Pioneer Theatre Company

The title refers to the period of time during a crisis when it’s still possible for someone to make a difference. Fresh from Broadway, The Vertical Hour is the story of Nadia Blye, a beautiful war correspondent who has seen too much bloodshed in the Middle East. When she travels to Britain to meet her prospective father-in-law, she realizes that she is on a journey of self-discovery – a “vertical hour” of her own.

Playwright David Hare is considered one of England’s most important playwrights. Nominated for an Academy Award for his screenplay The Hours, in The Vertical Hour Hare takes on the complicated issues that confront the world today – from both American and British perspectives.

The charismatic young war correspondent Nadia Blye is played by Equity actress Caris Vujcec. Off-Broadway, Ms. Vujcec has appeared in Homeland Security at The Culture Project, as well as at such prestigious companies as The Lark Theatre Company, Classic Stage Company, the New York Fringe Festival, and the Columbia University Play Festival. Her film and television credits include Law & Order, the Academy Award nominated short film Speed for Thespians, and the upcoming film P.S., I Love You.

Dennis Parlato plays Oliver Lucas, Nadia’s prospective father-in-law, an eminent British physician with passionate political convictions of his own. Mr. Parlato has appeared on Broadway in several roles including Mr. Von Trapp in The Sound of Music, Lawrence in Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, and John the Baptist in Salome with Al Pacino. He also has several film and television credits, including Tom DiCillo’s Johnny Suede. He was recently seen as Ben Rumson in Paint Your Wagon here at Pioneer Theatre Company.

Equity Actor Antony Hagopian plays the part of Philip Lucas, Nadia’s British fiancé. Mr. Hagopian was recently seen on Broadway in the extremely successful Frost/Nixon. His other New York credits include Walking Down Broadway for the Mint Theater. Regionally, he has been seen at the Cincinnati Playhouse, Alabama Shakespeare Festival, and the Shakespeare Theatre in Washington, D.C. He was seen at PTC last season as Mr. Darcy in Pride and Prejudice.

AEA member Will Rogers plays Dennis Dutton, a student who encounters Nadia on her journey. Mr. Rogers has been seen Off-Broadway in 100 Saints You Should Know for Playwrights Horizons, and in Nicky Goes Goth at the NY Fringe Festival.

Local actress Anita Holland portrays Terri Scholes, another of Nadia’s students. Now making her Pioneer Theatre Company debut, Ms. Holland is a 2007 graduate of the University of Utah’s Actor Training Program. She has appeared at the Babcock Theatre in such plays as Angels in America: Perestroika and Urinetown. She has also appeared at the Salt Lake Acting Company.

Pioneer Theatre Company Artistic Director Charles Morey directs the production. Mr. Morey has directed more than seventy productions for Pioneer Theatre Company, including Paint Your Wagon, The Ladies Man, Chicago, Pride and Prejudice, Humble Boy, and Les Misérables. Regionally he has directed for the Alabama Shakespeare Festival, Asolo Theatre Company, Repertory Theatre of St. Louis, Meadow Brook Theatre, American Stage Festival, PCPA Theaterfest and the Utah Shakespearean Festival. Mr. Morey is also a successful playwright, whose works have gone on to successful productions in theatres across the country.

Set design is by Gary English. Mr. English, a graduate of Northwestern University, has designed scenery and costumes regularly for Off-Broadway, television and many major repertory theaters throughout the country. Also a successful Stage Director, he returns to PTC after designing last season’s The Ladies Man.

Costume Designer Pamela Scofield makes her Pioneer Theatre Company debut. Her designs include I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change and Almost Maine Off-Broadway, and the National Tour of Cinderella with Eartha Kitt. She also designed the costumes for Mr. Morey’s production of Laughing Stock at the Asolo Theatre Company.

Lighting Design is by Jeff Hill. Mr. Hill has worked as Resident Lighting Designer for companies all over the country, including the Peterborough Players, Actors Theatre of Louisville, and StageWest in Springfield, Mass. He most recently designed lighting for PTC’s 2007 production of The Ladies Man.

Sound design is by PTC resident sound designer Joe Payne. Mr. Payne is in his eighth season as Resident Sound Designer for Pioneer Theatre Company. He has designed sound and/or composed music for more than 100 productions in theatres throughout the country.

Hair and make-up designer Amanda French, PTC resident designer, has worked for theatres all over the west. She is a contributing writer in the ninth edition of Stage Makeup by Richard Corson and James Glavan and is a featured artist in The Costume Technician’s Handbook by Rosemary Ingham and Liz Covey.

The show contains strong language.

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MEDIA PHOTO SHOOT: There will be a media photo shoot on December 31, 2007, at 6:00 p.m. at Simmons Pioneer Memorial Theatre, 300 S. 1400 E., SLC. Please RSVP at (801) 581-7222.

PHOTOS AVAILABLE TO DOWNLOAD: High-resolution color photos of this production will be available for media use on the PTC website beginning Wed., January 2, 2008 after 3:00 p.m. Go directly to http://www.pioneertheatre.org/pressroom/index.html

TV CAMERA FILMING: Filming a short segment of the production during Preview or Opening Night for press use can be arranged. Call 581-6270.

INTERVIEWS: Interviews with the cast and artistic staff are available. Call 581-7222.

PRESS TOURS: Tours of the set for the press are available. Call 581-7222.

WHO:              Pioneer Theatre Company

WHAT:           The Vertical Hour

WHEN:           January 11 - January 26, 2008

TIMES:           Mondays - Thursdays, 7:30 p.m.

                        Fridays and Saturdays, 8:00 p.m.

                        Saturday matinees, 2:00 p.m.

WHERE:         Simmons Pioneer Memorial Theatre

                        300 South 1400 East, Salt Lake City

PRICE:           $21 - $39; Children are half price on Mondays and Tuesdays

MORE INFO: Box Office (801) 581-6961. The Box Office is open 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Monday - Friday, and Saturdays when there are performances

CAST:

Oliver Lucas................................................................ Dennis Parlato*

Nadia Blye.................................................................. Caris Vujcec*

Dennis Dutton.............................................................. Will Rogers*

Philip Lucas................................................................. Antony Hagopian*

Terri Scholes............................................................... Anita Holland

ARTISTIC TEAM:

Director....................................................................... Charles Morey

Set Designer................................................................ Gary English

Costume Designer....................................................... Pamela Scofield

Lighting Designer......................................................... Jeff Hill

Sound Designer........................................................... Joe Payne

Wig and Make-up Designer......................................... Amanda French

* Denotes member of Actors’ Equity Association.

Banner picture is PTC's 2006 production of You Can't Take It With You. Max Robinson, Michael Lluberes, Brenda Sue Cowley.