Next up from The Huntington Theatre Company is David Lindsay-Abaire's Tony-nominated play, "Rabbit Hole." The heartbreaking story of a suburban couple facing tragedy mixes great humor with the hopefulness that speaks to the resiliency of the human spirit.

Acclaimed Broadway veteran John Tillinger ("Say Goodnight, Gracie," "Judgment at Nuremberg," "The Sunshine Boys," "Inherit the Wind") directs the production, which will be presented at the Boston University Theatre from November 3 - December 3.

Eight months after the death of their four-year-old son, Becca and Howie's marriage has begun to unravel. She is struggling to forget the pain, he is desperately holding onto his fading memories.  Other family members are complicating things, and a little-known astrophysical theory may be the key to putting life back on track.
 
"Rabbit Hole" ran on Broadway this past season, racking up three Tony Award nominations, including one for Best Play. In Boston, this production will be one of two Lindsay-Abaire shows on the boards; he also wrote the book of the new musical, "High Fidelity," now playing at the Colonial Theatre prior to its Broadway run. A South Boston native, Lindsay-Abaire also wrote the hit plays "Fuddy Meers" and "Kimberly Akimbo."

The cast of the Huntington's production of "Rabbit Hole" features, in alphabetical order:

Maureen Anderman as Nat, Becca's outspoken mother who can empathize with the loss of a child. Anderman starred in the Huntington production of "The Sisters Rosensweig" in 2005, and is a Tony-nominated actress.

Donna Bullock as Becca, a successful woman who tries to keep her life together despite the worst possible circumstances. Bullock received an Obie Award for her performance in Caryl Churchill's "Top Girls," appeared in the multi-nominated musical "A Class Act" and starred in the Broadway musicals "Ragtime" and "City of Angels."
 
Geneva Carr as Izzy, Becca's young and rambunctious little sister whose pregnancy adds tension to the household. Carr has appeared in "Betty's Summer Vacation" in New York, the national tour of "The Vagina Monologues," and in numerous television series including "Sex and the City."

Troy Deutsch as Jason, the teenager responsible for the young boy's death. Deutsch made his Broadway debut as the understudy for this role. A graduate of the University of Utah, his regional credits include work at the Guthrie Theatre, Chautauqua Theatre Company and Salt Lake Acting Company.

Jordan Lage as Howie, Becca's husband, who resists her attempts to take from view all signs of their son's short life. Lage was part of the 2005 Drama Desk Award-winning ensemble for "Glengarry Glen Ross" and was nominated for the 1998 production of "The Best Man."

Related Special Evenings:

Nov. 7 — SNEAK PREVIEW
Presentation by a member of the Huntington's artistic staff, featuring contextual background and production-related information, 6:30 p.m. at the theater. Free with ticket purchase.

Nov. 15 — OUT AND ABOUT CLUB
Members of the gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender communities will have the opportunity to mingle with staff, artists and each other. Pre-show reception at 6 p.m. Free with ticket purchase.
 
Nov. 16 — ACTORS FORUM
Participating members of the cast will appear after the 7:30 p.m. performance to answer audience questions. Free with ticket purchase.

Nov. 17 — ASL-INTERPRETED PERFORMANCE
This 8 p.m. performance is interpreted in American Sign Language. Email arota@huntingtontheatre.bu.edu or TTY 617-424-0694 for pricing and other information.
 
Nov. 18 — AUDIO-INTERPRETED PERFORMANCE
For audience members who are blind or have low-vision, the 2 p.m. performance is audio described using the latest in digital audio equipment. Email arota@huntingtontheatre.bu.edu or call 617-273-1558 for pricing and other information.

Nov. 19 — HUMANITIES FORUM
Humanities Forum is a lively discussion about the issues and ideas presented in the production. Following the 2 p.m. show. Free with ticket purchase.

Nov. 29 — ACTORS FORUM
Participating members of the cast will appear after the 2 p.m. performance to answer audience questions. Free with ticket purchase.

For tickets and information, stop by the box office at 264 Huntington Avenue in Boston, call 617-266-0800, or visit www.huntingtontheatre.org.

-- OnStage Boston

10/13/06