A 'Waltz' of Love and Heartbreak
LEXINGTON, Ky. (Sept. 17, 2009) -- A giddy, tender, caustic comedy based on the adventures of a brother and his terminally ill sister is the very real storyline behind "The Baltimore Waltz," the first production to be staged by the University of Kentucky Department of Theatre for the 2009-2010 main stage season.
"UK Theatre selected 'The Baltimore Waltz' for a myriad of reasons," said Nancy Jones, chair of the UK Department of Theatre. "It is an award-winning work by a leading woman playwright, Paula Vogel, whose work is rarely seen in the Bluegrass. Additionally, the story, inspired by Vogel's own history, also speaks to pertinent issues surrounding terminal illness and AIDS."
An Obie award-winning contemporary play by Paula Vogel, "The Baltimore Waltz," uses a series of comic vignettes underlined by tragedy, to trace the European trip of sister and brother Anna and Carl, who hope the trip will bring them romance and a cure for Anna's terminal illness. UK's production will be directed by alumnus Andy Gaukel, who previously worked with Vogel at Trinity Rep Conservatory. The director also plans to bring to the production his interest in puppetry, fueled by his work with Basil Twist, a puppeteer at Trinity Rep Conservatory. Performances of the UK production will run Sep. 24-26 and Oct. 1-4, in the Briggs Theatre.
"The Baltimore Waltz" is the playwright's response to illness in her own family. Premiering in 1992, the play is based on the very fresh memories of the 1988 death of Vogel's brother Carl, who died from complications due to AIDS before they were able to enjoy a long planned European vacation.
Vogel is a critically-acclaimed American playwright whose writing awards include the Pulitzer Prize, Lortel, Drama Desk Outer Critics Circle and New York Drama Critics Award, as well as two Obies.
Following "The Baltimore Waltz" the UK Theatre continues to mount award-winning works from new and old playwrights alike. Henrik Ibsen's "A Doll’s House," will light up the Guignol Theatre in November, as UK Theatre takes an innovative approach to this timeless drama known for its critical take of marriage norms.
In February, Aleks Merilo's "Blur In the Rear View," the winner of the third biennial James W. Rodgers Playwriting Competition, will take to the Briggs stage highlighting an up-and-coming voice in the performing arts. This competition is dedicated to the discovery and nurturing of new voices in American theatre. The contest, named for professor emeritus, James W. Rodgers, continues to grow with scripts submitted from across the country and around the world.
Closing the season of main stage productions is the romantic musical comedy, "The Pajama Game," adapted by Richard Bissell’s novel with music and lyrics by Richard Adler and Jerry Ross. The fast-paced, Tony award-winning Broadway hit will come to the Guignol Theatre in April. UK Theatre will offer a special rate of $5 per ticket for audience members who wear their pajamas to this show.
UK Theatre main stage productions are presented on the Guignol and Briggs Theatre stages housed in the Fine Arts Building on Rose Street. Prices for performances are $15 for general admission, $10 for UK faculty/staff or senior citizens, and $5 for students. Season ticket prices are $48 for general admission, $32 for UK faculty/staff or senior citizens, and $15 for students.
In addition to the main stage productions, UK Theatre will present "Town/Ship," a project that will be written, created and performed by the department's Black Theatre Workshop, a three-credit hour course that explores the history, literature and performance of theatre artists of the African diaspora.
For more information on the UK Theatre production of "The Baltimore Waltz" or the upcoming season, contact the UK Department of Theatre at (859) 257-3297. To reserve tickets or a season subscription, call the Singletary Center for the Arts ticket office at (859) 257-4929 or visit www.singletarytickets.com.