THEATRE

The Salem Theatre Company will produce Tom Stoppard’s THE REAL THING for 15 performances from January 26 - February 18 at the STC Theater, 90 Lafayette Street in Salem, MA. The production is directed by STC Artistic Director John Fogle.

A two-time Tony Award winner, this intellectually and emotionally engaging backstage comedy portrays an articulate and romantically idealistic playwright, Henry, whose second wife, Annie, is trying to merge worthy causes with her art as an actress. She has met a "political prisoner" named Brodie, jailed for radical thuggery, who has written an inept play about how property is theft and how the state stifles the rights of the individual. Annie wants Henry to make Brodie’s play work theatrically, which he does after much soul searching. While this hilariously transpires, Henry's concepts of love, marriage and fidelity are tested as surely as his writing skills.

The London Telegraph says "The Real Thing is a play that glows with love’s warmth and burns with love’s pain."

The production features Joseph O’Meara of Brookline, Sarah Carlin and Audrey Claire Johnson of Beverly, Mark O’Donald and Will Neely of Salem, Sebastian Konarski of Middleton, and Jenn Parkos of Newburyport. Designers include Ruth Neeman of Lexington (Set), Greg Mancusi-Ungaro of Marblehead (Lighting) and Toni Elliott of Arlington (Costumes).

Two “Name Your Own Ticket Price” preview performances will be offered on January 26 & 27 at 7:30 p.m. Opening night is set for Saturday, January 28 with performances running through February 18, Thursdays through Saturdays at 7:30 p.m. and Sundays at 3:00 p.m. at the Salem Theatre Company at 90 Lafayette Street, Salem. Tickets are available online at www.salemtheatre.com or can be reserved for pick up at the box office by calling 978-790-8546 or emailing info@salemtheatre.com. Online ticketing ends 24 hours in advance of each performance. Regular ticket prices are $22 for adults, $18 for seniors, and $12 for students.