community + cultural info
Contact Margie Romero
(412) 431-4400 ext. 283
mromero@citytheatrecompany.org
***PLEASE NOTE THAT THE PREVIEW AND END DATES FOR THIS PRODUCTION HAVE CHANGED. THE ACCURATE DATES ARE PRINTED BELOW.***
City Theatre Presents the World Premiere of
Lovely Day
written by and starring Leslie Ayvazian
PITTSBURGH (October 6, 2003) City Theatre presents the world premiere of Lovely Day, written by and starring Leslie Ayvazian and directed by Tracy Brigden, from November 1 to December 14, 2003. The cast also includes Sam Freed and Christopher Schram.
Press/Opening Night for Lovely Day is Friday, November 7 at 8 p.m.
In Lovely Day we meet Fran and Martin on their 25th wedding anniversary, along with their 16-year-old son, Brian. Martin is a designer who has just landed a great new job for his company. A former military officer, he is exact and accomplished. Less certain, Fran is a loving wife, mother and teacher, who is still searching. Set against a background of up-to-the-minute news reports, the conflict occurs in Lovely Day when a “government guy” comes to Brian’s school to register students for the military. At this point Fran becomes certain about one thing: Mothers can’t send their children to war.
Lovely Day was inspired by the weekly vigils for peace that Leslie and others have been keeping in Leonia, N.J., their hometown. “I never felt qualified to write a political play,” she said in a New York Times story in March, “but my experience has become so saturated with this stuff that I felt my time had come.”
Because of the divided opinions strongly expressed in the play, a talkback will be held after each performance led by moderators from the Thomas Merton Center. The talkbacks will allow audience members to share their own feelings about individual responsibilities for war and peace.
The design team for Lovely Day includes co-set designers Abigail Hart Gray and Tony Ferrieri; costume designer Pei Chi Su; lighting designer Thom Weaver; and sound designer Elizabeth Atkinson.
Leslie Ayvazian has written many plays, including the award-winning Nine Armenians. She has performed in several of her own one-person plays, as well as in Richard Greenberg’s Jenny Keeps Talking and Neptune’s Hips, and in Nicky Silver’s Raised in Captivity. On TV and film she has appeared in Regarding Henry, Working Girl, Alice (with Woody Allen), The Sunset Gang (with Linda Lavin and Uta Hagen), and several roles on Law & Order.
Leslie Ayvazian and Tracy Brigden are available for interviews.
Call Margie Romero at (412) 431-4400 ext 283 or mromero@citytheatrecompany.org
CITY THEATRE PRESENTS
What: Lovely Day by Leslie Ayvazian.
When: November 1 through December 14, 2003.
Preview week performance schedule:
Regular run schedule:
Saturdays at 5:30 and 9 pm
Sundays Nov. 9, Nov. 30, and Dec. 14 at 2 & 7 pm
Sundays Nov. 16, Nov. 23, and Dec. 7 at 2 p.m. only
Tuesdays Nov. 11 and 25 at 7 pm
Wednesday, Thursdays and Fridays at 8 p.m.
No Performance on Thanksgiving Day
Where: City Theatre, 1300 Bingham and 13th Street, South Side.
Tickets: $28 to $38;
$15 rush begins 2 hours before showtime for age 25 and younger and senior citizens.
To buy tickets call the box office at (412) 431-CITY or www.citytheatrecompany.org