Download Change to Looped Release

molly smith
artistic director
guy bergquist
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact:
Kirstin M. Franko/Laura Broom
[email protected]; (202) 554-9066 ext. 715
December 9, 2008
interim managing director
zelda fichandler
founding director
ARENA STAGE ANNOUNCES PRE-BROADWAY ENGAGEMENT OF
LOOPED STARRING VALERIE HARPER TO TAKE PLACE OF
SWEET BIRD OF YOUTH IN ARENA RESTAGED PART ONE SEASON
(Washington, D.C.) Arena Stage recently received news that an actor cast in
a leading role of the upcoming production of Sweet Bird of Youth is no
longer available. At the same time, Arena was presented with the
opportunity to produce a pre-Broadway comedy about an American icon
starring a four-time Emmy Award-winning actress. With the major artist no
longer available to perform in Sweet Bird of Youth, the theater has decided
to seize the limited-time opportunity to share Looped—starring Valerie
Harper (Rhoda in The Mary Tyler Moore Show) as Tallulah Bankhead—with its
audiences prior to the show’s Broadway engagement.
“Though we were disappointed not to be able to follow through with plans
for Sweet Bird of Youth, Arena always looks for the best productions in
American theater for our audiences, and we are incredibly excited to bring
Looped to Arena Stage immediately before its Broadway debut,” comments
Artistic Director Molly Smith.
Created by Matthew Lombardo, writer of the hit play Tea at Five, and
directed by Rob Ruggiero, director of Arena Stage’s Ella, Looped tells the
story of Tallulah Bankhead, the original celebrity bad girl, who is called into a
sound studio to "loop" one line of dialogue for what would be her last film.
Southern, but by no means a belle, Ms. Bankhead was known for her wild
partying that outshone even today's superstars.
Temporary office:
2001 Jefferson Davis
Highway, Suite 701
Arlington, VA 22202
Permanent home &
mailing address:
1101 Sixth Street, SW
The Los Angeles Times raves that in Looped “entertainment value is
guaranteed…Valerie Harper brings Tallulah Bankhead's outrageousness and
glamour to life,” and Hollywood Reporter writes, “Harper is a revelation in
Matthew Lombardo’s riveting new play!” Audiences will relish the
promiscuity, scandal and outrageous wit of this sultry-voiced stage and film
star.
The previously scheduled dates for Sweet Bird of Youth, May 29–June 28,
2009, at the Lincoln Theatre will be the same for Looped, and new tickets
will be issued to ticket holders. Patrons with questions regarding this change
may call the Arena Stage Sales Office at (202) 488-3300.
Washington, DC 20024
Looped is being produced by Tony Cacciotti and David Steiner in association
with Arena Stage.
T: 202 554 9066
– continued –
F: 202 488 4056
www.arenastage.org
Arena Stage Announces Looped Starring Valerie Harper
Page 2
VALERIE HARPER (Tallulah Bankhead) Four-time Emmy Award-winner Valerie Harper
achieved fame as Rhoda Morgenstern on The Mary Tyler Moore Show and the spin-off series
Rhoda. During her nine years as the character "Rhoda," she was the recipient of a Golden
Globe Award, Harvard University Hasty Pudding Woman of the Year Award, Hollywood
Women's Press Club "Golden Apple" Award and a Photoplay Gold Medal Award. In 2000,
Valerie reprised the role of Rhoda Morgenstern (along with Mary Tyler Moore as Mary
Richards) in the ABC television movie Mary and Rhoda, which attracted nearly 18 million
viewers. In 1987 she was seen as "Valerie Hogan" in the then-titled NBC series Valerie (later
The Hogan Family) and also starred in the 1990 CBS series City and in the 1994 CBS series
The Office. She has appeared as a special guest star on various television series. Throughout
her career, Valerie has continued to work in the theater. She performed with various
companies of Second City and Story Theatre in many venues all over the country and in
Canada. In 1970 she was a member of the original stage production of Story Theater in Los
Angeles at the Mark Taper Forum and opened with the show in New York when it moved to
Broadway. During the run at the Ambassador Theater, Paul Sills opened his second production:
Ovid's Metamorphoses (also to rave reviews) to run in repertory with Story Theater. Most
happily, Valerie was a part of this theatrical experience as well. In the mid-seventies, she played
Los Angeles' James Doolittle Theatre and later toured in Dear Liar with Anthony Zerbe (a play
composed of a lifetime of letters between George Bernard Shaw and the actress Mrs. Patrick
Campbell). In 1983 she toured Florida with Zev Bufman's production of Agnes of God playing
The Psychiatrist. In the mid-nineties Valerie starred in the New York production of Death
Defying Acts by Elaine May and Woody Allen. At this time, Valerie and her husband, Tony
Cacciotti, began developing a one-woman play based on the life and work of Pearl S. Buck, the
Nobel Prize-winning author of, among many works, The Good Earth. Valerie co-wrote and
performed the play All Under Heaven in New York (1999), in Los Angeles (2000) and across
the country. In 2001 Valerie was back on Broadway starring in Charles Busch's hilarious
comedy The Tale of the Allergist's Wife. She played "the Wife" (Marjorie Taub) for a year on
Broadway and then for another year in the National Tour. Having completed her cross-country
tour of Golda's Balcony, Valerie is continuing as Golda Meir for the film version of William
Gibson's play.
Under the leadership of Artistic Director Molly Smith, Washington, D.C.-based Arena Stage has
become the largest theater in the country dedicated to American plays and playwrights.
Founded in 1950 by Zelda Fichandler, Thomas Fichandler and Edward Mangum, Arena Stage
was one of the nation’s original resident theaters and has a distinguished record of leadership
and innovation in the field. With the opening of the new Mead Center for American Theater in
2010, Arena Stage will be a leading center for the production, development and study of
American theater. Now in its sixth decade, Arena Stage serves a diverse annual audience of
more than 200,000. For more information please visit www.arenastage.org.
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