February 12 – March 1, 2015
by Sarah Ruhl
Springs Ensemble Theatre begins our sixth season with Sarah Ruhl’s Dead Man’s Cell Phone, a serio-comedy about connecting in a landscape of over-connectedness.
An incessantly ringing cell phone in a quiet café. A stranger at the next table who has had enough. The owner of the cell phone doesn’t answer because, as the title suggests, he is dead. Jean, however, does pick up, and when she discovers that the cell phone owner has passed away, she takes ownership of his phone in order to keep him alive in a strange, yet significant way. Wanting to bring closure and a sense of fulfillment to his family, friends, associates, and mistress, Jean creates confabulations about the man’s last moments, and subsequently opens herself up to experience life directly instead of vicariously. Whimsical, wistful, and absurd, Dead Man’s Cell Phone explores the paradox of modern technology’s ability to both unite and isolate people in the digital age. Winner of the 2007 Helen Hayes Award for Outstanding Play, Dead Man’s Cell Phone first premiered off Broadway in 2008 featuring Mary Louise Parker (Weeds, Angels in America) as Jean. SET is thrilled to be kicking off Season Six with this play from one of America’s most exciting theatrical voices!
SET’s production is directed by Sarah S. Shaver and features performances by SET members Jenny Maloney, Karl Brevik, Erin King, June Scott Barfield, and Micah Spiers with guest artists Jane Fromme, Sue Bachman, and Warren Epstein.
Cast and Production Team
Cast
JEAN: Jenny Maloney
GORDON: Warren Epstein
MRS. GOTTLIEB: Sue Bachman
DWIGHT: Karl Brevik
HERMIA: Jane Fromme
OTHER WOMAN/STRANGER: Erin King
Featured Dancers: June Scott Barfield and Micah Speirs
Production Team
Executive Producer & Director: Sarah S. Shaver
Co-Producers: Matt Radcliffe, Emory John Collinson
Stage Manager: Gabriel Espinoza-Lira
Props Master: Karl Brevik
Costume Design: Heather Clark
Lighting Designer: Brianna G. Pilon
Sound Design: Jon Margheim
Set Design: June Scott Barfield
Choreographers: June Scott Barfield and Micah Speirs
Fight Choreographer: Max Ferguson
Poster Design: Linda Nichols
Trailer Design: Steve Emily and Jessica Weaver
