Tony-nominated drama THE RETREAT FROM MOSCOW

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACTS:
Eric Brockman, Public Relations Manager, Victoria Theatre Association, (937) 228-7591, ext. 3078
Steven Box, Marketing Director, The Human Race Theatre Company, 937-461-3823, ext. 3112

TONY-NOMINATED DRAMA ABOUT LOVE AND LOSS
COMES TO THE LOFT THEATRE, MARCH 24 – APRIL 10

(Dayton, OH) – March 10, 2005 – Love can sometimes be a battleground, as Alice and Edward discover when their 33-year marriage unravels in William Nicholson’s The Retreat from Moscow. Victoria Theatre Association and The Human Race Theatre Company present this Tony^®-nominated play, March 24 – April 10, as part of the Humana Loft Series 1.

Edward is a mild and distant history teacher, obsessed with his daily crossword puzzle and historical accounts of Napoleon’s disastrous campaign against Moscow. His only wish is that his wife, Alice, would stop pestering him so he can concentrate on these passions. Alice wants a “real” marriage, but her increasingly desperate attempts to draw Edward back into their relationship only causes him to retreat farther away from her.

This critically acclaimed and powerful drama chronicles the emotional tug-of-war that ensues when Edward finally reaches the breaking point and announces he is leaving Alice after 33 years of marriage. Caught in the middle of this upheaval is their grown son, Jamie, who returns home for a visit as the events unfold. Forced into the role of intermediary, Jamie discovers that, although his parents are flawed, there is something still to be learned - and loved - in their failure.

William Nicholson’s writing credits include television, novels, screenplays and stage plays. His first stage play, Shadowlands, was produced on Broadway in 1990, receiving a Tony^® nomination for Best Play and winning a Tony^® for Best Actor. Other plays by Nicholson include Map of the Heart and Katherine Howard. His screenplay credits include First Knight and Gladiator, for which he received an Academy Award nomination. Novels by Nicholson include The Wind Singer and The Society of Others.

The Retreat from Moscow made its Broadway debut in October 2003, garnering Tony^® nominations for Best Play, Best Actress and Best Featured Actor. The New Yorker called the play, “Brilliant!… subtle and powerful, moving and chilling, riveting and shocking”, while New York Magazine said it was, “A finely perceptive, eloquently tender and exquisite new play.” The Journal News proclaimed, “This is a play about feelings, a play without gimmicks or axes to grind… A play that could easily have lapsed into cliché becomes instead an extraordinary look into the human heart.”

The Humana Loft Series 1 production features Human Race Resident Artist Scott Stoney as Edward, Kate Young as Alice and Mark Boyett as Jamie.

Scott Stoney was seen at The Loft last season in the musical Convenience and also appeared in the The Odd Couple at the Victoria Theatre. He recently adapted and directed The Human Race’s In-School tour of Animal Farm, appeared in the world premiere of Was at The Loft and (in his mind) conducted the Dayton Philharmonic Orchestra in Every Good Boy Deserves Favour at the Schuster Center. He will appear in the musical Green Gables at the Victoria Theatre this spring.

Kate Young has toured widely, traveling to Ireland in Major Barbara and appearing with leading regional theatres, including Chicago Shakespeare, Milwaukee Shakespeare, Light Opera Works, Northlight, Pittsburgh Public Theatre, Pittsburgh Irish and Classical Theatre and Great Lakes Theatre Festival. She has appeared at Carnegie Hall, the Smithsonian and Wolf Trap, and starred in the title role of Honegger’s Joan of Arc at the Stake with the Cleveland Orchestra and other major symphony orchestras and for international broadcasts. Her film and television work includes Houseguest, Roommates, Diabolique, Citizen Cohn and What She Doesn’t Know.

Mark Boyett recently created the role of Dr. Beauregard in Alexander Woo’s farce Debunked at Triad Stage. New York appearances include the Off-Broadway production of Old Wicked Songs. Regionally, he has performed at Pittsburgh Public Theatre, Syracuse Stage, Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park (Old Wicked Songs), St. Louis Repertory Theatre, Denver Center Theatre, Triad Stage, American Repertory Theatre, Indiana Repertory Theatre and Dallas Theatre Center.

The Retreat from Moscow is directed by Margarett Perry, who recently directed the critically acclaimed Off-Broadway production, Brian Dykstra: Cornered & Alone. Perry is the Producing Director of Access Theater where she has directed world premieres of That Damn Dysktra (the boxed set), 3 0'Clock in Brooklyn and STRANGERHORSE, as well as the New York premiere of Forsaking All Others. Perry is also an Artistic Fellow at The Lark Play Development Center and has taught acting, directing and voice at Holy Cross and Bard Colleges. She has also produced and directed numerous industrials, including productions for Reebok, Rollerblade, Tommy Hilfiger and Snapple.

The design team includes David Centers, scenic designer; Mary Beth McLaughlin, costume designer; John Rensel, lighting designer; and Sean Michael Flowers, music composer.

The Retreat from Moscow is on stage at The Loft Theatre, March 24 – April 10. The Loft Theatre is located on the third floor of the Metropolitan Arts Center in downtown Dayton, next door to the Victoria Theatre. Performance times are Tuesday through Saturday evenings at 8:00 p.m.*, Sunday matinees at 2:00 p.m. and Sunday evenings at 7:00 p.m. Immediately following the Sunday, April 3 matinee, The Human Race will hold its “While We’re on the Subject” post-show discussion.

Tickets for The Retreat from Moscow are $29 each, with discounts available for senior citizens, students and groups. Tickets are on sale now via Ticket Center Stage, with box office locations at the Victoria Theatre and Schuster Center in downtown Dayton. To order tickets by phone, call (937) 228-3630 or toll free (888) 228-3630. Ticket Center Stage hours are Monday-Friday, 10:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. and Saturday, noon - 4:00 p.m. The Loft Theatre box office opens two hours prior to each performance. Tickets may also be purchased online at www.ticketcenterstage.com.

Media Sponsor for the Humana Loft Series is WYSO Public Radio/91.3FM. The Official Host for the Humana Loft Series is DoubleTree Hotel.

For more information about Victoria Theatre Association and the Humana Loft Series 1, visit www.victoriatheatre.com. To learn more about The Human Race Theatre Company and the entire Humana Loft Series, visit www.humanracetheatre.org.

*The Saturday, April 2 performance may be sign interpreted and/or audio described upon request with two weeks advance notice to Ticket Center Stage at 937-228-3630.

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Victoria Theatre Association is one of Dayton’s premier arts organizations, presenting a variety of life-celebrating performances. In addition to the immensely popular Fifth Third Bank Broadway Series, Victoria Theatre Association offers the Bank One Young at Heart Family Series; the Michelob Ultra Cool Films series; Star Attractions; and the Discovery series, curriculum-enhanced live theatre productions for school children. Victoria Theatre Association is proud of its alliances with the Dayton Opera Association and the Arts Center Foundation and its collaboration on the Humana Loft Series 1 with The Human Race Theatre Company. Victoria Theatre Association receives funding from a variety of diverse public, corporate, individual and private sources, including the Montgomery County Arts and Cultural District and the Ohio Arts Council. The Ohio Arts Council helped fund this program or organization with state tax dollars to encourage economic growth, educational excellence and cultural enrichment for all Ohioans.

Founded in 1986, The Human Race Theatre Company moved to the Metropolitan Arts Center in 1991, taking up residence at the 219-seat Loft Theatre. In addition to the Humana Loft Series 1, produced in collaboration with Victoria Theatre Association, The Human Race produces the Humana Loft Series 2, the Musical Theatre Workshop series, and special event programming. The Human Race, under the direction of Artistic Director Marsha Hanna and Executive Director Kevin Moore, also maintains education outreach programs for children six to 16, guest artist and artist residencies in area schools, The Muse Machine In-School Tour, Youth Summer Stock, and The Human Race Conservatory. Human Race organizational support is provided by the Ohio Arts Council, Culture Works, Montgomery County Arts and Cultural District and the Shubert Foundation.