Terrence McNally's 1995 Tony Award-winning Love! Valour! Compassion!, which opened April 30 at the Studio Theatre in Washington DC., has been extended to July 20. The show had already been extended past its June 1 finish to June 22, then July 6, then July 13.
L!V!C!, about an extended family of friends of eight gay men, takes place over three summer weekends at a country house in upstate New York. On Broadway, the production was directed by Joe Mantello and starred Nathan Lane and Stephen Bogardus.
The Studio staging, directed by John Going, features Floyd King, Kirk Jackson, Christopher Wilson, Sean Pratt, John Emmert, Michael Russotto and Ramon de Ocampo. King left the production following the June 22 performance Hugh Nees.
Said author McNally about the writing of Love! Valour! Compassion!: "I'm in a very nice period of my life. I feel it's so important to convey that without unconditional love, we don't blossom as human beings. I've had it in my life personally in the last couple of years... And this play is just the beginning."
Designing the DC production are James Kronzer (set), John-Paul Szczepanski (lighting), Kaye Voyce (costumes), and Gil Thompson (sound). Mike Malone choreographs the piece, which has music direction by George Fulginiti-Shakar. A filmed version of the LVC! was released at this year's Sundance Film Festival in January, and in theatres in May. For more information about the filmed version of LVC!, please refer to the Playbill On Line news story Love! Valour! to Premiere at Sundance.
Other plays by McNally include The Ritz, Master Class and A Perfect Ganesh.
For tickets ($19.50-$34.50) and information on Love! Valour! Compassion! at the Studio Theatre on P St. NW, call (202) 332-3300.
--By David Lefkowitz
