STC's STRANGE INTERLUDE by Eugene O'Neill Closes Tonight, 4/29

Continuing its 25th Anniversary Season, the Shakespeare Theatre Company presents Eugene O'Neill's Pulitzer Prize-winning play, Strange Interlude. Directed by STC Artistic Director Michael Kahn, Strange Interlude runs at the Company's Sidney Harman Hall (610 F Street NW) through tonight, April 29, 2012.

About the show: "Strange Interlude, one of O’Neill’s earlier plays, is a drama about love and deception. Heartbroken over her adored fiancé’s death, Nina engages in a series of sordid affairs before marrying a man she does not love. Months later, pregnant with her husband’s child, she learns a horrifying secret about his family, setting off a dramatic and emotional chain of events that spans two decades. Strange Interlude was hailed as revolutionary, shocked 1928 audiences—and became a smash hit."

Kahn considers Eugene O’Neill to be the greatest and most challenging American playwright, having directed five of his plays including Mourning Becomes Electra for STC. Kahn has wanted to direct Strange Interlude for many years and was granted permission from the O’Neill estate to edit the script and revive the piece on stage. “I didn’t start to edit the script until I knew the play completely; it was a fascinating experience,” says Kahn. “Oftentimes, Strange Interlude gets ignored because of the size and complexity of the piece, I’m thankful that the O’Neill estate has provided me the opportunity to explore this brilliant play. This is a story of the most salient points of a woman’s life that explores the illusory nature of happiness and the American dream. It also is wildly visionary as it confronts many of the most vital issues in a woman’s life as it spans over two decades.”

Strange Interlude will be produced in conjunction with The Eugene O'Neill Festival, which will provide an examination of the life and work of playwright Eugene O’Neill. Along with Strange Interlude, STC will host two weeks of O’Neill festivities as part of its free Happenings at the Harman series. In partnership with STC and Arena Stage, local universities have been working with the writings of Eugene O’Neill and will present their works-in-process in the Forum in Sidney Harman Hall April 4 and April 11 at noon. Students from The George Washington University will present their writings the first week, and students from Georgetown University will present the following week.

To reserve tickets or for more information, please call the box office at 202.547.1122, or visit ShakespeareTheatre.org.

STRANGE INTERLUDE CAST

Francesca Faridany returns to STC to perform the role of Nina. Faridany was last seen on STC’s stage as Rosalind in As You Like It and also appeared as Donna Elvira in Don Juan. She has many Broadway credits including her most recent performance in Man and Boy, as well as The 39 Steps and The Homecoming. Her Off-Broadway credits include The New York Idea at Atlantic Theater Company, Uncle Jack at Worth Street Theatre and Orlando at Classic Stage Company. Some of her many regional credits include performances at Long Wharf Theatre, the Old Globe Theatre, La Jolla Playhouse, Berkeley Repertory Theatre, the Alabama Shakespeare Festival and the Marin Theatre Company. On television, she appeared in E.R., Deadline and Law & Order. Faridany also adapted and played the title role in Fräulein Else at McCarter Theatre Center, Berkeley Repertory and LaJolla Playhouse.

Performing the role of Mrs. Evans is STC Affiliated Artist Tana Hicken. Last seen on STC’s stage in Ion, Hicken has also performed in Richard III, The Comedy of Errors, Lorenzaccio, The Winter’s Tale, King Lear, Richard II and King John. Her regional appearances include The Studio Theatre’s The Road to Mecca and The History Boys, Arena Stage’s Long Day’s Journey into Night, The Wild Duck, Ghosts and Old Times, the Berkshire Theatre Festival, Center Stage, Cincinnati Playhouse, Denver Center Theatre, Everyman Theatre, Goodman Theatre, Guthrie Theater and many others. She is the recipient of two Helen Hayes Awards and has been nominated for 20. Hicken received an MFA from the Yale School of Drama.

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