The Acclaimed Broadway and London Play Makes Its Regional Premiere at ACT a Contemporary

Media Contact: Mark Siano, Public Relations Manager [email protected] (206) 292-7660 x1339

The Acclaimed Broadway and London play makes its regional premiere at ACT – A Contemporary Theatre THE PITMEN PAINTERS By Lee Hall Inspired by a book by William Feaver, Directed for the Mainstage by Kurt Beattie Actors R. Hamilton Wright and Charles Leggett lead an all-Seattle Cast

Who: ACT Mainstage Production Where: ACT, The Allen Theatre, 700 Union Street, Downtown Seattle When: Previews begin April 20. Opens April 26 - May 20, 2012 Tuesdays through Sundays . Tickets: Adults: Single tickets $37.50 - $55; Students: $15; People 25 & under: $20; Seniors: 25% off adult ticket price. Available to ACTPass holders. Now on sale: (206) 292-7676 or www.acttheatre.org Seattle, WA –March 20, 2012 – Art and class collide, as a group of Northern English miners unexpectedly ascend to the top of the art world in The Pitmen Painters at ACT – A Contemporary Theatre. Penned by playwright Lee Hall, author of the celebrated Billy Elliot, this critically acclaimed play from London and Broadway will receive its regional premiere in ACT’s dynamic in-the-round Allen Theatre directed by ACT’s Artistic Director Kurt Beattie.

The Pitmen Painters chronicles the true story of a group of miners from Ashington, Northumberland who discover their hidden potential for art. The sudden notoriety of the Ashington Group puts the pitmen at odds with their community, their work, and threatens their close-knit friendships.

In 1927, an artist and instructor named Robert Lyons from the Worker’s Education Association visits Ashington to teach local miners about art appreciation, but after a combative and frustrating start, he suggests they instead try painting to gain a better understanding of art. Despite their lack of training, the miners soon become celebrated artists in the 1930s and 40s British art world. Art critic William Fever took an interest in the group and its meteoric rise and composed a book chronicling their lives and art called Pitmen Painters: The Ashington Group 1934-1984, and that manuscript later provided playwright Lee Hall with the source material for the stage adaption.

“The Pitmen Painters is a serious discussion about the potential in all of us, and how art offers us a chance to be most ourselves,” says director Kurt Beattie. “But despite the in-depth conversation of society and art there is a great deal of humanity and humor in this play. These characters are at their best when they’re expressing opinions and frank assessments of each other’s work; the witty and honest critiques make for great lively banter.”

Originally staged in Newcastle in 2007, the sold-out production moved to London’s Royal National Theatre where it won the 2008 Evening Standard Award for Best Play. A touring and West End success, The Pitmen Painters also ran on Broadway to sold-out houses and critical acclaim, and is now being produced across the United States.

The Pitmen Painters is ACT’s second Mainstage Production of the 2012 season featuring an exclusively all-Seattle design team as well as some of Seattle’s favorite actors including R. Hamilton Wright and Charles Leggett and the ACT debut of Jason Marr in the lead role of Oliver. Also appearing will be Seattle actors Daniel Brockley, Christine Marie Brown, Frank Lawler, Joseph P. McCarthy, and Morgan Rowe.

There will be brief nudity.

The Pitmen Painters creative team and cast members are available for interviews. For more information please contact Mark Siano at (206) 292-7670 x1339 or [email protected].

Photos: Press photos available at http://www.acttheatre.org/about/mediaroom/productionphotos USERNAME: ACTPress PASSWORD: getpics (case sensitive)

CAST (Alphabetical Order): Daniel Brockley -- Young Lad/Ben Nicholson Christine Marie Brown* -- Susan Parks Frank Lawler -- Robert Lyon Charles Leggett* -- George Brown Jason Marr -- Oliver Kilbourn Joseph P. McCarthy -- Jimmy Floyd Morgan Rowe* -- Helen Sutherland R. Hamilton Wright* -- Harry Wilson *Members of Actors’ Equity Association

CREATIVE TEAM (Alphabetical Order): Kurt Beattie -- Director Brendan Patrick Hogan -- Sound Design Cathy Hunt -- Costume Design Carey Wong -- Scenic Design Ben Zamora -- Lighting Design

TICKETS: Now on sale: (206) 292-7676 or www.acttheatre.org Members of Teen Tix: $5 Adults: Single tickets $37.50 - $55 Students: $15; People 25 & under: $20; Seniors: 25% off adult ticket price. Available to ACTPass holders. Pay-what-you-will: Every day, day of show (in person, starting at 1:00pm) Prices fluctuate based on demand. Artists subject to change.

FULL DATES AND SCHEDULE Friday, April 20, 8:00pm (previews begin) Saturday, April 21, 8:00pm Sunday, April 22, 7:30pm Tuesday, April 24, 7:30pm (Behind the scenes, 6:00pm) Wednesday, April 25, 7:30pm Thursday, April 26, 7:30pm OPENING NIGHT Friday, April 27, 8:00pm Saturday, April 28, 2:00pm and 8:00pm Sunday, April 29, 2:00pm and 7:30pm Tuesday, May 1, 7:30pm (Post show discussion) Wednesday, May 2, 7:30pm Thursday, May 3, 7:30pm Friday, May 4, 8:00pm (Tastings event at 6:30pm) Saturday, May 5, 2:00pm and 8:00pm Sunday, May 6, 2:00pm and 7:30pm (Post show discussion) Tuesday, May 8, 7:30pm Wednesday, May 9, 7:30pm Thursday, May 10, 7:30pm Friday, May 11, 8:00pm Saturday, May 12, 2:00pm and 8:00pm Sunday, May 13, 2:00pm and 7:30pm (Post show discussion) -No show Tuesday, May 15 Wednesday, May 16, 7:30pm Thursday, May 17, 7:30pm Friday, May 18, 8:00pm Saturday, May 19, 2:00pm and 8:00pm Sunday, May 20, 2:00pm - Closing Performance

ACT SPECIAL EVENTS (Free and open to the public) BEHIND THE SCENES, Tuesday April 24 at 6:00pm Join Artistic Director Kurt Beattie in a pre-show behind the scenes chat. POST PLAY DISCUSSIONS, May 1, 6, 13 Stick around and participate in a post-show discussion with the director and actors.

TASTINGS, Friday May 4 at 6:30pm Before the show, enjoy beer, wine, or other beverages, paired with delectable bites of local artisan food - no extra charge.

About ACT: A Theatre of New Ideas - Raising Consciousness Through Theatre Located in the heart of downtown Seattle and serving a population of curious, open-minded, and brave audiences, ACT - A Contemporary Theatre is the only theatre in Seattle dedicated to producing contemporary work with promising playwrights and local performing artists since 1965. A theatre of new ideas, ACT serves as a cultural engine that makes plays, dance, music, and film that touch us through its annual Mainstage play series and new works generated from the Young Playwrights Program, The Hansberry Project, the Central Heating Lab, and New Works for the American Stage commissioning program. Because contemporary life demands examination, ACT is driven to inspire and strengthen our diverse community through works that advance our understanding of human life. With more than 120,000 people who attend shows annually, ACT is an interactive community where artists and the public witness, contemplate, and engage in dialogue on today’s thought-provoking issues, ideas and art, presented with intelligence, insight, and humor.

ACT gratefully acknowledges the generous support of our 2012 Season Sponsors: ACT Foundation, ArtsFund, The Eulalie Bloedel