THE CRIPPLE OF INISHMAAN - April 26-May 18
May 3rd, 2013
Directed by Tom Marriott

Life on a desolate island off the coast of Ireland is upended forever in Martin McDonagh's unforgettable comedy, The Cripple of Inishmaan, presented by Deep Dish Theater Company April 26-May 18. Directed by Tom Marriott, the play will conclude the company's twelfth season at University Mall.

Set in 1934 during the filming of the famous Hollywood documentary, Man of Aran, the play introduces us to the inhabitants of the tiny island of Inishmaan, including young Billy Claven, an orphan and outcast who dreams of leaving his village to make his fortune in the movies; the town gossip, Johnnypateenmike, and his 90-year-old alcoholic mother; Billy's delightfully dotty adoptive aunts; and Helen, the sharp-tongued object of Billy's affection. By turns hilarious, wicked and wistful, the play is a loving look at a community with only a tenuous connection to the outside world.

This is as funny a play as we've ever done, full of hilariously eccentric characters, said Deep Dish Artistic Director Paul Frellick. And yet at its heart is a really touching love/coming-of-age story. Martin McDonagh is a leading light of contemporary Irish drama, and with this play he manages to marry the new wave with the grand Irish traditions of Synge and O'Casey.

This Deep Dish productions cast includes Ishai Buchbinder, Andrew Crabtree, Marcia Edmundson, John Honeycutt, Julie Oliver, Samantha Rahn, Kevin Silva, Eric Swenson, and Adair Wiess. The design staff includes Miyuki Su (set), Doug Wood (lights), Pamela Bond (costumes), Tori Ralston (properties), and Marc Maximov (sound). Jen Bauer is the stage manager.

The theater will present post-performance discussions on Sunday, April 28 (with dramaturg Karen Blansfield and director Tom Marriott); Sunday, Mary 5 (with the cast and Karen O'Brien, professor of Irish drama at UNC); and Thursday, May 9 (Meet the Designers). Karen Blansfield will give a pre-show, Meet the Play talk on Friday, May 3, at 7 p.m. The Deep Dish Book Selection, The Pig Did It by Joseph Caldwell, will be discussed on Monday, May 13 at 7:00 p.m. at Flyleaf Books.

Performances begin Wednesday and Thursday at 7:30 p.m., Friday and Saturday at 8 p.m., and Sunday (matinee) at 2 p.m. Deep Dish is located in Chapel Hill's University Mall, on Estes Drive and US 15-501.

Tickets are $21 adults and $19 seniors, regularly, with a $2 discount for Wednesday and Thursday shows. Student tickets are $14 for all performances. Wednesday, May 1 is "Cheap Dish Night" all tickets are $10 (no reservations accepted). For reservations, call (919) 968-1515. For more information, visit www.deepdishtheater.org.
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2013-2014 SEASON ANNOUNCED
April 26th, 2013
The Deep Dish Theater Company's 2013-2014 Season has just been announced. Subscriptions will go on sale June 1.

The season, the theater's 13th year in its home at Chapel Hill's University Mall, will include:

Good People by David Lindsay-Abaire
A single mother, unemployed and facing eviction, learns an ex-boyfriend has returned to the old neighborhood, and she decides to hit him up for a job. An incisive and very funny play by the Pulitzer-winning author of Rabbit Hole.
(August 23-September 14)

A Queer Kiss by Joel Drake Johnson
Two high school boys and their parents are caught in a storm of accusation, recrimination and burgeoning sexuality. The world premiere of this moving exploration of adolescence from the dual perspectives of parent and child, developed in last year's New Play Workshop.
(October 25-November 16)

New Play Workshop
Be a part of the process as playwright, director and actors develop a brand new play through a series of staged readings. Title To Be Announced!
(January 15-19)

Arcadia by Tom Stoppard
Moving back and forth between 1809 and the present, Stoppard's acclaimed comedy follows a gathering of academics sifting through clues to the past and a young girl determined to change the future. A dazzling and heartfelt examination of the interdependence of art, science and love.
(February 28-March 22)

Life is a Dream by Pedro Calderon de la Barca
Translated and Adapted by Nilo Cruz
Two travelers in a mystical world discover a prince, imprisoned by his father to thwart a prediction that he would destroy the kingdom. Together they grapple with destiny and the ephemeral nature of life itself in Calderon's masterpiece, newly adapted by the celebrated author of Anna in the Tropics.
(May 2-24)

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Deep Dish Theater announces discussions for NEXT TO NORMAL
February 22nd, 2013
CHAPEL HILL The Deep Dish Theater announces a slate of post-show discussions in conjunction with its production of Next to Normal, the Pulitzer Prize-winning musical by Tom Kitt and Brian Yorkey, playing March 1-17 at University Mall and March 22-24 at the Cary Arts Center. Each discussion will begin promptly after the performance. The plays running time is approximately 2 hours, and patrons not attending the performance are welcome to enter the theater afterwards for the discussion. All discussions are free and open to the public.

The schedule of discussions is as follows:
Sunday afternoon, March 3: A panel of individuals impacted by mental illness, moderated by Julie Bailey, program director for the Mental Health America of the Triangle's Family Advocacy Network
Sunday afternoon, March 10: Dramaturg Lisa Keaton, Director Paul Frellick and the cast
Thursday evening, March 14: Meet the Designers a conversation with the production team
Sunday, March 17: Dr. John Gilmore, Professor of Psychiatry and Vice Chair for Research & Scientific Affairs; Director of the Center for Excellence in Community Mental Health.
In addition, Lisa Keaton will give a pre-show, "Meet the Play" talk on Friday, March 8, at 7 p.m., and the Deep Dish Book Selection, Minrose Gwin's Wishing for Snow, will be discussed on Monday, March 11 at 7:00 p.m. at Flyleaf Books.

Next to Normal tells the story of a woman and her family as they struggle to come to terms with her mental illness through a variety of tribulations and therapies. Performances begin Wednesday and Thursday at 7:30 p.m., Friday and Saturday at 8 p.m., and Sunday (matinee) at 2 p.m. Deep Dish is located in Chapel Hill's University Mall, on Estes Drive and US 15-501.
Tickets are $21 adults and $19 seniors, regularly, with a $2 discount for Wednesday and Thursday shows. Student tickets are $14 for all performances. For reservations and information, call (919) 968-1515 (Deep Dish Box Office) or (919) 481-5190 (Cary Arts Center), or go to www.deepdishtheater.org.

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