Casey Stangl, artistic director of Minneapolis' Eye of the Storm Theatre, will helm the production, which begins previews May 16 with an official opening scheduled for May 21. The award-winning play will end its run June 15. The theatrical and humorous work is comprised of two distinct parts. The first concerns a meeting of mythical and literary women at a posh restaurant where a woman named Marlene celebrates a promotion at the Top Girls Employment Agency. The second portion of the play follows Marlene in her daily experiences as a working woman in 1980's Britain. In a statement, director Stangl had this to say about the play and playwright: "Churchill's assertion is that individual achievement is ultimately meaningless as long as society as a whole remains inequitable. I love [her] comment that the thing that is absent in the play -- an ethic of caring -- is what is most important."
Heading the cast of Top Girls is Bianca Amato as Marlene with Isabell Monk O'Connor (Waitress/Kit), Marquetta Senters (Pope Joan/Louise), Suzanne Warmanen (Dull Gret/Angie), Sally Wingert (Isabella Bird/Joyce/Mrs. Kidd), Andrea Wollenberg (Patient Griselda/Nell/Jeanine) and Eunice Wong (Lady Nijo/Win/Shona). The creative team comprises Troy Hourie (set design), Devon Painter (costume design), Marcus Dilliard (lighting design), C. Andrew Mayer (sound design), Marcela Lorca (movement), Bonnie Raphael (voice and dialect coach), Carla Steen (dramaturgy), Martha Kulig (stage manager), Carin Bratlie (assistant director) and Michele Harms (assistant stage manager).
Tickets for Top Girls range from $22 to $30 and are available by calling (612) 377-2224 or (877) 44-STAGE. For more information about the Guthrie, visit www.guthrietheater.org.