The Summer of Their Discontent TheatreWorks New Milford Opens the Searing Tennessee Williams Drama, “Suddenly Last Summer” on July 11

NEW MILFORD, CONN. (June 24, 2008) – TheatreWorks New Milford is proud to present its 50th anniversary production of the riveting drama SUDDENLY LAST SUMMER, by renowned American playwright Tennessee Williams. The play opens Friday, July 11, at 8 p.m., for a four-week run.

SUDDENLY LAST SUMMER centers on the events of the previous summer, when Sebastian Venable replaced his Mother, Violet, with young, sensual cousin Catharine as his traveling companion. It was on Catharine’s watch that Sebastian died and she cannot forget how — and why — it happened. In a fierce attempt to keep the light of truth from exposing a mother’s illusions and losing her son yet again, Violet has summoned a young neurosurgeon to erase Catharine’s memory of what may well have been the unspeakable truth of last summer.

“Despite the fact that this is one of Williams’ shorter plays, it is equally as layered and emotionally intense as his others,” said Joseph Russo of New Milford, the play’s director. “One quickly becomes involved with a story that has continued to leave audiences shocked and contemplating its startling truth; its themes have only grown more haunting with time.”

SUDDENLY LAST SUMMER features some of the region’s finest actors: Noel Desiato (Sherman), Jeremiah Maestas (New York City), Keilly Gillen McQuail (Newtown), Katherine Almquist (Sharon), Robbin Christiani (Branford), David Hutchison (Shelton), and KC Ross (Thomaston).

“The appeal of SUDDENLY LAST SUMMER lies not only in the brilliance of Williams’ storytelling, but in the sensational quality of the performances,” said Richard Pettibone, the show’s producer and President of TheatreWorks. “The actors play these deeply intricate and fascinating characters with tremendous conviction. In addition, fans of Noel Desiato, who recently delivered a tour de force performance as Katharine Hepburn in TEA AT FIVE, will be pleased to see her brilliantly take on the role of Violet Venable.”

The show’s technical credits include set design by Joseph Russo, costume design by Mr. Russo and Bill Hughes, lighting design by Mr. Pettibone, and stage management by Jill Fay of New Milford.

SUDDENLY LAST SUMMER first premiered at the York Theatre in New York City on January 7, 1958. THE NEW YORK POST called the play “A haunting spell that is virtually hypnotic in its compelling power.” In 1959, SUDDENLY LAST SUMMER was adapted into a critically-acclaimed movie, starring Katharine Hepburn, Elizabeth Taylor, and Montgomery Clift.

SUDDENLY LAST SUMMER runs July 11,12 18,19 25, 26, 27 and August 1,2. Curtain time is 8:00 p.m. Fridays & Saturdays, with a 2:00 p.m. Sunday matinee on July 27. Tickets for all shows are $20.00 for reserved seating.

On Thursday, July 10, senior citizens are invited to a free dress rehearsal at 8:00 p.m. Thursday, July 17 at 8:00 p.m. is TheatreWorks’ Pay-What-You-Want night. At this performance you name the price for your ticket.

Reservations can be made online at WWW.THEATREWORKS.US or by calling the box office at (860) 350-6863.

TheatreWorks is an award-winning, regional theatre company located on 5 Brookside Avenue, just off Route 202 (next to the CVS), in New Milford, CT.