"Mystery of Irma Vep"
At Lyric Stage
November 28 - December 21

Just in time for the holidays, Lyric Stage will present Charles Ludlam's madcap comedy, "The Mystery of Irma Vep." Directed by Spiro Veloudos, performances run November 28 - December 21.

In this Obie Award-winning, high-camp tribute to Gothic horror films and Victorian melodrama, a werewolf, a vampire, an Egyptian princess, and a cursed estate come together on one “dark and stormy night.”

Lyric favorites Neil A. Casey ("November," "This Wonderful Life," "The Underpants") and John Kuntz ("Fully Committed") portray eight characters in a quick-change marathon and gender-bending “tour-defarce.”

"Vep" was originally produced off-Broadway by Ludlam's Ridiculous Theatrical Company in 1984. (A revival was presented in New York in 1998.) A writer, director and teacher, Ludlam was renowned for quirky plays that were perfectly described by the name of his theatrical company. "Vep" ranks as his most popular and most produced play.

Neil A. Casey returns to The Lyric Stage Company after appearing in "November," "This Wonderful Life," "The Underpants," "Noises Off," "It’s All True," "When Pigs Fly," "Glengarry Glen Ross," and "Assassins." Other area credits include "A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum" (Boston Theatre Works), "Take Me Out" (Boston Theatre Works/SpeakEasy Stage Company), "Love’s Labour’s Lost" (Huntington Theatre Company), "The Violet Hour," and "The Dazzle" (Stoneham Theatre). Mr. Casey is a company member of "Shear Madness."

John Kuntz returns to The Lyric Stage Company after appearing in "Fully Committed," "Never the Sinner – The Leopold and Loeb Story," "The Comedy of Errors," and "The Baltimore Waltz." His other Boston credits include "The Communist Dracula Pageant," "Copenhagen" (American Repertory Theatre), "After School Special," "Mr. Marmalade" (Company One), "The SantaLand Diaries," "The Pillowman," "Waiting for Godot," "Scapin," "True West" (New Repertory Theatre), "How I Got That Story" (Nora Theatre Company), "Betty's Summer Vacation" (The Huntington Theatre Company), "Henry V," "Twelfth Night," and "Hamlet" (Commonwealth Shakespeare). His regional productions include "The Tempest," "King John," "Titus Andronicus," "The Winter’s Tale," "Measure for Measure," "Twelfth Night," "All’s Well That Ends Well," and "Richard III" (Actors Shakespeare Project). Broadway/Off-Broadway credits include "The Bad Seed" (Ohio Theatre), "Jump/Rope" (Urban Stages), "Starfuckers" (Ohio Theatre/Fringe Theatre), and "Freaks!" (Solo Arts Group).

Spiro Veloudos celebrated his 10th Anniversary Season last year as Lyric's Producing Artistic Director. During his tenure, the theater has received numerous awards and honors including Elliot Norton Awards for Outstanding Production ("Miss Witherspoon," "The Old Settler"), and Outstanding Musical Production ("Sunday in the Park with George"); Independent Reviewers of New England (IRNE) Awards for Outstanding Production ("The Old Settler," "Glengarry Glen Ross"), and Outstanding Musical Production ("Urinetown: The Musical," "A Little Night Music," "Sunday...George"). He received StageSource’s Theatre Hero Award (2002) and was named Best Artistic Director by Boston Magazine in 1999.

For tickets and information, stop by the box office at 140 Clarendon Street, call 617-585-5678 or visit www.lyricstage.com.

-- OnStage Boston

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