Merrimack Rep Presents
"Red"
February 14 - March 10

2010 Tony Award-Winner for Best Play

The season at Merrimack Repertory Theatre in Lowell continues with Josh Logan's award-winning drama "Red," playing February 14 - March 10.

Set in the late 1950s, the two character piece takes a look at the world of Russian-born abstract expressionist Mark Rothko, who's received a commission to paint a series of murals for the Four Seasons restaurant in New York. Assisting the often tortured artist is a young protege, who soon finds himself in an emotional master class with a driven, opinionated and often temperamental employer.

Directed by Charles Towers, the production features Mark Zeisler as Rothko and Ryan Barry as his assistant, Ken. Zeisler returns to MRT after previously appearing in "A Picasso," "The Seafarer," "Tranced" and "The Homecoming." Barry will be making his MRT debut.

Towers commented, "There's a good reason that John Logan's 'Red' won the 2010 Tony Award for Best Play and then went on to become the most produced play in America. It's a terrific drama shot through with great humor. Even though the American painter Mark Rothko is one of two characters in the play, this is not a biography. The father-son relationship that develops between Rothko and his assistant Ken has all the power and muscle of generational conflict which makes for a riveting evening of theater."

For "Red," playwright John Logan received the Tony, Drama Desk, Outer Critics Circle and Drama League Awards. He is also the author of more than a dozen other plays including "Never the Sinner," "Hauptmann" and "Speaking in Tongues." His work as a screenwriter includes "Hugo," "Coriolanus," "Sweeney Todd," "The Aviator," "The Last Samurai," "Any Given Sunday" and "RKO 281." He also collaborated on the script for the latest James Bond film, "Skyfall."

Special Events at MRT

February 14 at 7:30 p.m. - $5 Night
Patrons may purchase tickets for $5, cash only, at the Box Office only, between 4:30 - 7:30 p.m. Limit 2 tickets per person. Following the performance, there will also be a Director's Dialogue, where the director and designers will field audience questions and describe how the play was staged.

February 17 at 7 p.m. - Opening Night
Audience members are invited to join MRT's staff and cast following the performance in raising a glass of champagne to celebrate the opening of the production.

February 20 at 2 p.m. - Cookie Matinee
Patrons are invited to enjoy complimentary cookies and coffee in the lobby before the performance, courtesy of Brew'd Awakening Coffeehaus.

February 20 at 7:30 p.m. - Lowell Night
Lowell residents may purchase tickets for $10 at the box office from 4:30 - 7:30 p.m. Proper ID is required, with a limit of 2 tickets per person.

February 21, 28, and March 7 at 7:30 p.m. - Post Show Discussions
Audience members are invited to stay after the performance to learn more about the production and chat with the actors.

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