CARIDAD SVICH’S THE HOUSE OF THE SPIRITS

PLAYS THE DENVER CENTER THEATRE COMPANY’S SPACE THEATRE

SEPT 17-OCT 23

Denver — THE HOUSE OF THE SPIRITS, an adaptation of Isabel Allende’s epic novel written by award-winning playwright Caridad Svich, will play the Denver Center Theatre Company’s Space Theatre September 17-October 23 (opening night Thursday, September 23.) Tickets are on sale now, by calling 303.893.4100 or www.denvercenter.org.

THE HOUSE OF THE SPIRITS is a family saga that looks at four generations of political, social and familial upheaval, and the pride, passion and triumph of characters living in turbulent times. Playwright Caridad Svich’s English adaptation of Allende’s novel will receive its first major production at the DCTC. The play has previously been produced in Spanish both in Chile and at Repertorio Espanol in New York City.

Isabel Allende, who last Thursday was awarded Chile’s National Literature Prize, published her debut novel The House of the Spirits in 1982 and it quickly became an international best-seller and critical success. Set in a fictional Latin American country, the novel spans over 50 years and deals with themes of oppression, tyranny, gender and class issues, but also romance, love, healing and forgiveness. These themes greatly interested Svich as she approached the novel to adapt it for the stage, as they echoed topics in her previous plays.

The cast of THE HOUSE OF THE SPIRITS includes Meaghan Wolf (Alba), Franca Sofia Barchiesi (Clara), Allison Pistorius (Rosa the Beautiful/Blana), John Hutton (Esteban Trueba), Drew Cortese (Esteban Garcia), Dena Martinez (Pancha/Woman 1), Jeanne Paulsen (Nivea/Woman 2), Jeanine Serralles (Ferula/Count Satigny/Woman 3), Lanna Joffrey (Transito Soto), Lawrence Hecht (Severo/Pedro Garcia/Fr. Antonio) and Dion Mucciacito (Pedro Tercero/Guard/Barrabas).

THE HOUSE OF THE SPIRITS, a play with songs by Caridad Svich, is directed by Jose Zayas, who directed last season’s staged reading of the play, the Spanish language version of the play at Repertorio Espanol in NYC, and the Chilean premiere of the adaptation. Costume design is by Deborah Dryden (DCTC’s The Trip to Bountiful). Scenic design is by Robert Mark Morgan (The Diary of Anne Frank), with projection design by Charlie I. Miller (When Tang Met Laika, Mama Hated Deisels) and lighting design by Jane Spencer (Well, The Voysey Inheritance). Arrangements and additional music is by Jane Shaw, with sound design by Jason Ducat (DCTC’s Othello, When Tang Met Laika).

About the playwright: Caridad Svich is a US Latina playwright, translator, lyricist and editor whose works have been presented across the US and abroad at diverse venues including Repertorio Espanol, The Women’s Project, INTAR, 59East59, Cincinnati Playhouse, McCarren Park Pool, 7 Stages, Salvage Vanguard Theatre, ARTheater-Cologne, and Edinburgh Fringe Festival/UK. Among her key plays are 12 Ophelias, Any Place But Here, Alchemy of Desire/Dead-Man's Blues, Fugitive Pieces, Iphigenia...a rave fable, Instructions for Breathing, and the multimedia collaboration The Booth Variations. She is currently working on new play A Little Story and In the Time of the Butterflies (based on the novel by Julia Alvarez). She has translated nearly all of Federico Garcia Lorca’s plays as well as works by Lope de Vega, Calderon de la Barca, Julio Cortazar and new plays from Spain, Cuba and Mexico and has freely adapted works by Wedekind, Sophocles, Euripides and Shakespeare.

Single tickets for THE HOUSE OF THE SPIRITS start at $18 and are on sale now. To purchase, call Denver Center Ticket Services at 303.893.4100. TTY (for Deaf and hard-of-hearing patrons): 303.893.9582. Groups of 10 or more, please call 303.446.4829. Tickets may also be purchased at the Denver Center Ticket Office, located at the Helen Bonfils Theatre Complex Lobby. Buy and print online at www.denvercenter.org. Student $10 rush ticket are available one hour prior to curtain with a valid student ID subject to availability. Senior and military rush tickets are available one hour prior to curtain, subject to availability. No children under six will be admitted to any theatre.