The Kitchen Theatre Company Presents OPUS, Now thru 11/11

Sex, Drugs and Chamber Music! The Kitchen Theatre Company's 22nd Season continues with a deliciously constructed and dramatic play about a renowned string quartet. Equal parts mystery, romance, and backstage drama, Opus by Michael Hollinger runs tonight, October 17th to November 11th at the Kitchen Theatre in downtown Ithaca. Previews are tonight, October 17, 18, and 19, Opening Night is October 20, and the play continues through November 11, 2012.

Opus is a smart, funny and insightful portrait of the fictional Lazara String Quartet. As the foursome prepares for a high profile performance at the White House, tensions mount and personalities clash. Their brilliant but unpredictable violist disappears altogether, leaving them to scramble for a last minute replacement. Will the talented young woman they select fit into a group of men with a complex history? Violist-turned playwright Michael Hollinger skillfully shows how four very distinct personalities navigate discord in order to create a beautiful sound.

Rachel Lampert, Artistic Director of the KTC (Director: Frankie and Johnny in the Clair de Lune, Broke-ology, Mary's Wedding, Red Light Winter and many others), directs an all Actors' Equity cast: Jesse Bush*, Michael Samuel Kaplan*, Brendan Powers*, Alison Scaramella*, Alexander Thomas*. The creative team also includes: Scenic and Lighting Designer: Tyler M. Perry, Costume Designer: Lisa Boquist, Sound Designer: Lesley Greene, Properties Designer: Megan Gerber, Music Consultant Linda Case, and the KTC Production Stage Manager LaShawn Keyser*. Performances take place in the Kitchen Theatre, located at 417 W. State / Martin Luther King, Jr. Street in Ithaca's West End neighborhood, just three blocks from The Commons.

In conjunction with the Ithaca premiere of Opus, the Kitchen Theatre Company will present a number of other events: free pre-show discussions with local experts on small group dynamics in general and chamber music specifically, live music by a string quartet composed of Ithaca High School students, and talk backs with the cast and director. Thursday night pre-show talks begin at 6:30 and feature the following speakers: on October 25th, Cornell Assistant Professor Jack Goncalo on "The Dark Side of Creativity," on November 1st, IC Associate Professor of Violin Susan Waterbury on "Life as a Foursome," and on November 8th, IC Assistant Professor of Performance Studies Nicholas DiEugenio on "Trust and Respect: The four way marriage of a professional string quartet."

The Kitchen Theatre is grateful for the support of production Co-Producer Tompkins Trust Company and Media Sponsor WSKG Public Broadcasting.

*member, AEA

Written by Michael Hollinger and directed by Rachel Lampert, the production stars Jesse Bush, Michael Samuel Kaplan, Brendan Powers, Alison Scaramella and Alexander Thomas.

DATES
Previews: October 17 - 19
Performances: October 20 - November 11
Wednesdays at 7:30 pm: October 17 (preview), 24, 31; November 7
Thursdays at 2 pm: October 25
Thursdays at 7:30 pm: October 18 (preview), 25; November 1, 8
Fridays at 8 pm: October 19 (preview), 26; November 2, 9
Saturdays at 8 pm: October 20 (Opening), 27: November 3, 10
Sundays at 4 pm: October 21, 28: November 4, 11

TICKETS
Previews: $27
Opening Night (June 19): $35 adult, $32 senior
Regular performances: $34 adult, $29 senior
Students (with ID): $25
Student Rush (30 minutes before the performance): $15

The Kitchen Theatre Company is located at 417 W. Martin Luther King, Jr. Street Ithaca, NY. Call (607) 273-4497 or visit www.kitchentheatre.org for tickets and more information.

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