A Moon to Dance

Gareth Saxe as Monty Weekley, Jane Alexander as Frieda Lawrence and Robert Cuccioli as Angelo Ravagli

By Thom Thomas
Directed by Edwin Sherin
February 6 – 22, 2009 / perview performances Feb. 4 & 5
Thursday - Saturday at 8:00 pm / Saturday & Sunday at 2:00 pm
Rauh Theatre, Pittsburgh Playhouse

Pittsburgh Playhouse
222 Craft Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15213
(in Oakland)
(412) 621-4445

“Hand in hand, on the edge of the sand, they danced by the light of the moon” goes a popular children’s rhyme. But la luna is a symbol of madness as well as romantic liberation.

On the eve of World War II, an English aristocrat travels to the New Mexico desert to visit the mother who abandoned him in his youth, a German woman unconstrained by convention but controlling of those around her. As they engage in a ceremonial dance of nostalgia and longing, forgiveness may prove out of step. Or can their native spirits bring forth an outpouring of love?

This Pittsburgh premiere by an old friend of the Playhouse features both the moon and a few stars: Jane Alexander leads the cast as the widow of controversial writer D. H. Lawrence; illustrious director Ed Sherin orchestrates the constellation.

Pittsburgh - The REP, Point Park University’s professional theatre company, presents Thom Thomas’s A Moon to Dance By at the Pittsburgh Playhouse Friday, Feb. 6 through Sunday, Feb. 22; preview performances are open to the public on Wednesday, Feb. 4 and Thursday, Feb. 5. Award-winning Broadway director Edwin Sherin directs the stellar cast which includes Academy Award, Tony Award and Emmy Award-winning actress Jane Alexander, Tony-nominated actor Robert Cuccioli and Broadway stage and screen actor Gareth Saxe.

In 1912, D.H. Lawrence met Frieda Weekley, the German-born wife of his English Literature professor. A short time later, Frieda ran off with Lawrence, leaving her husband, two young daughters and her twelve year old son Monty behind in Nottingham, England. After Lawrence’s death in 1930, Frieda went back to the Taos, New Mexico ranch where “Lorenzo” (Frieda’s affectionate name for Lawrence) and she had lived together in happier times. Angelo, her Italian lover fifteen years her junior, accompanied her.

A Moon to Dance By is set in July 1939 when Frieda’s son Monty, now 39 years old, inexplicably made a short four-day visit with his mother in Taos after harboring years of bitterness toward her. That meeting between Frieda, Monty and Angelo took place eight weeks before the world exploded into a World War. At the Taos ranch were representatives from three of the countries who would be embroiled in conflict: Germany, England and Italy…all meeting together on American soil to embark on a journey of their own. As they engage in a ceremonial dance of nostalgia and longing, forgiveness may prove out of step. Or can their native spirits bring forth an outpouring of love?

Pittsburgh’s own Thom Thomas comes home to present this beautiful story of love, longing and unanswered questions. Thomas is a former Artistic Director of the Pittsburgh Playhouse and was the director of Civic Light Opera’s premiere season at Heinz Hall in 1972. He has worked as both a director and writer for stage and screen.

Sets are by Stephanie Mayer-Staley; costumes by Hope Hanafin; lights by Andrew David Ostrowski; and sound by Steve Shapiro.

A Moon to Dance By opens with two preview performances on Wednesday, Feb. 4 and Thursday, Feb. 5; the show runs from Friday, Feb. 6 through Sunday, Feb. 22, 2009. Performances will be held Thursdays through Saturdays at 8 p.m. and Saturdays and Sundays at 2 p.m. Tickets range in price from $24 to $27 and can be purchased by calling the Pittsburgh Playhouse box office at 412-621-4445 or online at www.pittsburghplayhouse.com.

All tickets must be paid for at the time of ordering. We are unable to reserve tickets without payment. We accept Visa, Mastercard, American Express and Discover Card.

Box office hours:

Monday – Friday 10:00 am – 6:00 pm (on show nights until intermission)
Weekends the box office opens two hours prior to curtain.