Olivier Award-winning director David Thacker will make his United States directing debut at the Guthrie Theatre in Minneapolis, with Arthur Miller's The Price, running Feb. 2-March 29. In conjunction with the production, the playwright will speak at the Guthrie as part of the theatre's "Global Voices" lecture series, March 23 at 2 PM.
Created as an annual event for the Guthrie audience and community, "Global Voices" has in the past hosted Seamus Heaney, Isabel Allende and Garry Trudeau. Tickets to the lecture (available after March 10) are $15, with a limit of two per household. Call (612) 377-2224 for more information.
Starring in The Price will be Broadway veteran Alan Feinstein (Victor), David Margulies (Solomon), Greg Mullavey (Walter) and Brenda Wehle (Esther). Margulies appeared on Broadway in Angels In America; Mullavey is best known for appearing in TV's "Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman."
Designing the play are Fran Thompson (set), Laurie Bramhall (costumes), Marcus Dilliard (lighting), and Scott Edwards (sound).
Thacker was company director in residence at the Royal National Theatre for two years, where he won the 1991 Olivier Award for Best Director and Best Revival for his production of Pericles. He served as director of The Young Vic from 1984-93, and has also directed Ibsen's A Doll's House and Shakespeare's Measure for Measure for television. The Price is about two brothers who open up old family wounds when they gather to divide their late father's belongings.
Running in repertory with The Price is the Guthrie season-closer, A Midsummer Night's Dream (Feb. 14-April 6), directed by artistic director Joe Dowling. Dream stars Stephen Pelinski, Isabell Monk, Danyon Davis, Leslie Silva, Jennifer Abigail Lopez, Anthony Ciaravino, Joshua Wolf Coleman, Richard Ooms, Richard S. Iglewski, Charles Janaxz, Nathaniel Fuller, T.R. Knight, Sally Wingert, Stephen Yoakam and Wendy Renee, with Paul de Cordova, Christopher Edwards, Bill McCallum and Kris Nelson as the forest fairies. Designing Dream are F. Hallinan Flood (set), Paul Tazewell (costumes), and Howell Binkley (lighting). Keith Thomas will provide original music for the William Shakespeare comedy.
In Dream, which begins previews Feb. 8, four young lovers escape the tyranny of the court and enter the lush, sensual world of the forest. Mortals mix with fairies, runaway lovers confuse their affections, and Bottom gets transformed into a donkey.
Audiences curious to hear Thacker's approach to Arthur Miller's work can catch an informal discussion with the director at the Guthrie Theatre, Feb. 10, at 7 PM. This free, open-to-the-public chat will begin with prepared remarks and then open the floor to questions. For reservations, call (612) 377-2224.
Tickets for the show are now on sale for The Price and A Midsummer Night's Dream, which both run in repertory. Tickets are $12-42. Call (612) 377-2224 for tickets, or 1-800-848-4912 if outside Minnesota.
-- By Blair Glaser and David Lefkowitz
