The Women – The Screen Salutes the Stage! July 29, 30 and August 3 – 6 The Cary and the Cary Arts Center

Join us as we celebrate The Women in all its variations! From the screen enjoy The Women (2008 film), The Opposite Sex (1956 film) and The Women (1939 film) capped off by the 1937 stage play The Women that started it all!

Here is a unique opportunity to see three versions of Clare Boothe Luce’s classic Broadway hit from 1937 as it has been translated into films from three very different eras and then then see the original play.

• First up on July 29, Diane English’s 2008 update starring Meg Ryan, Annette Benning, Debra Messing, Candice Bergan and many more. True to Mrs. Luce’s original play, the cast features only women. • Next on July 30, go back to the 1950’s with 1956’s musical version, retitle The Opposite Sex and the only version including the men. Starring June Allison, Joan Collins, Ann Miller as well as Leslie Nielsen among many others. • On August 3, cap off our film salute by enjoying George Cukor’s 1939 classic from Hollywood’s golden era with an all-star (and all women) cast including Norma Shearer, Joan Crawford, Rosalind Russell, Joan Fontaine among many others.

Then you have the opportunity to see what inspired it all – Cary Performs presents Mrs. Luce’s original play featuring the most talented Triangle actresses portraying the great characters you have previously seen in the varied film adaptation.

The story of Mary Haines and her friends as they navigate the perils of both friendship and their relationships with husbands and lovers represent a timeless story that reveals different ways women have been viewed through the lens of stage and screen for over eighty years.

Each screening brings a special feature to bring together your screen and stage experience. Immediately prior to the screenings on July 29 and 30 cast members from the play will present a scene that will later be portrayed in the film, giving film goers the opportunity to see how a 1937 theatrical scene was translated into a 2008 and 1956 film vision of the same scene.

On August 3, noted film experts from WUNC’s “The State of Things,” Marsha Gordon and Laura Boyes, will be on hand following the screening of the 1939 film to have a conversation about the film, the story’s journey from stage to screen, how remakes may help us appreciate the original film even more and reflect on how women’s screen portrayals have evolved over the past 80 years.

August 4 marks the opening night of the play, directed by Lyman Collins and Nancy Rich. Bring your various visions of these vivid characters to the theatre and meet them on stage. Performances continue August 5 and 6.

Special ticket packages are available to allow you to see all three films plus the play. Call the Box Office at (919) 462-2055.