community + cultural info

Contact Margie Romero

(412) 431-4400 ext. 283

City Theatre Presents the World Premiere of

String of Pearls

by Michele Lowe

Steppenwolf company member Eric Simonson directs.

Four actresses play 23 characters connected by the fate of a necklace.

PITTSBURGH (September 8, 2003) City Theatre opens its 29^th season with the world premiere of String of Pearls, written by Michele Lowe and directed by Eric Simonson, from October 9 to November 2, 2003. (Press night is Wednesday, October 15.)

In String of Pearls, the fate of a necklace links the stories of 23 women. Four actresses will play these wildly varied characters who covet, steal, give, and lose a lustrous string of pearls. With gentle comedy and surprising candor the play details the twists and turns in relationships between a wife and husband, mother and daughter, two friends, two sisters, a woman and her memories, and a string of other emotional connections. Love, loss, desire, and destiny are intricately threaded together in Lowe’s radiant String of Pearls.

String of Pearls features Rebecca Harris, Sheila McKenna, Helena Ruoti and Sharon Washington. The design team includes Scenic Design by Loy Arcenas; Sound Design by Dave Bjornson; Lighting Design by Thomas Hase; and Costume Design by Michael Olich.

String of Pearls was developed at last season at City Theatre’s MOMENTUM: new plays at different stages, sponsored by Mellon Financial Corporation.

Michele Lowe recently made her Broadway debut with The Smell of the Kill. She has also written Backsliding in the Promised Land, Map of Heaven, Germany Surrenders, the musical Hit the Lights!, and the screenplay The Emergence of Emily Stark. Eric Simonson is an actor, writer and director who works in film, television, and theatre. He is a company member of Steppenwolf Theatre in Chicago.

Michele Lowe and Eric Simonson are available for interviews.

Call Margie Romero at (412) 431-4400 ext 283 or mromero@citytheatrecompany.org

CITY THEATRE PRESENTS

What: String of Pearls by Michele Lowe.

When: October 9 through November 2, 2003.

Preview week performance schedule:

Thurs. and Fri. Oct. 9 & 10 at 8 pm; Sat. Oct. 11 at 5:30 pm; Sun. Oct. 12 at 7 pm.

Regular run schedule:

Tues. at 7 pm; Weds. thru Fri. at 8 pm; Sat. at 5:30 and 9 p.m.; Sun. at 2 pm.

Where: City Theatre, 1300 Bingham and 13^th 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