ORLANDO SHAKES – Becoming Dr. Ruth – Opening Night Party & Pre-Show Chat – Friday, January 10


She fled the Nazis as a child, trained as a scout for the Haganah in Jerusalem, and struggled as a single mother when she came to America – before she was known as Dr. Ruth, sex therapist of radio and television. You’re invited into the apartment and into the life of America’s sex therapist, Dr. Ruth. This intimate one-woman show explores the extraordinary life of German-Jewish American Karola Ruth Seigel, the woman behind the familiar voice answering the questions we dare not ask. Becoming Dr. Ruth is guaranteed to make you laugh, blush, cry, and leave you utterly verklempt.

WHEN

January 8 – February 9, 2020

WHERE

Orlando Shakes in the Goldman Theater

John and Rita Lowndes Shakespeare Center

812 East Rollins Street, Orlando, FL 32803

CAST

Dr. Ruth: Eileen DeSandre*

CREATIVE TEAM

Director: Cynthia White***

AEA Stage Manager: George Hamrah*

Scenic Designer: Bert Scott**

Lighting and Projection Designer: Rob Siler**

Costume Designer: Alison Reid

Sound Designer: Britt Sandusky

Assistant Director: Ana Marinez Medina

PERFORMANCE INFORMATION AND RELATED EVENTS

Preview Dates: January 8 & 9 at 7:30 p.m.

Opening Date: January 10 at 7:30 p.m.

Senior Matinees: January 15, 22, 29, & February 5 at 2:00 p.m.

Talk Back Performance: January 26 at 2:00 p.m.

Opening Night Party & Pre-Show Chat – Friday, January 10

Arrive at 6:15 p.m. to enjoy free light appetizers, followed by a brief, informative discussion about the creative process with the director and members of the creative team. Free to all opening night ticket holders. No RSVP necessary.

NEW! Guest Talkback: A Holocaust Survivor’s – Sunday, January 19

After the performance on Sunday, January 19, 2020 at 2:00 pm, the Holocaust Memorial Resource and Education Center of Florida will host an intimate moderated chat with local Holocaust survivor, Sonja Marchensano. Listen to her story of hope, survival, and the challenges her family faced through the Holocaust.

TICKET INFORMATION

PRICING

Wednesdays – Saturdays at 7:30 p.m. and every Sunday and select Saturdays at 2:00 p.m. – starting at $30

Preview Performances and Senior Matinees – starting at $20

DISCOUNTS (May not be combined with any other offers)

Group Sales: 20% off groups of 10+

Student Rush: $15 – 30 minutes prior to show w/ valid student ID

Student and Active/Retired Military: $10 off single ticket prices w/ valid ID (Only available in Price Levels A and B)

$25 Under 35: Patrons under 35 years old can purchase $25 tickets for evening and weekend matinee performances during January 22 – 26. Call the Box Office at (407) 447-1700 ext. 1 or purchase online with code word: 25UNDER35 (Only available in Price Levels B and C.)

If it were a movie, Becoming Dr. Ruth would be rated “PG-13”. Children under 5 will not be admitted to our Signature Series productions. For the complete content advisory, please visit: orlandoshakes.org/content-advisories/

WARNING: Strong sexual content.

Becoming Dr. Ruth is presented by Jim and Valeria Shapiro and the Holocaust Memorial Resource and Education Center of Central Florida.

Orlando Shakes is supported by United Arts of Central Florida, host of OrlandoAtPlay.com and UAArtsEd.com. This project is sponsored in part by the Department of State, Division of Cultural Affairs, the Florida Council on Arts and Culture, and the State of Florida.

-END-

ORLANDO SHAKES CONTACT
For more information on Orlando Shakes, please contact Digital Marketing Coordinator Lexie Hoag at lexieh@orlandoshakes.org or (407) 447-1700 ext. 250 for further details or to arrange for individual interviews.

PHOTO CREDIT
Photos by Tony Firriolo feature Eileen DeSandre.

ABOUT HOLOCAUST MEMORIAL & RESOURCE CENTER OF FLORIDA

Founded in 1981 as a series of lectures on the Holocaust, the Center opened its current museum in 1986. It was founded by Holocaust survivor and local philanthropist, Tess Wise.

The Center’s mission is to use the history and lessons of the Holocaust to build a just and caring community free of anti-Semitism, and all forms of prejudice and bigotry. They preserve the past to protect the future. Because of the Holocaust Center’s work, society is and will be more open-minded, understanding, respectful, less prone to conflict and richer because of the diversity encouraged to thrive.

For more information on the Holocaust Memorial Resource & Education Center, contact Lisa Bachman, LBachman@Holocaustedu.org, 407-628-0555. To learn more about the Holocaust Center, visit www.holocaustedu.org.

ABOUT ORLANDO SHAKES
Celebrating its 31st Season, Orlando Shakes in partnership with UCF produces classic, contemporary, and children’s plays. Under the leadership of Artistic Director Jim Helsinger and Managing Director Douglas Love-Ramos, Orlando Shakes is one of the region’s most acclaimed professional theaters, garnering national recognition from The Wall Street Journal, “Spectacular and satisfying…Broadway-quality…impressive…come to Florida and plunge yourself in…”

With ambitious, high-caliber productions like 2018’s Twelfth Night and Shakespeare in Love, and 2017’s The Great Gatsby and Man of La Mancha, the Theater continues to provide an innovative world-class theatrical experience to its guests, while showcasing William Shakespeare’s legacy as the cornerstone of the company. Orlando Shakes also offers immersive educational programming that serves Central Florida schools and the local community at large.

For more information visit orlandoshakes.org.

Media Contact:

LEXIE HOAG

Digital Marketing Coordinator

Orlando Shakes in partnership with UCF

Office: (407) 447-1700 ext. 250

ORLANDO SHAKES – Becoming Dr. Ruth – Opening Night Party & Pre-Show Chat – Friday, January 10


She fled the Nazis as a child, trained as a scout for the Haganah in Jerusalem, and struggled as a single mother when she came to America – before she was known as Dr. Ruth, sex therapist of radio and television. You’re invited into the apartment and into the life of America’s sex therapist, Dr. Ruth. This intimate one-woman show explores the extraordinary life of German-Jewish American Karola Ruth Seigel, the woman behind the familiar voice answering the questions we dare not ask. Becoming Dr. Ruth is guaranteed to make you laugh, blush, cry, and leave you utterly verklempt.

WHEN

January 8 – February 9, 2020

WHERE

Orlando Shakes in the Goldman Theater

John and Rita Lowndes Shakespeare Center

812 East Rollins Street, Orlando, FL 32803

CAST

Dr. Ruth: Eileen DeSandre*

CREATIVE TEAM

Director: Cynthia White***

AEA Stage Manager: George Hamrah*

Scenic Designer: Bert Scott**

Lighting and Projection Designer: Rob Siler**

Costume Designer: Alison Reid

Sound Designer: Britt Sandusky

Assistant Director: Ana Marinez Medina

PERFORMANCE INFORMATION AND RELATED EVENTS

Preview Dates: January 8 & 9 at 7:30 p.m.

Opening Date: January 10 at 7:30 p.m.

Senior Matinees: January 15, 22, 29, & February 5 at 2:00 p.m.

Talk Back Performance: January 26 at 2:00 p.m.

Opening Night Party & Pre-Show Chat – Friday, January 10

Arrive at 6:15 p.m. to enjoy free light appetizers, followed by a brief, informative discussion about the creative process with the director and members of the creative team. Free to all opening night ticket holders. No RSVP necessary.

NEW! Guest Talkback: A Holocaust Survivor’s – Sunday, January 19

After the performance on Sunday, January 19, 2020 at 2:00 pm, the Holocaust Memorial Resource and Education Center of Florida will host an intimate moderated chat with local Holocaust survivor, Sonja Marchensano. Listen to her story of hope, survival, and the challenges her family faced through the Holocaust.

TICKET INFORMATION

PRICING

Wednesdays – Saturdays at 7:30 p.m. and every Sunday and select Saturdays at 2:00 p.m. – starting at $30

Preview Performances and Senior Matinees – starting at $20

DISCOUNTS (May not be combined with any other offers)

Group Sales: 20% off groups of 10+

Student Rush: $15 – 30 minutes prior to show w/ valid student ID

Student and Active/Retired Military: $10 off single ticket prices w/ valid ID (Only available in Price Levels A and B)

$25 Under 35: Patrons under 35 years old can purchase $25 tickets for evening and weekend matinee performances during January 22 – 26. Call the Box Office at (407) 447-1700 ext. 1 or purchase online with code word: 25UNDER35 (Only available in Price Levels B and C.)

If it were a movie, Becoming Dr. Ruth would be rated “PG-13”. Children under 5 will not be admitted to our Signature Series productions. For the complete content advisory, please visit: orlandoshakes.org/content-advisories/

WARNING: Strong sexual content.

Becoming Dr. Ruth is presented by Jim and Valeria Shapiro and the Holocaust Memorial Resource and Education Center of Central Florida.

Orlando Shakes is supported by United Arts of Central Florida, host of OrlandoAtPlay.com and UAArtsEd.com. This project is sponsored in part by the Department of State, Division of Cultural Affairs, the Florida Council on Arts and Culture, and the State of Florida.

-END-

ORLANDO SHAKES CONTACT
For more information on Orlando Shakes, please contact Digital Marketing Coordinator Lexie Hoag at lexieh@orlandoshakes.org or (407) 447-1700 ext. 250 for further details or to arrange for individual interviews.

PHOTO CREDIT
Photos by Tony Firriolo feature Eileen DeSandre.

ABOUT HOLOCAUST MEMORIAL & RESOURCE CENTER OF FLORIDA

Founded in 1981 as a series of lectures on the Holocaust, the Center opened its current museum in 1986. It was founded by Holocaust survivor and local philanthropist, Tess Wise.

The Center’s mission is to use the history and lessons of the Holocaust to build a just and caring community free of anti-Semitism, and all forms of prejudice and bigotry. They preserve the past to protect the future. Because of the Holocaust Center’s work, society is and will be more open-minded, understanding, respectful, less prone to conflict and richer because of the diversity encouraged to thrive.

For more information on the Holocaust Memorial Resource & Education Center, contact Lisa Bachman, LBachman@Holocaustedu.org, 407-628-0555. To learn more about the Holocaust Center, visit www.holocaustedu.org.

ABOUT ORLANDO SHAKES
Celebrating its 31st Season, Orlando Shakes in partnership with UCF produces classic, contemporary, and children’s plays. Under the leadership of Artistic Director Jim Helsinger and Managing Director Douglas Love-Ramos, Orlando Shakes is one of the region’s most acclaimed professional theaters, garnering national recognition from The Wall Street Journal, “Spectacular and satisfying…Broadway-quality…impressive…come to Florida and plunge yourself in…”

With ambitious, high-caliber productions like 2018’s Twelfth Night and Shakespeare in Love, and 2017’s The Great Gatsby and Man of La Mancha, the Theater continues to provide an innovative world-class theatrical experience to its guests, while showcasing William Shakespeare’s legacy as the cornerstone of the company. Orlando Shakes also offers immersive educational programming that serves Central Florida schools and the local community at large.

For more information visit orlandoshakes.org.

Media Contact:

LEXIE HOAG

Digital Marketing Coordinator

Orlando Shakes in partnership with UCF

Office: (407) 447-1700 ext. 250