Rep Stage Opens 19th Season with Liz Duffy Adams' Hit Comedy "Or"

Rep Stage, the professional Equity theatre in residence at Howard Community College (HCC), opens its 19th season with Liz Duffy Adams' farcical comedy "Or,". The free love of the '60s - the 1660s - is riotously explored in this recent Off-Broadway sleeper hit based on real-life playwright Aphra Behn's life as an undercover spy and her romantic romps through Restoration England in order to gain entry into the boys' playwriting club. Michael Stebbins, Rep Stage's producing artistic director, who directed last season's critically acclaimed "Two by J.M.Barrie: The New Word and The Old Lady Shows Her Medals," returns to direct this regional premiere. Jason Odell Williams ("Two by J.M. Barrie..."), Christine Demuth ("Two by J.M. Barrie..." and "The Glass Menagerie") and Broadway alum Charlotte Cohn star.

Christopher Isherwood, in his New York Times review of "Or," wrote, "Luminaries of 17th-century England are resurrected...in "Or," a playful, funny and inventive comedy by Liz Duffy Adams...her language has a natural period flavor and a formidable wit; her characters possess the spark of fully animated spirits; and she weaves into her story both biographical detail and cultural context with grace."

"'Or,' is a perfect way to kick off Rep Stage's 2011-12 season, in that it is a celebration of all things theatrical," says Michael Stebbins, Rep Stage's producing artistic director and the director of "Or,". "'Or,' is a bow to Restoration theatre and history. Liz Duffy Adams brings Aphra Behn and Nell Gwyn, two female artistic trailblazers of their day, back to life and back to the theatre - front and center - where they belong. 'Or,' also gives the audience the opportunity to meet the 'merry monarch,' King Charles II, who was responsible for reopening theatres in London during the Restoration. At a time when the Great Plague and the Great Fire of London wreaked havoc on the city, Aphra, Nell and Charles II lifted the psyche and spirit of the people in a time of need. Theatre provided then what it continues to provide today: an escape from the difficulties of the day by way of the play."

"Or," opens August 31 and runs through September 18, 2011 in the Studio Theatre of the Horowitz Visual and Performing Arts Center (HVPA) on the campus of HCC.

A post-show reception follows the Saturday, September 3rd evening performance and free post-show discussions follow the September 9 and 16 performances.

A pre-show lecture, moderated by Rep Stage's dramaturge Dr. Lisa A. Wilde will complement "Or," before the September 17 matinee beginning at 12:30 p.m. in Monteabaro Hall. The lecture is free and open to the public. For more information on post-show discussions and the pre-show lecture, visit www.repstage.org.