"The Last Days Of Mickey & Jean"
Gets World Premiere
At Merrimack Rep

"The Last Days of Mickey & Jean," a new play commissioned by Merrimack Repertory Theatre and written by Massachusetts-native Richard Dresser, will receive its world premiere at the theater from March 18 - April 11. Described as a retirement story with a twist, the production will be directed by MRT’s Artistic Director Charles Towers.

In this new comedy, Mickey is a witty, paranoid, fugitive ex-mobster from Southie, on the lam with Jean, his no-longer young, Charleston-native girlfriend. Forced into an early retirement in Europe, and with his Boston Red Sox cap never out of reach, he feels out of place and away from the one thing he truly loves: his work.

With Mickey searching for a way to get back into business and Jean longing for the “normal" life back in Boston, the dysfunctional duo discoveres shocking secrets about each other. "The Last Days of Mickey & Jean" offers a funny perspective on unconventional love, unconditional loyalty and life after retirement.

The cast at Merrimack Rep features Jack Wetherall ( noted for his role as Vic in four seasons of the TV show "Queer as Folk") Rae C. Wright and Christopher McHale. Wetherall originated the role of Gene Tunney in MRT’s world premiere production of "Tunney/Shakespeare in Six Rounds."

Charles Towers commented, “This world premiere of 'The Last Days of Mickey & Jean' has been over a year in the making, from first conception through early drafts, readings and workshops. Merrimack Repertory Theatre has made a real commitment to playwright Richard Dresser over the years, and all of us have relished his distinctively comic voice.”

Merrimack Rep commissioned Dresser to create the play in the spring of 2009. With "The Last Days of Mickey & Jean," Merrimack Rep will have produced seven of Dresser’s plays, making him the most produced playwright in MRT history and one of the most produced contemporary playwrights in Eastern Massachusetts over the past decade.

Born and was raised in Massachusetts, Dresser previously worked as a freelance writer of corporate speeches and industrial films. After moving to New York City, he wrote his first play, "At Home," which premiered in April 1984. As of May 2009, he had published seventeen plays, including "Better Days," "The Downside" and "Below the Belt." Dresser also wrote the book for the Broadway musical "Good Vibrations" and the upcoming musical "Johnny Baseball," which will premiere at American Repertory Theatre in May.

For information and tickets, stop by the box office at 50 E. Merrimack Street in Lowell, call 978-654-4678 or visit www.merrimackrep.org.