INVISIBLE THEATRE - PRESS RELEASE Contact: Cathy Johnson or Susan Claassen 1400 N. First Ave, Tucson, AZ. 85719 Administration – (520) 884-0672 Box Office – (520) 882-9721 [email protected] www.invisibletheatre.com

FOR RELEASE ON OR AFTER FEBRUARY 17, 2012

THE INVISIBLE THEATRE

Presents

Emmy Award Winner Susan Clark

in A Women of Independent Means

Directed by Patricia Vanstone

Made possible in part through the generous support of Kristi Keller and Bernie Bauer

WHERE: The Invisible Theatre 1400 N. First Ave Tucson, AZ 85719 At the corner of First and Drachman

WHEN: Friday, March 9, 2012 at 8:00 pm Saturday, March 10, 2012 at 8:00 pm Sunday, March 11, 2012 at 3:00 pm

TICKETS: Ticket Price: $30 To charge tickets by phone, call (520) 882-9721 To purchase tickets on-line, go to www.invisibletheatre.com and click on the OvationTix logo Discounts available for groups of ten or more

RUNNING TIME: 90 minutes with an intermission

Tucson, Arizona (February 17, 2012); A WOMAN OF INDEPENDENT MEANS, adapted from the internationally acclaimed best-selling novel by Elizabeth Forsythe Hailey and starring Emmy award winning actress Susan Clark, is a heartwarming one-woman saga spanning the first seven decades of the 20th century. This timeless theatre piece moves between laughter and tears and is told through the letters of one very determined, but endearing Texas lady as she confronts life's inevitable losses while continuing to embrace its endless possibilities.

1

SUSAN CLARK

A native of , Susan Clark became interested in acting at the age of 5 and joined the Toronto Children’s Players Theatre at the age of 12. Her professional debut came at 15 in a production of “Silk Stockings,” starring Don Ameche at a summer theater in Michigan. Susan next moved to London where she studied at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art. After spending a year in the English repertory system at York, Newcastle, and Sunderland Shakespeare Festival, she made her West End debut in POOR BITOS with Donald Pleasance.

Returning to Canada, she starred in six Festival productions for the Canadian Broadcasting Company, including THE TAMING OF THE SHREW and MARY OF SCOTLAND, later returning to do HEDDA GABLER. Her performance in HELOISE AND ABELARD brought Susan a 10-year exclusive contract with Universal Studios. While at Universal, she starred in 20 feature films, including, TELL THEM WILLIE BOY IS HERE, COOGAN’S BLUFF, and NIGHT MOVES, and also in a number of television movies, notably, THE CHOICE and , which garnered her an Emmy nomination.

Among her favorite portrayals is the title role in BABE, the story of Olympic gold medallist and golfer, Babe Didrickson Zaharias. Susan trained intensively in running, hurdles, and javelin for the part and earned an Emmy as Best Actress, as well as respect for her co-star, , who gave a sensitive performance as George Zaharias. The two formed a production company, Georgian Bay Productions, and after two years as business partners, they were married. Their company has produced three movies for CBS-TV, WORD OF HONOR, MAID IN AMERICA, and JIMMY B & ANDRE. Georgian Bay also co-produced with Paramount, 150 episodes of the comedy, WEBSTER, in which Clark and Karras gained national fame as Webster’s adoptive parents. WEBSTER is still in syndication throughout the world.

Ms. Clark received a Gemini nomination as Best Actress for her starring role as Lila Young in the critically acclaimed BUTTERBOX BABIES, a television movie produced by Sullivan Entertainment and the CBC. Based on the true story of baby sales and deaths at the Ideal Maternity Home, BUTTERBOX BABIES’ first airing received the highest ratings ever received by a Canadian telefilm in CBC history. She played Aunt Elizabeth in EMILY OF NEW MOON, a series that aired in Canada and Europe.

Georgian Bay produced the American premiere of MEETIN’S ON THE PORCH, in which Ms. Clark starred with and Carrie Snodgrass, in Los Angeles. She starred as Eleanor in LION IN WINTER with at the Walnut Street Theater in Philadelphia. She later returned to the Walnut Street, where she starred in the VORTEX by Noel Coward. At the George Street Playhouse in New Jersey she appeared in SISTERS ROSENSWEIG. She appeared in Anne Meara’s AFTERPLAY with Bea Arthur – first at the Pasadena Playhouse and then at the Canon Theater in Beverly Hills. Ms. Clark also starred in the world premiere of BICOASTAL WOMAN at the Pasadena Playhouse. At the Rubicon Theatre in Ventura, she has played Amanda in the GLASS MENAGERIE, Mrs. Dudgeon in DEVIL’S DISCIPLE, Kate in DANCING AT LUGHNASA, Agnes in A DELICATE BALANCE, and Lady Bracknell in THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING EARNEST.

2 At the Matrix Theater in Los Angeles, she appeared in THE BODY, TRIPTYCH by Edna O’Brien and Betsy Forsythe Hailey’s WOMAN OF INDEPENDENT MEANS, which she has also toured to numerous sites, including Las Vegas, Toronto, Jacksonville, Florida. At the Manitoba Theatre Center in Winnipeg, she has appeared as Alice in RETREAT FROM MOSCOW, reprised the role of Lady Bracknell in “EARNEST,” and most recently appeared in STEEL MAGNOLIAS.

As a Board member of the California International Theater Festival, Ms. Clark brought Tempting Providence (Theatre Newfoundland Labrador) and Maya Ardal’s The Cure for Everything from her native Canada over the past three seasons. Ms. Clark works actively for environmental and social justice issues and was a Co- founder of Americans for a Safe Future. She was a recipient of the “Women For” Achievement award, the B’nai B’rith Women’s “Dove of Peace,” the National Women’s Political Caucus Bread and Roses Award, and the United Nation’s Ralph Bunche Peace Award. She has also been honored by Physicians for Social Responsibility for her work in protecting the environment and by CARECEN for her work for social justice. She continues her environmental activism as Board Chair of Committee to Bridge the Gap, a non-profit nuclear policy organization focusing on issues of nuclear safety and disarmament. (www.committeetobridgethegap.org)

PATRICIA VANSTONE Director

Passionate about new work, Trish has performed in, dramaturged and directed many new works over the past 30 years at theatres across Canada. She is the recipient of a DORA Award (Canada’s Tony) for her production of BEO’S BEDROOM and was nominated for her performance of bad girl Mary Mitchell in the “Bop Musical” GIRLS IN THE GANG (Blyth Festival, Factory Theatre and The National Arts Centre). Favorite directing credits include Norm Foster’s THE MELVILLE BOYS, DRIVING MISS DAISY, NOISES OFF and the world premieres of ANNE, CEILI HOUSE, QUIET! I’M TALKING, JOY, and MIDNIGHT SUN among others.

Recent acting credits include the world premieres of INNOCENCE LOST-A PLAY ABOUT STEVEN TRUSCOTT, THE BERLIN BLUES, A STRANGER IN OUR HOUSE and JENNY’S HOUSE OF JOY. In 2005, she appeared at the Shaw Festival in GYPSY and YOU NEVER CAN TELL. In 2010, she and Norm starred in OLD LOVE in Ajijic, Mexico. Other favorites include starring roles in HANA’S SUITCASE, THE DREAMLAND, the world premiere of THE MELVILLE BOYS, and the internationally acclaimed AIN’T LOOKIN’. For many years she sang with SWEETLIPS performing in a number of “bar operas” including AIRPORT ’99 and WALK LIKE YOU MEAN IT. In May, she will be co-starring with Norm Foster in the world premiere of his play ON A FIRST NAME BASIS.

She appeared as Ada Hubble in 3 seasons of CBC/Disney Channel’s ROAD TO AVONLEA and its reunion movie HAPPY CHRISTMAS, MISS KING. Other TV appearances include STREETLEGAL, JONOVISION, FLASH FORWARD, SUPERTOWN CHALLENGE, HARLAN COUNTY WAR and BLUE MURDER and her voice has been heard in numerous CBC radio dramas and the animated children’s series CAILLOU.

In 2002, she helped found The Muskoka Theatre Project in Minett and Rosseau, .

3 WHAT THE CRITICS ARE SAYING…

“A theatrical miracle. By the last letter we would march through fire for her.” Los Angeles Times

“Susan Clark is an amazement, an object of delight and awareness, from whom we cannot take our eyes.” Back Stage West

“The writing is smart and lyrical” Entertainment Weekly

“…stunning…everyone spontaneously leapt from their seats. The writing is smart and lyrical, but the complex, nuanced performance, rich with remarkable texture and subtlety, is what really brings it to life.” The Georgia Straight

“Delightful…Those who know A Woman of Independent Means as a novel will welcome it on stage. Those who don’t will want to run out and buy the novel.” Los Angeles Times

Invisible Theatre 1400 N. First Avenue at Drachman Tucson, AZ 85719 Box Office – (520) 882-9721 Administration – (520) 884-0672 Fax – (520) 884-5410 www.invisibletheatre.com

4