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September 23, 2010
Lensic Presents Encore Screening of Phedre Starring Helen Mirren

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

The Lensic Performing Arts Center
Presents
National Theatre Live
Phédre Encore Screening
September 23

Santa Fe, NM, Aug. 31 -- The Lensic Performing Arts Center proudly presents the Encore screening of the broadcast of Phédre, the production that launched National Theatre Live in June 2009. The smash hit production was seen by over 50,000 people worldwide.

Academy Award-winner Helen Mirren takes the title role in this savage play by Jean Racine, translated into muscular free verse by the late Poet Laureate, Ted Hughes.

Consumed by an uncontrollable passion for her young stepson and believing Theseus, her absent husband, to be dead, Phèdre confesses her darkest desires and enters the world of nightmare. When Theseus returns alive and well, Phèdre, fearing exposure, accuses her stepson of rape. The result is carnage.

NT Live is an exciting initiative to broadcast live performances of plays onto cinema screens worldwide. The four show pilot season launched with Phèdre and continued with All’s Well That Ends Well, The Habit of Art and London Assurance. The last three performances were presented by The Lensic.

On June 25, 2009, the performance of Phèdre was filmed in high definition and broadcast via satellite to approximately 70 cinemas and performing arts centers, reaching a widespread audience live across the UK. The Lensic joins theaters across the world in screening the Encore presentation of Phédre September 23.

The second season of National Theatre Live kicks off at The Lensic October 14 with the new production A Disappearing Number.

Cast (in order of speaking)

Hippolytus Dominic Cooper
Théramène John Shrapnel
Oenone Margaret Tyzack
Phèdre Helen Mirren
Panope Wendy Morgan
Aricia Ruth Negga
Ismène Chipo Chung
Theseus Stanley Townsend
Phèdre's son Elliot Horne

Understudies/Ensemble

Alexander D'Andrea (Hippolytus), Portia Booroff (Panope/Oenone), Elizabeth Nestor(Aricia/Ismène), Tristram Wymark (Theseus/Théramène)
Production Team
Director Nicholas Hytner
Designer Bob Crowley
Lighting Designer Paule Constable
Music Adam Cork

Event Details: The Lensic Presents National Theatre of London Phédre Encore on September 23 at 7 p.m.

Tickets: $22 / $15 Lensic members and students. Tickets are available at www.Lensic.org, at Tickets Santa Fe at The Lensic at 988-1234 or in person at 211 W. San Francisco St.

About The Lensic Artistic Presentations
Since 2001, the nonprofit Lensic Performing Arts Center has presented and produced artistic performances. The Lensic’s year-round programming is integral to fulfilling the organizational mission to present local, national and international artists in diversified, cross-cultural performances. Since its opening, The Lensic has increased its independent production and presentation schedule, which includes the Lensic Presents Series, a year-round effort to present diverse programming that showcases national talent.

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