (Assistant Stage Manager) and Adrian Balbontin (Assistant Director).

Performance Dates: September 14 October 27, 2013

Opening Night: Friday, September 20 at 7:30 p.m.

Performance Times: Tuesday through Saturdays at 7:30 p.m.

Sundays at 7 p.m.

Matinees on selected Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays at 1 p.m.

visit www.guthrietheater.org for the complete performance schedule

Location: Guthrie Theater Wurtele Thrust Stage

818 South 2nd Street, Minneapolis, MN 55415

Pricing: Single tickets priced $29-$71

(Discounts for children, students and seniors available)

Tickets: Tickets may be purchased online at www.guthrietheater.org

Guthrie Box Office: 612.377.2224 or 877.44.STAGE

Box Office hours: 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. (11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on non-performance days)

Group Sales: 612.225.6244 or 877.225.6211

RELATED EVENTS

All events will be held at the Guthrie Theater (818 South 2nd Street, Minneapolis) unless otherwise noted

POST-PLAY DISCUSSIONS

ACCESS PERFORMANCES

Learn more online at http://www.guthrietheater.org/accessibility

OPEN CAPTIONED

captioned by c2 inc.

Wednesday, October 2 at 1:00 p.m.

Friday, October 25 at 7:30 p.m.

ASL INTERPRETATION

Interpreted by TBD

Friday, October 18 at 7:30 p.m.

Thursday, October 24 at 7:30 p.m.

AUDIO DESCRIBED

Described by TBD

Saturday, September 28 at 1:00 p.m.

Friday October 11 at 7:30 p.m.

If you have specific program questions or need an accommodation, please contact the Accessibility Office by phone at 612.225.6390 (voice) or 612.225.6391 (TTY) or email at accessibility@guthrietheater.org.

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