The Year of Magical Thinking

Presented by Main Street Theater at Main Street Theater - Rice Village

January 22-February 13, 2011

Event Rating (0 votes)

Joan Didion’s dramatic adaptation of her best-selling memoir, The Year of Magical Thinking, unfolds, in her words, “with the nonsequential inexorability of a dream.” The stream of consciousness delivery of this hugely personal and powerful one-woman show demands a tour de force performance from actor Claire Hart-Palumbo.

With previews January 22, 23, and 25, The Year...

expand to view more [+]

Joan Didion’s dramatic adaptation of her best-selling memoir, The Year of Magical Thinking, unfolds, in her words, “with the nonsequential inexorability of a dream.” The stream of consciousness delivery of this hugely personal and powerful one-woman show demands a tour de force performance from actor Claire Hart-Palumbo.

With previews January 22, 23, and 25, The Year of Magical Thinking opens January 27 and runs through February 13 at Main Street Theater – Rice Village, 2540 Times Blvd. Performances are on Thursdays at 7:30pm, Fridays and Saturdays at 8pm, and Sundays at 3pm.

About Joan Didion and The Year of Magical Thinking
The play is Didion’s own adaptation of her stunning memoir about the sudden death of her husband, John Gregory Dunne, and the prolonged illness of her only daughter. “Capturing the compassion, humor, and bewilderment of a fiercely intelligent woman whose world lurches suddenly from the ordinary to the unimaginable, The Year of Magical Thinking is a love letter to a child and a tribute to an extraordinary, unconventional marriage told with raw candor and a storyteller's gift for the absurd." (Playbill)

Joan Didion is best known for her novels, personal essays, and screenplays – as well as the powerful story of her grief she captured in The Year of Magical Thinking which she wrote in 88 days, finishing on New Year’s Eve, 2004. It won the National Book Award in 2005.

In 2007 she began writing the stage adaptation of The Year of Magical Thinking. Vanessa Redgrave played Didion in the Broadway production and was nominated for both a Tony and a Drama Desk Award.

Post-Show Discussion Series
Main Street is pleased to continue its Post-Show Discussion Series with The Year of Magical Thinking. Following the performance on Sunday, February 6, Dr. Susan Lieberman - author, Interfaith minister, thanatologist, and co-founder of Y Collaborative, helping prepare for end-of-life concerns - will lead a discussion on some of the themes and issues of the play with the audience, Ms. Hart-Palumbo, and director Rebecca Greene Udden.

About Claire Hart-Palumbo
At Main Street Theater Claire Hart-Palumbo has played Beatrice in Much Ado About Nothing, Lady Catherine in Pride and Prejudice, Philly in How to Say Goodbye, Ginny in It's Only a Play, Christine in De Donde, Belle Starr in Wilde West, Heidi in The Heidi Chronicles (1992), Martha in A Piece of My Heart, Olga in Chekhov in Yalta, Hannah in Arcadia (1996), Sara in Sisters Rosensweig, Mrs. Allen/Annette in Northanger Abbey, Lee in Chemistry of Change, Regina in Little Foxes, Margrethe in Copenhagen, Amy in But Not Goodbye.

She directed Herroner, Red Scare on Sunset, Pride and Prejudice (revival production), Uncle Vanya, Hayfever, Blithe Spirit, The Trust, The Countess, On Approval, Private Lives, Design for Living, Present Laughter.

Ms. Hart-Palumbo received her training from Sam Houston State, American Conservatory Theater, and the University of Texas, where she was a Morton-Brown Fellow. She has worked in Houston theater with the Alley Theatre, Main Street Theater, Stages Repertory Theatre, Texas Repertory Theater, Express Theater, New Heights Theater, Young Audiences, Bayou City Concert Musicals, Houston Shakespeare Festival, Houston Shaw Festival, the Group Theater, and Stage West.

She was recently seen on the small screen leading up to the election in Judge Ed Emmett’s political ad “Where’s the Judge?” This summer's new production of Blithe Spirit at MST will be the ninth Noël Coward production on which she has worked as either an actress or director.

About the Production
MST Executive Artistic Director Rebecca Green Udden directs. The design team includes Daniel Polk (lighting design), Shawn W. St. John (sound design), and Pamela Miltenberger (Properties Design). Lauren Smith is the production stage manager.

Tickets range from $26 - $40 (Previews are $10, and $5 Friday is January 28), depending on date and section, and are on sale in person at the Main Street Theater Box Office, 2540 Times Blvd., via phone at 713.524.6706, or online at MainStreetTheater.com.

Since 1975, Main Street Theater has produced high quality professional theater for audiences of all ages through its MainStage productions and Main Street Youth Theater. The Main Street Theater Kids On Stage program offers performing arts classes and camps for children 5 years to 14 years of age. The organization produces plays at two locations, 2540 Times Boulevard in Rice Village and 4617 Montrose Boulevard at Chelsea Market.

Main Street Theater is a member of the Fresh Arts Coalition, a collaboration of 25 arts organizations that work collectively to raise awareness of the size and diversity of the arts in Houston, and a constituent of Theatre Communications Group (TCG), the national service organization for not-for-profit theaters. Main Street Theater offers a lively year-round repertory of classic and contemporary plays for audiences of all ages and provides a much-needed showcase for Houston theater professionals. Main Street Theater is also a member of Actors’ Equity Association and of ASSITEJ, the world theatre network of theatre for children and young people. Main Street Theater is funded in part by grants from the City of Houston through the Houston Arts Alliance, and the Texas Commission on the Arts.

Pictured: Claire Hart-Palumbo. Photos by www.RicOrnelProductions.com).

collapse [-]

Main Street Theater - Rice Village

2540 Times Blvd.
Houston, TX 77005

Full map and directions

Tickets:

Tickets range from $26 - $40 (Previews are $10, and $5 Friday is January 28), depending on date and section, and are on sale in person at the Main Street Theater Box Office, 2540 Times Blvd., via phone at 713.524.6706, or online at MainStreetTheater.com.

Times:

Thursdays at 7:30pm
Fridays & Saturdays at 8:00pm
Sundays at 3:00pm

Previews:
January 22, 23, and 25

The Year of Magical Thinking opens January 27 and runs through February 13.

Post-Show Discussion Series
Main Street is pleased to continue its Post-Show Discussion Series with The Year of Magical Thinking. Following the performance on Sunday, February 6, Dr. Susan Lieberman - author, Interfaith minister, thanatologist, and co-founder of Y Collaborative, helping prepare for end-of-life concerns - will lead a discussion on some of the themes and issues of the play with the audience, Ms. Hart-Palumbo, and director Rebecca Greene Udden.

Phone: (713) 524-6706

Parking: Parking in the Village can be difficult, especially for Sunday Matinees. MST recommends that you arrive at least 20 minutes early to allow time to park and get to the theater. Remember, there is no late seating once the show starts.

Limited off street parking is available directly in front of the Rice Village Theater, and there is street parking all through out the village. Parallel parking can also be found on the east side of Kirby.

When the weather is nice, you might chose to park in the Village parking garage. The closest entrance can be found at Kelvin and Amherst, one block east and one block south of the Theater. There may be a nominal fee, but parking is free should you choose to dine at one of the Village Arcade eateries before the show.

We do ask that you be respectful of our neighbors and not park in any off street parking that is in front of open businesses. What's more, because of the nature of Village parking, many businesses will enforce towing.

The best way to beat the parking blues is to come early, find a convenient place near the theater and walk to a Village eatery for dinner or brunch!

From Southwest Houston (Sugar Land Area)
Take 59 North, pass the 610 Loop, and exit Kirby (just after The Compaq Center). Turn right onto Kirby. Cross Bissonnet and Sunset. When you reach Rice Blvd., go one more block to Times Blvd. (there's no traffic light). Turn left onto Times. MST is the third business on the left (next to Ovations).

From North Houston (The Woodlands/Downtown)
Take 45 South to 59 South and exit Kirby (if you see The Compaq Center, you've gone too far). Turn left onto Kirby. Cross Bissonnet and Sunset. When you reach Rice Blvd., go one more block to Times Blvd. (there's no traffic light). Turn left onto Times. MST is the third business on the left (next to Ovations).

From Southeast Houston (Clear Lake/Galveston)
Take 45 North to 59 South and exit Kirby (if you see The Compaq Center, you've gone too far). Turn left onto Kirby. Cross Bissonnet and Sunset. When you reach Rice Blvd., go one more block to Times Blvd. (there's no traffic light). Turn left onto Times. MST is the third business on the left (next to Ovations).

From I-10 coming from the West (Katy)
Take 610 Loop South to 59 North and exit Kirby (just after The Compaq Center). Turn right onto Kirby. Cross Bissonnet and Sunset. When you reach Rice Blvd., go one more block to Times Blvd. (there's no traffic light). Turn left onto Times. MST is the third business on the left (next to Ovations).

From I-10 coming from the East (Beaumont)
Take 59 South and exit Kirby (if you see The Compaq Center, you've gone too far). Turn left onto Kirby. Cross Bissonnet and Sunset. When you reach Rice Blvd., go one more block to Times Blvd. (there's no traffic light). Turn left onto Times. MST is the third business on the left (next to Ovations).

From Main Street Theater at Chelsea Market
Turn left onto Montrose. Make a right on Bissonnet. Pass Shepard and Greenbriar. Turn left onto Kirby. Pass Sunset Blvd. When you reach Rice Blvd., go one more block to Times Blvd. (there's no traffic light). Turn left onto Times. MST is the third business on the left (next to Ovations).