Merrimack Rep Welcomes
"Flings & Eros"
By The Flying Karamazov Brothers

Music, dance, laughter and juggling combine at Merrimack Repertory Theatre in the World Premiere of "Flings & Eros," a new vaudevillian romp by the internationally renowned Flying Karamazov Brothers. Directed by Paul Magid, performances run September 10 - October 4. Merrimack Rep is located at 50 E. Merrimack Street in Lowell, adjacent to Lowell Memorial Auditorium.

This new show takes audiences backstage with the Flying Karamazov Brothers as they rehearse scenes from their reinterpretation of Shakespeare’s "Romeo and Juliet." With the four Karamazovs playing all the parts, audiences will experience a "Romeo and Juliet" like nothing they’ve ever seen before, complete with original music, combat juggling and frantic dancing.

Of course, nothing during their rehearsal goes quite as expected, and the Brothers take time in between scenes to muse on their own loves, both past and present. The youngest Karamazov Brother, Zossima, has a new girlfriend whose mysterious past is revealed as the K’s work their way through The Bard’s classic scenes.

The Obie Award-winning Flying Karamazov Brothers were founded in 1973 in California, taking their names from characters in Fyodor Dostoevsky’s The Brothers Karamazov. Over the past 35 years, the group has performed on Broadway, off-Broadway, and in theaters across the United States, Canada, Europe and Asia. Their adaptation of Shakespeare’s "The Comedy of Errors" was aired on PBS’s "Live from Lincoln Center." Additionally, the group appeared in the Michael Douglas film "The Jewel of the Nile" and was featured on an episode of "Seinfeld."

Merrimack Repertory Theatre and The Flying Karamazov Brothers began conversations about creating this new theatrical piece in February of 2008. After the development of the initial concept, the Brothers spent July completing the script and developing the new juggling routines and skills that will be premiered in September. The troupe will spend a week rehearsing in New Hampshire before their residency begins in Lowell.

Paul Magid is a founding member of the Flying Karamazov Brothers and the last original member still performing with the group.

Mark Ettinger joined the group in 1998, bringing his skills as a juggler, singer, songwriter and instrumentalist. He received his Masters in Composition and Conducting from Mannes College of Music.

Rod Kimball is the group’s master juggler, and has been performing and teaching juggling since 1991. A native of New England, Kimball grew up in northern Maine and got his start as a juggler in Portland.

Stephen Bent is the youngest of the brothers and the newest addition to the group, having joined in the summer of 2008. Legend has it that his parents’ first date was a Flying Karamazov Brothers show at the Oscar Mayer Theatre in Madison, Wisconsin, in 1982. He attended his first show at the age of 13, and since then has yearned to join the group to which he owes his very existence.

Special Evenings:

Pay What You Will Night
September 10 at 7:30 p.m.
Purchase tickets in cash at the Box Office between 4:30 and 7:30 p.m. and you can name your ticket price. There will also be a Director’s Dialogue following the performance with the director and designers fielding questions and describing how the play was staged.

Lowell Night
September 12 at 8 p.m.
Lowell residents may purchase tickets for $10 at the box office from 5 - 8 p.m. Proper ID required.

Opening Night
September at 7 p.m.
Join Merrimack Rep’s staff and cast in raising a glass of champagne to celebrate the opening of the show.

Cookie Matinee
September 16 at 2 p.m.
Enjoy complimentary cookies and coffee in the lobby before the show, courtesy of Brew’d Awakening Coffeehaus.

Post Show Forum
September 17, 24 & Oct 1 (every Thursday) at 7:30 p.m.
Enjoy this unique opportunity to learn the inside scoop and chat with the actors following the performance.

Merrimack's season also includes:

October 15 – November 8
"The Seafarer" by Conor McPherson

November 19 – December 13
"Heroes by Gerald Sibleyras, adapted by Tom Stoppard

January 7 – January 31, 2010
"Fabuloso," A Play by John Kolvenbach

February 11 – March 7, 2010
"Black Pearl Sings! by Frank Higgins

March 18 – April 11, 2010
World Premiere Comedy by Richard Dresser

April 22 – May 16, 2010
"The Blonde, the Brunette and the Vengeful Redhead" by Robert Hewett

For information and tickets, stop by the box office, call 978-654-4678 or visit www.merrimackrep.org.

-- OnStage Boston