Humor and Heartbreak Receive a Southern Twist in 'Crimes of the Heart' at CCM April 22-26

CCM, the College-Conservatory of Music at the University of Cincinnati, presents Beth Henley’s Pulitzer Prize-winning play,

Crimes of the Heart

, April 22-26 in the Patricia Corbett Theater.

Premiered in 1979, Crimes of the Heart enjoyed a long and tremendously successful run on Broadway. The hilarious and heartbreaking work follows a day in the life of the three Magrath sisters, who reunite at their grandfather’s Mississippi home in the wake of an unusual tragedy. Products of a dysfunctional family, Lenny, Meg and Babe each seem to attract hardship and misery. As they attempt to cope with their current circumstance, the trio is forced to come to terms with their past “crimes of the heart” toward one another.

Directing the production is R. Terrell Finney, Jr., Professor of Drama and head of the CCM’s Opera, Musical Theater, Drama and Arts Administration (OMDA) Division. He looks forward to taking a fresh look at a classic piece of American theater.

“Having directed the show years ago on the Showboat Majestic (my first production in Cincinnati, actually), I have wanted to return to the script,” he says. “Getting back to it again, I realize more than ever what a beautifully crafted work it is, full of humor and sadness and hope.”

Finney’s own heritage has helped him connect to the script. He comments, “As a native Southerner, it is familiar territory for me on a personal level, and I wanted to get back to something close to home.”

For complete performance information for CCM’s production of “Crimes of the Heart,” please see below.

R. Terrell Finney, Jr., director

R. Terrell Finney, Jr. has directed CCM’s

Rashomon

,

Charley’s Aunt

,

Floyd Collins

,

Dancing at Lughnasa

,

The Diviners

,

Myths and Hymns

,

As You Like It

,

Baby, Lend Me A Tenor

,

Chekhov in Yalta

,

Blithe Spirit

and the world premiere of

Clever Dick

for CCM/Ensemble Theatre of Cincinnati, among others. He is a former artistic director of the Showboat Majestic, where selected productions included

Crimes of the Heart

and

They’re Playing Our Song

. He also directed

The Importance of Being Earnest

for the Cincinnati Shakespeare Festival. Finney’s acting credits include Nurse Nanny Fanny in ETC’s

Snow White

, Hysterium in the “Hot Summer Nights” production of

A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum

, and Argon in CCM’s

The Imaginary Invalid

. He has also served as narrator for the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra. A graduate of the MFA directing program at Boston University, he spent the summers of 1992 and 1995 in training programs with the Royal National Theatre of Great Britain. A past president of the Ohio Theatre Alliance, Finney is currently the head of the Division of Opera, Musical Theater, Drama and Arts Administration at CCM and served as producer of CCM’s acclaimed “Hot Summer Nights” from 1998 to 2002. A member of Actors’ Equity Association, he chairs the Commission on Accreditation of the National Association of Schools of Theatre. Finney is a board member for the University/Resident Theatre Association, a board member to the American High School Theatre Festival and frequently serves as a consultant to theater programs across the United States.

___________

University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music

MAINSTAGE SERIES

CRIMES OF THE HEART

By Beth Henley

R. Terrell Finney, Jr., director

The Pulitzer Prize-winning

Crimes of the Heart

quickly became an American classic after its premiere in 1979. A delicious dark comedy, the play chronicles the reunion of three sisters as they gather at their grandfather’s Mississippi home after a personal tragedy. The sisters try to come to terms with their past “crimes of the heart” while dealing with the current situation. This hilarious and heartbreaking tale takes a poignant look at what happens when bad things happen to good people

.

Performance Dates:

April 22 (preview), 23-26, 2009

* Wed., April 22, 8 p.m. (preview)

* Thurs. & Fri., April 23 & 24, 8 p.m.

* Sat., April 25, 2:30 & 8 p.m.

* Sun., April 26, 2:30 p.m.

Location:

Patricia Corbett Theater

College-Conservatory of Music

University of Cincinnati

Tickets:

$10—all audiences, April 22 preview only

$15 matinee, $17 evening—students

$26 matinee, $28 evening—general public

Ordering and Additional Information:

513-556-4183 or www.ccm.uc.edu

Mainstage Season Sponsor: Duke Energy
Season Design Sponsor: Macy’s

Visit www.ccm.uc.edu for complete CCM performance and ticket information.