[NEohioPAL] Emmy-nominated Paul Anthony Stewart Stars in Crime and Punishment

Thu Feb 5 11:20:07 PST 2009

MEDIA RELEASE

For photos, interviews, etc. contact:

Lisa Craig, Public Relations Manager 

(216) 795-7000 x236 

lcraig at clevelandplayhouse.com

STAGE AND EMMY-NOMINATED TV ACTOR PAUL ANTHONY STEWART LEADS 

CLEVELAND PLAY HOUSE PRODUCTION OF CRIME AND PUNISHMENT

I Am My Own Wife Director Anders Cato Returns to Play House with Gripping
Adaptation

February 27 - March 22, 2009

Opening Night / Media Night: March 4, 2009

Cleveland, OH (February 5, 2009) - Emmy-nominated Paul Anthony Stewart stars
as Raskolnikov in a gripping 90-minute adaptation of Dostoevsky's Crime and
Punishment at The Cleveland Play House. In addition to numerous New York and
regional theatre roles, Stewart, who was nominated for his recurring role on
"Guiding Light," recently appeared on Broadway in the revivals of Fiddler on
the Roof and Cyrano - The Musical. Performed with only three actors, the
adaptation of Crime and Punishment by Marilyn Campbell and Cut Columbus is
being helmed by the acclaimed director of the 2005 Play House production of
I Am My Own Wife, Anders Cato. Crime and Punishment begins in the Drury
Theatre at The Cleveland Play House on Friday, February 27 and runs through
Sunday, March 22, 2009.  Tickets are on sale now at The Cleveland Play House
box office by calling 216.795.7000 ext 4 or online at
www.clevelandplayhouse.com. Crime and Punishment is presented in promotional
partnership with National City and Baker & Hostetler. 

"A truly inspired and innovative piece of play-making that turns a great
novel into a theatrical tour de force," declares Cleveland Play House
Artistic Director Michael Bloom. "After his remarkable work on our
production of I Am My Own Wife, I'm confident Anders Cato will bring an
incisive theatricality to one of the singular stories of western
literature."

ABOUT THE PLAY and PLAYWRIGHTS

Before "Law and Order," there was Crime and Punishment, a startlingly
complex examination of man's capacity for cruelty and the redemptive power
of goodness. In this electrifying 90-minute adaptation of Fyodor
Dostoevsky's masterpiece audiences enter the tortured world of Raskolnikov,
one of the most fascinating figures in all of literature. What has he done?
Why has he done it? And of what are any of us capable? These haunting
questions are intricately woven into a stark, bracing and stunningly
theatrical production that takes the audience on a heart-racing journey into
the mind of a criminal. A thrilling psychological drama, Dostoevsky's
timeless classic receives a swift and intense dramatization in which just
three actors portray the novel's key characters. 

The New York Times calls this adaptation "remarkably absorbing. Crime and
Punishment, in a feat that rivals the construction of the Hoover Dam, has
been distilled into a taut 90-minute play by Marilyn Campbell and Curt
Columbus [that] will banish any bad memories you might have of trying to
struggle through Dostoevsky's book." The play's premiere earned Chicago's
prestigious Joseph Jefferson Award for Best New Adaptation and was acclaimed
by the Chicago Sun-Times as "stunningly lean, taut, and emotionally
searing."

One of the world's most influential authors, Fyodor Dostoevsky is also known
for The Brothers Karamazov, The Idiot, and Notes from the Underground. He
was so popular in his native Russia that he was hailed as a prophet and a
mystic in the 19th century. According to Virginia Woolf, "The novels of
Dostoevsky are seething whirlpools, gyrating sandstorms, waterspouts which
hiss and boil and suck us in. They are composed purely and wholly of the
stuff of the soul. Against our wills we are drawn in, whirled round,
blinded, suffocated, and at the same time filled with a giddy rapture. Out
of Shakespeare there is no more exciting reading."

CRIME AND PUNISHMENT Cast:

PATRICK HUSTED (Porfiry) played Dr. Bob in the off Broadway premiere of Bill
W. and Dr. Bob, about the two men who founded Alcoholics Anonymous during
the Great Depression. Also in New York City he played Dr. Kelekian in the
Pulitzer Prize winning play Wit, and worked with Arthur Miller on his remake
of The American Clock. His regional theater credits of over 150 productions
across the country include the central character in Arthur Miller's last
play Resurrection Blues. Film credits include Tim Robbins' Cradle Will Rock
with Bill Murray, Blow with Ray Liota, and Neil Jordan's film The Brave One
with Jody Foster. He has guest starred in numerous episodic television
shows, most recently in January on "Law and Order," and the television movie
For One More Day with Michael Imperioli of "Sopranos" fame and Ellen
Burstyn.

LETHIA NALL (Sonia) was last seen in Macbeth at Stonington Opera House. She
recently originated the character of Hope in "Stuck," a pilot for Abderian
Productions and portrayed a WWII French prostitute turned spy in Jumping
Blind, Gayfest, New York City. Off Broadway credits include As You Like It,
The Public Theater and Come to Leave, The Women's Project. New York City
favorite projects include singing with The Howard Fishman Quartet in We are
Destroyed, Joe's Pub/The Public Theater; Tom Stoppard's Indian Ink, Alter
Ego; The Eliots, Centerstage; Dutchman, American Theatre of Actors; Michael
John Garces' Last Call, world premiere, Prospect Theater; Pulling the Lever,
New York Innovative Theatre Award, Rising Circle; The Taming of The Shrew,
Nevada Shakespeare in the Park; Antarctica, Samuel French Play Festival;
Pleaching the Coffin Sisters, Ensemble Studio Theatre. Television credits
are "Rescue Me," "Law & Order," "All My Children," and "Nick at Nite."  

PAUL ANTHONY STEWART (Raskolnikov) appeared on Broadway as Perchik in the
recent revival of Fiddler on the Roof and Christian in Cyrano - The Musical.
Other New York credits include She Can't Believe She Said That, The Man Who
Would Be King, City Of Dreams, Playing With Fire, Until Day Breaks, Rivalry
of Dolls, and White Water. Favorite regional credits include Changes Of
Heart, Mark Taper Forum; Quills, Geffen Playhouse; the Los Angeles premiere
of Michael John LaChiusa's Hello Again; Pera Palas, Long Wharf Theatre; The
Game of Love and Chance, Huntington Theatre; How It Was Done in Odessa,
Walnut Street Theatre; and the American premiere of Stephen Schwartz's
Children of Eden, Mill Mountain Theatre. Television appearances include
"Guiding Light," Emmy Nomination; "Damages," "Law & Order," "Dream On," "The
Hunger," The Inheritance (Hallmark Movie), "First Time Out," and "Loving."
Films include The Appearance of Things, Somewhere in the City, Duty Dating,
and Shadows and Fog.

CRIME AND PUNISHMENT Creative Team:

ANDERS CATO (Director) is excited to return to The Cleveland Play House
where he directed the 2005-2006 season production of I Am My Own Wife,
starring Mark Nelson. The production was later presented at Coconut Grove
Playhouse in Miami and George Street Playhouse in New Jersey. Mr. Cato
recently directed Shaw's Mrs. Warren's Profession at the Alley Theatre and
Conor McPherson's The Seafarer at George Street Playhouse. Other directing
credits include War, and Craig Lucas's adaptation of Miss Julie at
Rattlestick Playwrights Theater in New York; Texts for Nothing at The Royal
Court Theatre in London and the Magic Theater in San Francisco; When the
World Was Green at American Repertory Theater and Moscow Art Theatre; Blood
Orange at Cherry Lane Theatre; A Dream Play at Westbeth Theatre; The War in
Heaven at La Jolla Playhouse; All My Sons, Tango Palace, and In Berlin at 7
Stages; Doubt and Souvenir at George Street Playhouse; and Gross Indecency
and Dirty Blonde at Theatre in the Square. At Berkshire Theatre Festival he
directed Texts for Nothing (with Joseph Chaikin), Miss Julie, Talley's
Folly, Heartbreak House, The Misanthrope, The Father, American Buffalo, The
Night of the Iguana, Via Dolorosa, Love! Valour! Compassion!, Mrs. Warren's
Profession, Candida, and Waiting for Godot.

MARILYN CAMPBELL (co-Adaptor) is a published playwright and award winning
actress; she is also producer, co-founder, and artistic associate of
Writers' Theatre. Her co-adaptation with Curt Columbus of Crime and
Punishment won Chicago's 2003 Joseph Jefferson Award, Best New Adaptation
and was subsequently published by Dramatic Publishing. Since its publication
Crime and Punishment has enjoyed numerous productions across the country
including the following: Arden Theatre Company; Round House Theatre; Orlando
Shakespeare Festival where it won Top Pick at the 2005 Harriett Lake
Festival of New Plays; Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park; 59E59th Street
Theatre in New York City; and in 2009, Berkeley Repertory Theatre, Indiana
Rep, and Intiman Theatre among others. Ms. Campbell's other full length
plays include the award winning My Own Stranger, a co-adaptation based on
the writings of Pulitzer Prize winning poet Anne Sexton; The Beats, based on
the writings of the 1950's beat poets (which starred David Cromer as Allen
Ginsberg); and The Gospel According to Mark Twain, a co-adaptation based on
the later writings of Mark Twain, which premiered at the Edinburgh Festival,
Scotland. Ms. Campbell is currently writing a new play, commissioned by
Writers' Theatre and based on Mary Shelley's Frankenstein, titled The
Monster's Lullaby. She is also co-authoring and performing in an original
comedic work with her daughter Maria Merrin entitled Mixing It Up. 

CURT COLUMBUS (co-Adaptor) joined Trinity Rep as artistic director in
January, 2006. He directed his own translation of Cherry Orchard for
Trinity, as well as productions of The Receptionist, A Christmas Carol,
Memory House, and Blithe Spirit. Last season saw the premiere of his play
with music Paris by Night and Trinity's 2008-2009 season opened with his
re-imagining of Sophocles' Antigone entitled The House of Antigone. Mr.
Columbus was associate artistic director of Steppenwolf Theatre Company from
2000-2005, where world premieres of his translations of Cherry Orchard and
Uncle Vanya were presented. Other Steppenwolf credits include translating
Maria Arndt and directing The House of Lily, Division Street: America, and
Our Town. He was also artistic director of Chicago Park District's Theatre
on the Lake and an artistic associate at Victory Gardens Theatre from
1990-2006. His adaptation with Marilyn Campbell of Crime and Punishment,
first presented by Writers' Theatre, earned a Joseph Jefferson Award, Best
New Adaptation. His play The Dreams of Antigone, written with the Trinity
Rep resident acting company, will be published by Broadway Play Publishing.
His translations of Anton Chekhov's plays have been published by Ivan R.
Dee, including a volume of translations called Chekhov: The Four Major
Plays. From that collection, Seagull premiered at Writers' Theatre and Three
Sisters, honored with a Joseph Jefferson Citation, premiered at Strawdog
Theatre.

The design team for Crime and Punishment includes Lee Savage (Scenic
Designer), Olivera Gajic (Costume Design), Jeff Davis (Lighting Designer),
James C. Swonger (Sound Design), and Jesse Freedman (Assistant Director).
The Cleveland Play House's Production Staff is responsible for the sets,
costumes, lighting, props, furniture, scenic painting, sound, special
effects and/or wigs used in this production.

Special Events

.        First Friday Tasting Series - Friday, February 27, 2009 - Mingle
with other theatre fans and enjoy drink tastings and complimentary hors
d'oeuvres starting at 6:30pm in our lobbies. Specially priced preview
tickets include this pre-show reception and admittance to the play.

.        Pre-show discussions - Join us 45 minutes before every performance
for a lively discussion with a member of the cast or creative team.

.        Playbacks - Wednesday, March 11 and Sunday, March 15, 2009 - Join
actors from the cast for these post-play discussions moderated by a member
of the artistic staff.  

.        Student Matinees occur at 10:30am on Friday, March 6 and Tuesday,
March 17, 2009. Tickets are $10 each, and teacher tickets are complimentary.
For details, call (216) 795-7000, ext. 149 or e-mail
StudentOutreach at clevelandplayhouse.com.

Ticket Information

Tickets for Crime and Punishment range from $42 to $64, with discounts
available for groups of ten or more, for senior citizens aged 60 and over,
and for military reservists and their families. Tickets are $10 for all
students under the age of 25. A limited number of $10 rush tickets go on
sale 90 minutes before curtain and remain on sale until 30 minutes before
curtain, based on availability. The Cleveland Play House is located at 85th
and Euclid Ave. next door to the Cleveland Clinic near University Circle. 

Founded in 1915, The Cleveland Play House is the first permanently
established professional theatre in the United States. More than 12 million
people have attended over 1,300 productions at The Play House - including
more than 130 American and/or World Premieres. Today, under the leadership
of Artistic Director Michael Bloom and Managing Director Kevin Moore, The
Cleveland Play House is an artist-driven theatre that serves the Greater
Cleveland community by holding true to its mission: To produce plays of the
highest professional standards that inspire, stimulate, and entertain our
diverse audiences, to conduct training and educational programs that enhance
the quality of life for those we serve and help to insure the future of
theatre.

The Cleveland Play House is funded through the generosity of Cuyahoga County
residents through Cuyahoga Arts and Culture and The Ohio Arts Council helps
to fund The Cleveland Play House with state tax dollars to encourage
economic growth, educational excellence and cultural enrichment for all
Ohioans.

# # #

FACT SHEET

What:                     Crime and Punishment by Marilyn Campbell & Curt
Columbus, based on the novel by Fyodor Dostoevsky

Where:                  Drury Theatre, The Cleveland Play House, 8500 Euclid
Avenue, Cleveland, Ohio

When:                   Preview Performances:                      Fri. Feb
27, Sat. Feb 28, Sun. Mar 1, Tue. Mar 3, 2009

                                Opening Night:
Wednesday, March 4, 2009

                                Final Performance:
Sunday, March 22, 2009

Who:                      Cast

Porfiry.....................................................................
....... Patrick Husted

Sonia.......................................................................
..... Lethia Nall

Raskolnikov.................................................................
Paul Anthony Stewart

Creative Team

Co-Adaptor:
Marilyn Campbell

Co-Adaptor:
Curt Columbus

Director:
Anders Cato

Assistant Director:
Jesse Freedman         

Scenic Designer:                                                        Lee
Savage

Costume Design:
Olivera Gajic

Lighting Design:
Jeff Davis

Resident Sound Designer:                                        James C.
Swonger

Times:                  Tuesday-Saturday Evenings
8:00 pm

Saturday Matinee                                                        3:00
pm

Sunday Matinee                                                          2:00
pm

Weekday Matinee                                                       1:30
pm, Thu, March 12, 2009

Early Curtain
7:00pm, Tue, March 17, 2009

Special Events

.         First Friday Tasting Series - Friday, February 27, 2009 - Mingle
with other theatre fans and enjoy drink tastings and complimentary hors
d'oeuvres starting at 6:30pm in our lobbies. Specially priced preview
tickets include this pre-show reception and admittance to the play.

.         Pre-show discussions - Join us 45 minutes before every performance
for a lively discussion with a member of the cast or creative team.

.         Playbacks - Wednesday, March 11 and Sunday, March 15, 2009 - Join
actors from the cast for these post-play discussions moderated by a member
of the artistic staff.  

.         Student Matinees occur at 10:30am on Friday, March 6 and Tuesday,
March 17, 2009. Tickets are $10 each, and teacher tickets are complimentary.
For details, call (216) 795-7000, ext. 149 or e-mail
StudentOutreach at clevelandplayhouse.com.

Prices:                  Regular ticket prices range from $42 to $64, with
discounts available for groups of ten or more, for senior citizens aged 60
and over, and for military reservists and their families. Tickets are $10
for all students under the age of 25. A limited number of $10 rush tickets
go on sale 90 minutes before curtain and remain on sale until 30 minutes
before curtain, based on availability.

For Single Tickets: Call (216) 795-7000, ext. 4, or visit
www.clevelandplayhouse.com <http://www.clevelandplayhouse.com/> 

Groups of 10 of more: Call Cosandra Wheeler, (216) 795-7000, ext. 180

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