January 25–February 18, 2007
The Muckle Man
Buy tickets online, call 412.431.CITY (2489), or visit the Box Office at 1300 Bingham Street.
The Muckle Man will surface on City Theatre’s 272-seat mainstage from January 25–February 18, 2007. Directed by Tracy Brigden, City Theatre’s production is the world premiere of the play’s new, revised version. The Muckle Man was written by Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa, described by Variety as representing a new breed of young playwright. In addition to his work for the stage, Aguirre-Sacasa writes the monthly adventures of The Sensational Spider-Man for Marvel Comics, and for Warner Brothers, he is developing his play Dark Matters into a horror screenplay. Since graduating from the Yale School of Drama in 2003, Aguirre-Sacasa has received an Excellence in Playwriting Award from New York’s International Fringe Festival for his play Say You Love Satan, and a GLADD media award nomination.
The Muckle Man is the first of City Theatre’s New American Trio, an innovative series of three new plays plus a constellation of activities being produced at City Theatre this season. Sponsored by Eden Hall Foundation, The Pittsburgh Foundation, and Pittsburgh City Paper, the events surrounding the New American Trio are designed to give City Theatre’s audience a hand in the creation of new works for the stage and a behind-the-scenes look into the new play process. Aguirre-Sacasa will be in residence at City Theatre during rehearsals of The Muckle Man in January. On Friday, January 26 at 6:30 pm, he will give the pre-show talk “Stageplays and Superheros.”
The Muckle Man is set around the deep waters of isolated Conception Bay in Newfoundland, where marine biologist Addison Clarke has come to search for Architeuthis, the elusive giant squid, intent on solving its mysteries. On dry land, Clarke’s wife, Marina, chases a mystery of her own when she rescues a naked stranger who emerges from the ocean. As the natural world is thrown off balance, what surfaces is a mystical tale of the sea and its secrets. Currents of pop culture, contemporary science, and ancient folklore run through this chilling edge-of-your seat thriller.
The company of City Theatre’s production of The Muckle Man includes James Lloyd Reynolds as Addison Clarke, Robin Walsh as his wife Marina, Joe Bender and C.J. Ketchum as their sons Harvey and Malcolm, Tami Dixon as Marina's sister Dora, Brett Mack as Addison's assistant Gilbert Messenger, and Nathan Blew as Arthur Campbell.
The design team is Tony Ferrieri (Scenic), Andrew David Ostrowski (lighting), Angela M. Vesco (Costumes), and Jorge Cousineau (Sound).
About the Playwright
Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa, 34, was born in Washington, DC and raised in both the United States
and Nicaragua. Aguirre-Sacasa is the recipient of fellowships from the Organization of American
States, the Hispanic Foundation for the Arts, the Eugene O’Neill Scholarship, and the
ASCAP Cole Porter Award. His work The Mystery Plays received the Roger L. Stevens
Award from the Kennedy Center Fund for New American Plays and was presented in England as
part of the Old Vic/New Voices series. The world premiere of The Mystery Plays, a
co-production between Second Stage Theatre and Yale Repertory Theatre, won the Connecticut
Critics’ Award for Outstanding Play/Production.
In 2006 Aguirre-Sacasa has had three new plays produced: The Velvet Sky premiered at Woolly Mammoth; Based on a Totally True Story premiered at Manhattan Theatre Club; and Dark Matters premiered at Rattlestick Playwrights Theatre. In 2007, his play Rough Magic will be produced by the Rorschach Theatre in Washington, D.C. He is currently at work on a commission for Second Stage about missing backpackers in Nicaragua and a commission for Arena Stage called The Cloud Club.
Preview Week Performance Schedule
Thurs. & Fri. Jan. 25 & 26 at 8 pm
Sat. Jan. 27 at 5:30 pm
Sun. Jan. 28 & Tues. Jan. 30 at 7 pm
Press/Opening Night is Weds., Jan. 31 at 8 pm.
Regular Run Schedule
Tuesdays at 7 pm
Wednesdays thru Fridays at 8 pm
Saturdays at 5:30 & 9 pm
Sundays at 2 pm
In addition, there will be a 1 pm matinee on Wed., Feb. 14.
Tickets
$15 to $45
Students and age 25 and younger can reserve $15 tickets in advance.
Senior rush (age 60 and older) begins at the Box Office two hours before showtime.
Run Time - 2 hours (includes one 15-minute intermission).
Buy tickets online, call 412.431.CITY (2489) or visit the Box Office at 1300 Bingham Street on the South Side.
SPECIAL EVENTS for The Muckle Man
New American Trio Event
"Stageplays and Superheroes," Friday, January 26. 6:30 pm. Q&A with Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa, author of The Muckle Man and writer of Marvel Comics' The Sensational Spider-Man. Talk is free and open to the public.
Fanboys@City
Most of us have an obsession with some element of pop culture. You can indulge your inner geek when City Theatre presents Fanboys @ City on three Tuesdays before the 7 pm performance of The Muckle Man, by Marvel Comics writer Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa. Beginning at 5:30 pm on Jan. 30, Feb. 6 & 13, City Theatre’s Gordon Lounge will host vendors from Eide’s Entertainment, New Dimension Comics, and Phantom of the Attic. Each shop promises some amazing comic book specials. You can also test your skills in the Great American Pop Culture Quiz and see a special preview of Sim Ops Studio’s newest game, “Thermal Enforcer” (in collaboration with Mine Safety Appliances). Drinks and snacks will be available for sale. Fanboys@City is free to all ticket holders on these evenings. Call 412.431.CITY for reservations.
City Specials
Friday, February 9. Post-show music in City Theatre's Gordon Lounge featuring The Science Fiction Idols. Free and open to the public.
Sunday, February 11. Post matinee Text & Context talk. Free and open to the public.