PRESS RELEASE

SAVE THIS DATE:
Wednesday, August 9, 2006 at 8 PM is Press Night for Evita

For Immediate Release:                                                               Contact: Suzanne Richard
July 12, 2004                                                                                    240/683-8934

SILVER SPRING, MD -- Open Circle Theatre, Washington DC’s first professional theatre dedicated to producing professional productions that integrate the considerable talents of artists with disabilities, announces its fifth production: A Evita.  We are very excited to be back as Artistic Partners with Round House Theatre at their Silver Spring location, 8641 Colesville Road.   The show will open August 9 and run through August 27 Thursday thru Saturday evenings at 8:00PM and Sundays at 2:00PM AND 7:30PM.  Tickets can be reserved by calling 240/683-0305 to pay by cash or check at the door, or by visiting our website www.opencircletheatre.org to pay in advance by credit card.

This production brings together an incredibly talented group of directors and designers.  Helen Hayes winner Joe Banno heads the team as Director and hopes to take a new look at the social strata of that controversial time in Argentinean history.  Helen Hayes nominee and Artistic Director Suzanne Richard acts as Assistant Director on this production and plans to add the OCT signature style of seamlessly integrating sign language into the plot.  Stuart Weich, our musical director, is looking to give a cabaret style to the music, reflecting the clubs where Eva Duarte first began her singing career.  Choreography is being provided by a team from Liz Lerman’s Dance Exchange who bring their organic style of building pieces from the cast’s strengths and abilities.  And to bring joy and intelligence to the American Sign Language interpreting of the show, Fred Beam returns to OCT, this time as Sign Master.

David C. Ghatan’s innovative set design will set this production in a music hall where a show is interrupted by the announcement of Eva Duarte’s death.  Marianne Meadows as Lighting Designer will face the challenge of lighting an alley set in her sweeping style. Matt Neilson is our talented Sound Designer.  Once again, OCT continues its commitment to diversity by providing a cast that is not only diverse in disabilities, but also in race, religion and age…you name it, we probably have it.  Rob McQuay returns to us after his Helen Hayes nominated performance in OCT’s Jesus Christ Superstar, this time tackling the misplaced revolutionary Che Guevera.  OCT is proud to introduce Amanda Johnson in the title role with Scott Sedar as Juan Peron, Stephen McWilliams as Magaldi and Debra Buonaccorsi as the Mistress.  Tami Lee Santimyer will also be playing the mistress in American Sign Language and the signing cast will include Roslyn Ward for Evita, Warren (Wawa) Snipe for Che and Raymont Anderson for Peron.
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