In the Next Room Electrifies PICT 2012 Season

Pulitzer finalist launches PICT 2012 season

Sarah Ruhl’s In the Next Room or the Vibrator Play makes Pittsburgh debut in an electrifying production directed by Alan Stanford

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Media Contact: 
Melissa Hill Grande 
Associate Artistic Director and Director of Marketing
Pittsburgh Irish & Classical Theatre
mgrande@picttheatre.org

  412-561-6000 x203

Pittsburgh, PA – April 4, 2012. PICT launches its 2012 season with the Pittsburgh premiere of America’s most popular contemporary play, Sarah Ruhl’s Pulitzer finalist In the Next Room or the vibrator play. The production features Brad Heberlee as Dr. Givings, Megan McDermott as Catherine Givings, Jessica Frances Dukes as Elizabeth, and Melinda Helfrich as Sabrina Daldry. Alan Stanford directs.

 In the Next Room or the vibrator play is a provocative, funny, touching and marvelously entertaining story about a young doctor and his wife. Dr. Givings is obsessed with the marvels of technology and what they can do for his patients. His wife, Catherine, is only a bystander in her husband's world - listening at the door from the next room as he treats his female patients. Dr. Givings is not sure exactly how the vibrators help the women he treats - but they do keep coming back. The only woman whose problem is not helped by the doctor is his own wife who longs to connect with him - but not electrically.

Sarah Ruhl’s plays include The Clean House; Passion Play, a cycle; Dead Man’s Cell Phone ; Melancholy Play; Demeter in the City ; Eurydice; Orlando; and Late: a cowboy song. Originally from Chicago, Ms. Ruhl received her M.F.A. from Brown University where she studied with Paula Vogel. In 2003, she was the recipient of the Helen Merrill Emerging Playwrights Award and the Whiting Writers’ Award. She is a recent recipient of the PEN Center Award for a mid-career playwright.

In the Next Room or the vibrator play was inspired by Pittsburgh native Dr. Rachel P. Maines’ 1999 book The Technology of Orgasm: “Hysteria,” Vibrators and Women’s Sexual Satisfaction.

The 2012 Media Sponsors are WYEP and Essential Public Radio. Single tickets are available now through PICT’s new online ticketing system at www.picttheatre.org, or by calling ProArtsTickets at 412.394.3353 for a $1.50 phone fee. A range of options are available for money-saving season subscriptions, and can be purchased by contacting Eric Nelson at 412.561.6000 x206, emailing enelson@picttheatre.org, or on the PICT website at  www.picttheatre.org.

FACT SHEET -   In the Next Room or the vibrator play by Sarah Ruhl

Pittsburgh Premiere

Directed by Alan Stanford

The Charity Randall Theatre in the Stephen Foster Memorial

4301 Forbes Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15213

Cast: Lissa Brennan, Jessica Frances Dukes, Brad Heberlee, Melinda Helfrich, Megan McDermott, Denver Milord, and Philip Winters

Performances

First Week:            Thursday – Friday, April 19, 20, Previews, 8:00 p.m.

Saturday, April 21, Opening, 8:00 p.m. (followed by reception) Sunday, April 22, 2:00 p.m. (followed by talk-back)

Second Week:      Tuesday, April 24, 7:00 p.m. (Professional Tuesday performance) Wednesday – Saturday, April 24-28, 8:00 p.m.*

Sunday, April 29, 2:00 p.m.

*preshow lectures Wednesday and Thursday, April 25 and 26, 7:00 p.m. Free.

Third Week:          Tuesday, May 1, 7:00 p.m.

Wednesday – Friday, May 2 – 4, 8:00 p.m. Saturday, May 5, 2:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m.

Subscriptions:                                     $224 - $252 (10 packages and Flex Plans available)

Single Tickets:                                    starting at $25 ($20 under 26 with valid ID)

Pick, purchase and print your tickets online at www.picttheatre.org, or call ProArtsTickets at 412.394.3353

PICT - Great Stories. Well Told.

The Pittsburgh Irish and Classical Theatre was founded in 1996 to diversify the region’s theatrical offerings by providing Pittsburgh and Western Pennsylvania audiences with high-quality, text-driven, affordable productions of classical theatre and the works of classical and contemporary Irish playwrights and to significantly improve employment opportunities for local talent in all facets of theatrical presentation and production.  PICT is a Small Professional Theatre (SPT) affiliated with Actors’ Equity Association, and a constituent member of Theatre Communications Group (TCG) and the Greater Pittsburgh Arts Council. PICT is the Professional Theatre in Residence at the University of Pittsburgh and PICT productions at the Charity Randall and Henry Heymann Theatres are presented in cooperation with the University of Pittsburgh – Department of Theatre Arts.

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