Minnesota Jewish Theatre Premieres MOONLIGHT AND MAGNOLIAS, 10/24

Moonlight and Magnolias, the new comedy hit that tells the behind-the-scenes story of the making of one of the most celebrated movies of all time, will open Minnesota Jewish Theatre Company's 15th anniversary season on the 70th anniversary of the American movie classic Gone with the Wind. The area premiere of Moonlight and Magnolias by Ron Hutchinson opens October 24, 2009.

When legendary producer David O. Selznick decides that the filming of Gone with the Wind is not working, he stops production, yanks esteemed director Victor Fleming from the set of The Wizard of Oz, brings in famed screenwriter Ben Hecht, and locks himself with these two men behind closed doors for five days to rewrite the screenplay on a diet of bananas and peanuts. This nearly unbelievable, yet true, farce reveals what happened behind-the-scenes of the making of one of the most successful and beloved films of all time.

Moonlight and Magnolias will be directed by Scott Rubsam. Rubsam has worked throughout the United States, directing Off-Broadway at Primary Stages, Hudson Guild, Playwright's Horizons, and Jewish Repertory Theatre. He directed Emmy winner Michael Learned in Lee Blessing's Eleemosynary for the Writer's Theater; Blues with two-time Tony winner Frances Sternhagen for New Dramatists; A Festival of New Work with Laura San Giacomo, and Cherry Soda Water with Ben Stiller. Other directing credits include Guthrie Theater, The Walker Arts Center, First Stage of Los Angeles, American Theatre Company, and The Manhattan Punchline. In the Twin Cities he has directed at Park Square Theater and Metropolitan State University where he is on the faculty.

Moonlight and Magnolias features Ryan Lindberg as Selznick, Matthew Vire as Hecht, Marlin Rothe as Fleming, and Jaime Kleiman as Miss Poppenghul, assistant to Selznick. All actors will be familiar to MJTC audiences. Lindberg was seen in Modern Orthodox as Ben, and in The Twilight of the Golds as Rob; Vire played opposite Lindberg in Modern Orthodox in the role of Hershel, and as Michael in The Action Against Sol Schumann; Rothe was seen as Nick in Sight Unseen and Zilinsky in Mizlansky/Zilinsky; and Kleiman played Rachel Shotsky/Shayna in Chaim's Love Song.

Moonlight and Magnolias opens October 24, 2009 and plays through November 15, 2009 with performances Wednesdays and Thursdays at 7:30 pm, Saturdays at 8 pm, and Sundays at 2 pm. There will be one Sunday evening performance at 7 pm on October 25th.

Doorways, MJTC's ongoing programs such as symposia, community forums, post-show discussions, written communications, and work with schoolchildren, all designed to open the door to greater understanding and enjoyment of the plays we present and to deeper insight into the subjects and issues they address, will present the following events in conjunction with Moonlight and Magnolias:

Screening of Gone with the Wind on October 12, 2009 at 1 pm at Hillcrest Center, 1978 Ford Parkway, St. Paul.

Moonlight & Magnolias Theater Discussion with production artists from the show on October 27, 2009 at Merriam Park Branch Library, 1831 Marshall Avenue, St. Paul, MN 55105. This is a co-event with The Friends of the Saint Paul Library.

The Making of Gone with the Wind will be a panel discussion on themes in the movie including politics and race and Jews in Hollywood. The discussion will be led by David Itzkowitz, Professor of History at Macalester College, and will include panelists Carol Donelan, Associate Professor of Cinema and Media Studies at Carlton College, and Lary May, Professor of American Studies at the University of Minnesota. This discussion will take place after the performance on Sunday, November 1, 2009.

The Film Industry in Minnesota will be discussed by a panel following the performance on November 12, 2009. Panelists will include Patrick Coyle, local writer/actor/director who recently released the movie Into Temptation, and Lucinda Winters, Executive Director of the Minnesota Film and TV Board. The discussion will be moderated by Melody Gilbert, award-winning independent documentary filmmaker.

Tickets for Moonlight and Magnolias are Wednesdays $18, Thursdays $19, Saturdays $25, Sunday afternoons $22, and Sunday evening October 25th $18. Student rush tickets are $12. Group discounts are available. Season passbook subscriptions are still available for $50 to $72. Full-time student season passbook subscription is $36. All performances are at MJTC's theater home, Hillcrest Center, 1978 Ford Parkway, Saint Paul. For ticket reservations call 651-647-4315, Monday through Friday, 9 am - 5:30 pm, or e-mail info@mnjewishtheatre.org.

Minnesota Jewish Theatre Company is a non-profit organization now in its 15th year of presenting professional productions rooted in the Jewish experience and illuminating The Common humanity among us all. The audience for MJTC is almost equally divided between Jews and non-Jews. For further information about MJTC, call 651-647-4315 or visit our website at www.mnjewishtheatre.org. 

Moonlight and Magnolias is sponsored by Travelers.