Festival Stage of Winston-Salem Opens Third Season 10/19

Festival Stage of Winston-Salem will open its third season with Alfred Uhry's warmhearted comedy The Last Night of Ballyhoo, presented Oct. 19-Nov. 4 at Hanesbrands Theatre (209 Spruce Street, Winston-Salem).

The professional resident theatre company's production is directed by Ann Marie Costa, currently professor of theatre at Davidson College. Costa has directed professionally at The Blowing Rock Stage Company, Actor's Theatre of Charlotte, The Charlotte Repertory Theatre, Mill Mountain Theatre and Victory Gardens (Chicago).

The Last Night of Ballyhoo takes place in Atlanta, Ga., in December of 1939, where the members of the extended Freitag family prepare for Ballyhoo, the social event of the season. While the conflict in Europe looms and Gone With the Wind holds its world premiere, this family of eccentrics grapple with discrimination and acceptance, past and present.

"I am certain this is the perfect season opening for Festival Stage, not only because of the play's universal themes but because of its Southern charm," said Costa. "When I first read the play, I was immediately drawn to these endearing characters. Most of them are eccentric, humorous, loveable Southern folks (in fact, you may see strong similarities to an aunt, uncle, cousin or even your mother). They will have you laughing and crying simultaneously."

Steve Umberger, Festival Stage's resident director, said, "We are very, very excited about beginning our third season in Winston-Salem, and about producing one of the best American plays of recent decades."

Uhry first developed Ballyhoo as part of the 1996 Atlanta Olympic Games, and it premiered on Broadway in 1997 where it won the Tony Award for Best Play and was nominated for the Pulitzer Prize. Its original cast included Dana Ivey, Paul Rudd and Salem College alumna Celia Weston, who was also nominated for a Tony Award.

Uhry had previously won a Pultizer Prize for Drama for his 1988 play Driving Miss Daisy and an Academy Award for the screenplay of its film adaptation. He is the only writer to have earned an Oscar, a Tony Award and a Pulitzer Prize.

Festival Stage will also present several events to enhance the audience's understanding of the play's context:
Monday, Oct. 22, 6:30 p.m. – "Gone With the Wind" screening (Hanesbrands Theatre). Considered one of the best movies of all time, this 1939 classic still sweeps away audiences with its epic tale of romance and survival in the mythical South. Presented full length with intermission. $10.
Friday, Oct. 26 – Davidson College Alumni Night. Wine and cheese reception for area alumni following the 8 p.m. performance (must reserve tickets in advance).
Sunday, Oct. 28, 1 p.m. – Southern Jews, Jewish Southerners: A Comedy of Manners; talk by Leonard Rogoff (Hanesbrands Theatre). Rogoff is an historian of the Jewish Heritage Foundation of North Carolina and has written and lectured widely on the Jewish South. Free.

The final dress rehearsal takes place Friday, Oct. 19, at 7:30 p.m. and is open to the public; tickets are $12 for all seats. Preview performances are Oct. 20-21 and Oct. 24, with tickets $18 for Sections A and B, and $12 for Section C.

The opening night performance is Thursday, Oct. 25, at 7:30 p.m. Through Nov. 4, performances take place Wednesday through Sunday, Thursday matinees on Oct. 25 and Nov. 1. Performance times are: Wednesday and Thursday nights: 7:30 p.m.; Friday and Saturday nights: 8 p.m.; Thursday and Sunday matinees: 2 p.m.

Regular tickets range from $12 to $35 depending on the performance and section. The popular VIP Balcony section returns this season, offering two seats at a private table and one bottle of wine for $60. To purchase tickets, visit wwwhanesbrandstheatre.org or call 336-747-1414.

Festival Stage will also continue to sell season ticket packages through Oct. 31. Season tickets may be ordered from the Festival Stage sales office at 883-841-2273 or sales@festivalstage.org.

Following The Last Night of Ballyhoo¸ Festival Stage's third season continues with 33 Variations (Feb. 1-24), presented with Wake Forest University's Department of Theatre Studies, and concludes with Proof (May 10-26).