World Congress a Community Sponsor for Tony Kushner Play Premiere in Minneapolis
A WORLD PREMIERE by Tony Kushner directed by Michael Greif May 16-June 28, 2009 McGuire Proscenium Stage Guthrie Theater, Minneapolis
The World Congress of Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgender Jews is pleased to be a community partner for the Guthrie Theater’s world premiere of Tony Kushner’s new play in Minneapolis: The Intelligent Homosexual’s Guide to Capitalism and Socialism with a Key to the Scriptures.
The title of Kushner’s new play is inspired by two 19th-century thinkers and their works -- George Bernard Shaw’s The Intelligent Woman’s Guide to Socialism and Capitalism and Mary Baker Eddy’s Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures. The play looks at the life of a 20th-century thinker, retired longshoreman Gus Marcantonio (filmmaker, actor and Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Michael Cristofer), who’s feeling confused and defeated by the 21st century. In summer 2007, he invites his sister and his three children (who in turn bring along spouses, ex-spouses, lovers and more) to a most unusual family reunion in their Brooklyn brownstone.
With humor and passion, the play examines the importance of connectedness and belonging - to a family, a community, a group, an ideology, a marriage - and what happens when those connections are lost.
The Guthrie commission will feature original Angels in America cast members Kathleen Chalfant as Gus’ sister Bennie and Stephen Spinella as his son Pill, alongside Homebody/Kabul original cast member Linda Emond as his daughter Empty, and Guthrie regular Ron Menzel as his son Vito. Broadway veteran Michael Potts (Broadway: Grey Gardens, Lennon) will portrays Pill’s husband Paul Pierce, with Michael Esper (Broadway: A Man for All Seasons) playing Pill’s lover Eli Wolcott. In addition, Guthrie regulars Mark Benninghofen (Empty’s ex-husband Adam Butler), Charity Jones (Empty’s lover Maeve) and Sun Mee Chomet (Vito’s wife Sooze) and Michelle O’Neill also join the cast of the new work.
World Congress of GLBT Jews members (and memebrs of our member organizations) and Minneapolis J-Pride members save 20% on performances in May! Call the Guthrie Box Office at +1.612.377.2224/1.877.44STAGE (toll-free) and quote “A63”. Offer not valid online, on previously purchased ticket, or for the opening night performance (May 22). Visit www.CelebrateKushner.com for a complete performance schedule or for more information!
KUSHNER TICKET PACKAGES Weekday Getaway: See all 3 shows for $90 Includes one ticket to all three Kushner productions; valid for Tues - Thurs performances between April 18 - June 28, 2009. Seating is best available. Weekend Getaway: See all 3 shows for $110* Includes one ticket to all three Kushner productions; valid for Fri - Sun performances between May 15 - June 7, 2009. Seating is best available.
*Extreme Kushner Weekends are May 22 - 24 and June 5 - 7, 2009. See three productions, hear a speaker, take a class and participate in public discussions all over the course of one weekend! Click here for details. Visit www.CelebrateKushner.com and click on “3 for $90” to order your package online or call the Guthrie Box Office toll-free at 1.877.997.3276. Packages not valid with other discounts or on previously purchased tickets. A $10 handling fee will be applied to every order; all plays must be purchased at the same time on one order. Visit www.CelebrateKushner.com and click on “Plan Your Kushner Getaway” to view a full list of our hotel partners and their special discounts for Guthrie patrons.