Circle Repertory Theatre founder Marshall W. Mason's staging of Eugene O'Neill's Long Day's Journey Into Night , at the Arizona Theatre Company, ends its Tucson run Nov. 7, but resurfaces in Phoenix Nov. 12 28.
The production began previews at the troupe's Tucson home at the Temple of Music and Art Oct. 17 and opened Oct. 23. The play moves to Phoenix's Herberger Theatre, as is the ATC custom, Nov. 12-28. Nov. 14 is the official opening there.
Lawrence Pressman leads the cast as patriarch James Tyrone, the dysfunctional onetime matinee idol whose two sons and addicted wife struggle with family demons in their Atlantic seaside home.
Pressman has been seen on Broadway in Play It Again, Sam, on film in "9 to 5" and on television in "Doogie Howser, MD" and "Ally McBeal." Joining Pressman are Ruth Reid (Mary Tyrone), Kim Bennett (Jamie Tyrone) and Jason Kuykendall (Edmund Tyrone). Famed designer Ming Cho Lee will create the set, Laura Crow (Bway's Fifth of July and Burn This) designs costumes.
Mason's recent work includes the New York premiere of Larry Kramer's The Destiny of Me . He is best known, of course, for his long association with fellow Circle Rep alum Lanford Wilson. Mason staged the premieres of Wilson's The Hot L Baltimore , The Mound Builders , Fifth of July and Talley's Folly , earning several Obies and Tony nominations along the way. For ($19-$28) ticket information, call (520) 622-2823 (ATC in Tucson) or (602) 256-6995 (ATC in Phoenix).
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The Broadway-bound The Gershwins' Fascinating Rhythm, a new musical conceived by Mark Lamos (who also directs) and Mel Marvin, will begin its journey east when it plays at ATC's Tucson stage Dec. 5-26, then at the company's Phoenix location, Dec. 31-Jan. 24, 1999. (These dates are slightly different than originally announced, said publicist Hope Towner Oct. 22. The new dates allow for a benefit New Year's Eve show in Phoenix.)
Lamos first staged Fascinating Rhythm in 1997 at Hartford Stage, where he was for many years artistic director. The show is a musical tribute to George and Ira Gershwin and features 50 of their songs, including "Lady, Be Good!," "The Man I Love," "I Got Rhythm" and "Someone to Watch Over Me." This is the centennial year of George Gershwin's birth.
Fascinating Rhythm would be the first commercial project to have roots at the ATC, said Towner.
Producer Manny Kladitis told Playbill On-Line (Feb. 26, 1998) the show would have a brief tour before arriving on Broadway in 1999.
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Also on the ATC season:
Pearl Cleage's Blues for an Alabama Sky (Tucson: Jan. 9-30, 1999; Phoenix: Feb. 4-20, 1999), a co-production with Milwaukee Repertory Theatre. Tim Bond will direct the tale of two faded stars of the Harlem Renaissance.
The season concludes with two recent New York attractions, the Pulitzer Prize-winning Paula Vogel drama How I Learned to Drive, directed by ATC artistic director David Ira Goldstein (Tucson: Feb. 27-Mar. 20, 1999; Phoenix: Mar. 25-Apr. 11, 1999) and Alfred Uhry's Tony Award winner The Last Night of Ballyhoo, directed by Ken Ruta (Tucson: April 10-May 1, 1999; Phoenix May 6-22, 1999).
-- By Kenneth Jones
and Robert Simonson
