Andrea Martin Stars In
Tennessee Williams'"The Rose Tattoo"

The Huntington Theatre Company will close its 2003-04 Season with the American classic, Tennessee Williams’ “The Rose Tattoo,” directed by Nicholas Martin. Tony and Emmy Award-winning actress Andrea Martin (“My Big Fat Greek Wedding”) will perform the role of Serafina. Ms. Martin was last seen with the Huntington in “Betty’s Summer Vacation,” also directed by Mr. Martin, for which she won an Elliot Norton Award for Best Actress. Performance dates are May 14 – June 13 at the Boston University Theatre.

In the play Tennessee Williams often referred to as his “love play to the world,” passion is reignited for a Sicilian seamstress whose love, grief and anger know no bounds. Serafina retreats to the safe haven of memories after the death of her husband. But when these memories are shattered by a horrible truth, the widow finds comfort in a truck driver who reminds her of her lost love. Living in a small immigrant town on the coast, Serafina struggles to come to terms with her own awakening desire, as well as that of her 15-year-old daughter whom she can no longer shelter from the perils of love.

Director Nicholas Martin comments, “In ‘The Rose Tattoo,’ Williams demonstrates his gift for understanding the human condition. He never loses sight of what makes Serafina so like the rest of us. Even at her lowest point, she can laugh at herself. Laughter is the most overlooked aspect of Williams’ writing. He is able to construct a complete personality by giving his characters such vivid senses of humor. In doing so, he achieves the most sought-after theatrical triumvirate: plays that seamlessly weave together laughter, poetry, and danger.”

Tennessee Williams is regarded as one of America’s greatest playwrights. He wrote fiction, poetry, and motion picture screenplays, but is acclaimed primarily for his plays—nearly all of which are set in the South, but which at their best rise above regionalism to explore universal themes. Winner of two Pulitzer Prizes, multiple Drama Critics Circle and Donaldson Awards, and the National Institute of Arts and Letters Gold Medal for Drama, he received a Tony Award for “The Rose Tattoo,” and nominations for “Cat on a Hot Tin Roof,” “The Night of the Iguana” and “Not About Nightingales.” His other works include “The Glass Menagerie,” “A Streetcar Named Desire,” “Suddenly Last Summer” and “Camino Real.”

Andrea Martin ’s Broadway and Off Broadway credits include “Oklahoma!;” “The Exonerated” (Bleecker Theatre); “My Favorite Year” (Tony, Drama Desk, Outer Critics Circle, Theatre World Awards); “Nude Nude Totally Nude” (Drama Desk nomination); “The Vagina Monologues;” “Out of This World” (Encores!); and “The Merry Wives of Windsor” (NYSF). Her regional credits include “The Royal Family” and “The Matchmaker” (Williamstown Theatre Festival); “Lips Together, Teeth Apart” (Mark Taper Forum); and “Private Lives.” In addition to the film and television versions of “My Big Fat Greek Wedding,” her film and television credits include “Hedwig and the Angry Inch,” “Wag the Dog,” “Anastasia,” “Bogus,” “Stepping Out,” “Innerspace,” “Club Paradise,” “My Big Fat Greek Life,” “Crossing Jordan,” “Ed,” “Damon,” “The Simpsons,” “SCTV,” “Andrea Martin, Together Again,” “Prince Charming” and “Gypsy.”

Rounding out the cast are Diego Arciniegas, Tina Benko, Nancy Carroll, Timothy Crowe, Dara Fisher, Dominic Fumusa, Melinda Lopez, Cheryl McMahon, Colleen Quinlan, Bobbie Steinbach, and Greta Storace; and Boston University students Courtney Abbiati, Chris Frontiero, Rachel Rusch, and Ryan Sypek.

“The Rose Tattoo” will also include the following Club Nights.

Designed for theatergoers aged 35 and under and for theatergoers in the gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender community, these evenings provide an opportunity to mingle with fellow theatergoers and the artistic team or cast at a pre-or post-show reception (complimentary with purchase of tickets).

NIGHT CLUB
Sponsored by The Boston Phoenix
For theatergoers 35 and under
Thursday, May 20
7:30 P.M. performance, with a post-show reception

OUT & ABOUT CLUB
Sponsored by Bay Windows
For the gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgendered community
Wednesday, May 26
7:30 P.M. performance, with a pre-show reception

THEATRE 101
Learn more about theatre – both what’s on stage and what’s happening behind the scenes – with this new interactive program.
Begins at 6 P.M., Tuesday, June 8.

POST-PLAY AUDIENCE DISCUSSION
Converse with your peers about the play you have just seen. This program gives everyone a chance to listen and be heard by fellow theatergoers.
Sunday, June 6, following the 7 P.M. show.

SNEAK PREVIEW
See a presentation by a member of the Huntington’s artistic staff, featuring contextual background, as well as production-related information.
Tuesday, May 18 and Thursday, June 3, 6:30 to 7 P.M. in the theatre.

HUMANITIES FORUMS
There will be a Humanities Forum on Sunday, May 30, following the 2 P.M. matinee. Humanities Forums are free and open to the public.

ACTORS FORUMS
The cast from “The Rose Tattoo” will reappear on stage after the show to participate in an open dialogue with the audience.
The Actors Forums will be held on Thursday, May 27, following the 7:30 P.M. performance, and on Wednesday, June 9, following the 2 P.M. matinee.

For tickets or information, call the Huntington Box Office at 617-266-0800 or log onto www.huntingtontheatre.org.

-- OnStage Boston

4/10/04

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