Kathleen Turner
WILL MAKE HER FORT LAUDERDALE STAGE DEBUT IN
"HIGH"
AT
THE PARKER PLAYHOUSE
ONE WEEK ONLY! FEBRUARY 29- MARCH 4, 2012
Written by Matthew Lombardo and Directed by Rob Ruggiero
"Kathleen Turner IS BRILLIANT!
IT IS BY FAR THE BEST THING SHE HAS EVER DONE!
HIGH IS AN ELECTRIFYING EXPERIENCE!
PROFOUNDLY SHATTERING
AND EMOTIONALLY DEVASTATING!"
--Rex Reed, New York Observer
Two-time Golden Globe® winner, Academy Award® & Tony Award® nominee Kathleen Turner will make her Fort Lauderdale stage debut in the National Tour of Matthew Lombardo's play HIGH, February 29-March 4, 2012 at The Parker Playhouse. Directed by Rob Ruggiero, HIGH also features Evan Jonigkeit as "Cody Randall" and Timothy Altmeyer as "Father Michael Delpapp".
HIGH had its World Premiere in Hartford, Connecticut at TheatreWorks where it broke all box office records, becoming the highest grossing play in that theatre's 25 year history. The production then went on to play Cincinnati's Playhouse in the Park and The Repertory Theatre of Saint Louis, again ranking amongst the top 5 most popular plays in those venues. HIGH was also presented on Broadway last season, where Ms. Turner was nominated for a Drama League Award for Distinguished Performance and Mr. Jonigkeit was nominated for an Outer Critics Circle Award for Outstanding Featured Actor in a Play.
Ms. Turner has played South Florida twice before but never Fort Lauderdale. She previously starred in the one-woman play Tallulah! at the Coconut Grove Playhouse and the Royal Poinciana Playhouse in West Palm Beach. Her notable Broadway credits include Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf, The Graduate, Indiscretions, Cat on A Hot Tin Roof and originating the role of "Sister Jamison Connelly" in HIGH.
Playwright Lombardo and Director Ruggiero are also no strangers to South Florida audiences, having collaborated on the West Palm hit comedy Looped starring Valerie Harper at The Cuillo Center for the Arts. Ruggiero also directed Tina Fabrique in Ella at Florida Stage while Lombardo's Tea at Five starring Tony Award Nominee Tovah Feldshuh played The Parker Playhouse in 2008.
Lombardo, who makes his part-time home in Fort Lauderdale, said in a statement: "I am thrilled and so honored to be bringing my third play to South Florida. Audiences have been so supportive of my work down here. Fort Lauderdale is so alive with theatre and culture -- it has become such a very special place to me, both personally and professionally."
HIGH is produced by Ann Cady Scott & Timothy J. Hampton in association with The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis. The design team includes David Gallo (sets), Jess Goldstein (costumes) John Lasiter (lighting) and Vincent Olivieri (sound & original music).
Performances are Wednesday, February 29 at 8PM (post-performance discussion with creative team), Thursday, March 1 at 8PM (Lambda South Benefit), Friday March 2 at 8pm, Saturday March 3 at 2pm and 8pm and Sunday March 4 at 2pm and 7pm. Ticket prices range from $35.00-$55.00. Tickets are available online at www.parkerplayhouse.com, by phone at (954) 462-0222 or at the Parker Playhouse Auto Nation Box Office, 707 NE 8th Street, Fort Lauderdale. Box Office Hours: Tuesday -Saturday from 12pm - 5pm
ABOUT "HIGH"
When Sister Jamison Connelly (Turner) agrees to sponsor a 19 year-old drug user in an effort to help him combat his addiction, her own faith is ultimately tested. Struggling between the knowledge she possesses as a rehabilitation counselor and a woman of religious conviction, she begins to question her belief in miracles and whether people can find the courage to change. HIGH explores the universal themes of truth, forgiveness, redemption and human fallibility.
