News Release
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NEW CONSERVATORY THEATRE CENTER PRESENTS IT’S ONLY A PLAY BY TERRENCE MCNALLY
REGIONAL PREMIERE OF NEW VERSION OF MCNALLY’S LOVE LETTER TO THE THEATRE
San Francisco, CA (January 4, 2017) – In March, New Conservatory Theatre Center presents the regional premiere of Terrence McNally’s It’s Only a Play, in a newly revised version which marks McNally’s thirteenth production at NCTC. It’s opening night of Peter Austin’s new Broadway play, and while at the producer’s penthouse for a lavish party, he anxiously awaits the play’s reviews. With his career on the line and celebrities pouring in downstairs, he huddles upstairs with the producer, director and star of the show. This “gleefully bitchy and affectionate” (Entertainment Weekly) love letter to the theatre is the perfect setup for backstabbing comedy.
It’s Only a Play runs March 2 – April 1, 2018. Opening Night is Saturday, March 10, 2018 at 8pm. Tickets are $25–50 and available at nctcsf.org, emailing [email protected] or by calling (415) 861-8972.
Both a satire of and love letter to the theatre, It’s Only a Play originally opened off-off-Broadway in 1982 and was revived off-Broadway in 1986. This newly revision version, bringing the setting to present day and updated with contemporary theatre stars and shows, was a smash hit of the 2014-15 Broadway season, starring an all-star cast headed by Nathan Lane and Stockard Channing. The regional premiere at NCTC will be directed by Arturo Catricala.
The updated It’s Only a Play dazzled audiences and critics:
“This show is without a doubt hilariously, sidesplittingly funny,” raves the New York Times. “It’s Only a Play deserves only a rave.”
“You really must laugh at McNally’s unquenchable wit,” declares Variety. “But those sloppy-kiss tributes to the theater…are deeply felt and honestly moving.”
Audiences can enjoy these special events during the run of the show:
Ed Decker Barbara Hodgen ARTISTIC DIRECTOR EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
. Master Class with Martha T. Lipton (the failed actress), free pre-show improv class/party hosted by local "semi-professional theatre actress" (and drama teacher!) Martha T. Lipton – perfect for performers and non-performers alike! o Fridays in March at 7:15pm: March 2, 9, 16, 23, 30 . Onstage Insight, Post-Show Discussion after the following performances featuring the cast, moderated by the play’s director: o Sunday, March 18 at 2pm . Opening Night will take place on Saturday, March 10, 2018 at 8pm. The performance will be followed by a reception catered by 17-18 Season Restaurant Sponsor, Mina’s Brazilian. . More events to be announced!
Playwright Terrence McNally was awarded the Dramatists Guild Lifetime Achievement Award in 2011. He is the winner of Tony Awards for his plays Love! Valour! Compassion! and Master Class and his books for the musicals Ragtime and Kiss of the Spiderwoman. In 2010 the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts presented Terrence McNally’s Night at the Opera, a three-play festival of his work. His other plays include Frankie and Johnny in the Clair de Lune; Lips Together, Teeth Apart, Corpus Christi; A Perfect Ganesh; The Ritz; Some Men; Golden Age; Deuce; The Lisbon Traviata, among many others. He has written the books for the musicals Anatasia, The Full Monty, A Man of No Importance, The Visit and The Rink. He won an Emmy Award for Best Drama with his teleplay Andre’s Mother. He wrote the screenplays for Frankie and Johnny, Love! Valour! Compassion! and The Ritz. He wrote the libretto for the opera Dead Man Walking with music by Jake Heggie. Among his many awards are a Citation from the American Academy of Arts and Letters, the New York Drama Critics Circle Award for Best New Play, four Drama Desk Awards, three Hull-Warriner Best Play Awards from the Dramatists Guild, two Obies, two Lortel Awards and two Guggenheim Fellowships. Mr. McNally has been a member of the Dramatists Guild since 1965 and served as its Vice-President from 1985 to 2001. He lives in Manhattan with his spouse, Tom Kirdahy.
The cast of It’s Only a Play features Chris Morrell (Peter Austin), Melissa Keith (Julia Budder), Geoffrey Colton (Ira Drew), Kevin Singer (Frank Finger), Michaela Greeley (Virginia Noyes), P.A. Cooley (James Wicker), and Nicholas Decker (Gus P. Head).
The creative team of It’s Only a Play includes scenic design by Kuo Hao Lo, costume design by Keri Fitch, lighting design by Christian Mejia, sound design by James Ard, prop design by Chris Daroca, wig design by David Carver-Ford, and stage management by Toni Lynn Guidry.
New Conservatory Theatre Center has been San Francisco’s premier LGBTQIA and Allied performing arts institution and progressive arts education conservatory since 1981. NCTC is renowned for its diverse range of innovative, high-quality productions, touring productions and shows for young audiences; its foundational anti-bullying work with youth and educators through YouthAware; and its commitment to developing new plays to continue expanding the canon of Queer and Allied dramatic work.
Ed Decker Barbara Hodgen ARTISTIC DIRECTOR EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
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It’s Only a Play FACT SHEET
WHO: By Terrence McNally Directed by Arturo Catricala Featuring Chris Morrell (Peter Austin), Melissa Keith (Julia Budder), Geoffrey Colton (Ira Drew), Kevin Singer (Frank Finger), Michaela Greeley (Virginia Noyes), P.A. Cooley (James Wicker), and Nicholas Decker (Gus P. Head).
Scenic design by Kuo Hao Lo Costume design by Keri Fitch Lighting design by Christian Mejia Sound design by James Ard Prop design by Chris Daroca Stage management by Toni Lynn Guidry
WHAT: Regional premiere of It’s Only a Play
WHERE: New Conservatory Theatre Center Decker Theatre, 25 Van Ness Ave @ Market St, San Francisco, CA 94102
WHEN: March 2 – April 1, 2018 Wednesdays – Saturdays at 8pm, Sundays at 2pm Opening Night: Saturday, March 10, 2018 at 8pm
Special Engagements: During the run of the show, audiences can enjoy many special events: Master Class with Martha T. Lipton (the failed actress), free pre-show improv class/party hosted by local "semi-professional theatre actress" (and drama teacher!) Martha T. Lipton – perfect for for performers and non-performers alike! o Fridays in March at 7:15pm: March 2, 9, 16, 23, 30 Onstage Insight, Post-Show Discussion after the following performances: o Sunday, March 18 at 2pm– Panel discussion featuring the cast, moderated by the play’s director. Low-cost Previews: Friday, March 2 – March 9. Opening Night will take place on Saturday, March 10 at 8pm. The performance will be followed by a reception catered by 17-18 Season Restaurant Sponsor, Mina’s Brazilian.
COST: $25-50
TICKETS AND BOX OFFICE: 415-861-8972, [email protected]
Ed Decker Barbara Hodgen ARTISTIC DIRECTOR EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR