Contact:

Seena Hodges

612.225.6142

seenah@guthrietheater.org

CASTING ANNOUNCED FOR THE INTELLECTUAL BATTLE OF WITS

Freuds Last Session

An astute comedy about an imagined meeting between Sigmund Freud and C.S. Lewis that balances intellectual depth with humor and compassion.

Begins February 25; Opening Night February 28

Playing through March 16, 2014 in the Dowling Studio

at the Guthrie Theater, Minneapolis

Click HERE for photos

(Minneapolis/St. Paul) The Guthrie Theater today announced casting for Mark St. Germains two-hander Freuds Last Sessionan astute comedy about an imagined meeting between Sigmund Freud and C.S. Lewis that balances intellectual depth with humor and compassion. Rob Melrose (Guthrie: The Acting Companys Julius Caesar, Happy Days and Pen) returns to direct the production that begins performances on February 25 and continues through March 16, 2014.

In Freuds Last Session, Sigmund Freud and C. S. Lewis debate the existence of God in Freuds London office while air-raid sirens signal the beginning of World War II. Melrose offers, I love this play because it allows us to delve deeply into two of the 20th centurys greatest minds as they debate one of the most important questions of our existence. Today when we are bombarded daily by people on television screaming at each other about politics and religion, I find it uplifting and reassuring to watch two people whose intellectual curiosity and respect for each others humanity trumps their need to be right.

In this witty, intellectual sword fight, the conversation touches on a myriad of topics including God, morality, conscience, sex and the meaning of life. In the roles of Sigmund Freud and C.S. Lewis, respectively, are Robert Dorfmanmost recently seen as the haughty Professor Serebryakov in Uncle Vanya this falland Peter Christian Hansenwho appeared in dual roles in last summers lauded production of Clybourne Park. Rounding out the cast is actor and author Tom Hegg (Guthrie: A Christmas Carol, Romeo and Juliet) who provides the voice of the unseen BBC announcer.

The artistic team includes Michael Locher (Set Designer), Amy Schmidt (Costume Designer), Frank Butler (Lighting Designer), Reid Rejsa (Sound Designer), Lucinda Holshue (Voice and Dialect), Jo Holcomb (Dramaturg) and Michele Hossle (Stage Manager).

On the morning of September 3, 1939two days after the German army invaded Poland and Europe is about to be engulfed by World War II--, legendary psychoanalyst Sigmund Freud, suffering from terminal cancer, invites young writer and professor C.S. Lewis to his London home. Lewis assumes Freud is upset about having been satirized by Lewis in a recent book. But Freud has a differentand much more surprisingagenda.

Freuds Last Session begins preview performances on February 25, opens February 28 and continues through March 16 in the Dowling Studio at the Guthrie Theater. Single tickets start at $24 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.

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