Annapolis Maryland Theater - The Bay Theatre Company - A professional company that performs regular productions of clasic plays. Located in Annapolis, Anne Arundel County, Maryland. Professional Theater serving the community. Playwrights: Shaw, Ibsen, Chekhov, Williams, Wilder, Albee, Mamet, Shepard, McNally, Durang and many more.

PRESS RELEASE

The Bay Theatre Company, Inc.
P.O. Box 5201 Annapolis, Maryland 21403 Tel. 410-268-1333
Fax: 301-261-1865 Web: www.baytheatre.org Email: info@baytheatre.org

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
DATE: September 14, 2007 CONTACT: Lucinda Merry-Browne 410-268-1333

The Bay Theatre Company, Annapolis’ first not-for-profit Equity theater, opens its 2007-2008 season with a Broadway musical of universal appeal, I Do! I Do! With lively humor and warm rhythms, I Do! I Do! recounts the journey of Michael and Agnes as they grow from bride and groom, through parenthood and mid-life crises, to the golden years of acceptance and contentment. The audience is captivated as we toast the newlyweds, and celebrate a marriage that endures through fifty years of fights, passion and tenderness.

In 1966, David Merrick sought out Tom Jones and Harvey Schmidt, creators of The Fantasticks, to craft a musical version of the Tony Award-winning play, The Fourposter. I Do! I Do!, their touching and tuneful adaptation, became one of the biggest hits of the decade on Broadway. Featuring only two actors and set in the privacy of their bedroom, I Do! I Do! is a finely textured tale of two headstrong and loving individuals, growing together, apart, and back together again over a half century of marital bliss…and blisters. The intimacy of the story is mirrored in the score, lightly orchestrated for piano, bass and drum, and highlighted by the romantic standard, My Cup Runneth Over.

For its production of I Do! I Do!, The Bay Theatre Company is proud to welcome two New York-based Equity actors, Heather Mayes and Ryan Clardy. Ms. Mayes earned an MFA in acting from the University of Virginia, and has acted regionally in Virginia and Pennsylvania. Mr. Clardy received his BA from the University of Virginia, and has appeared regionally in productions at Arena Stage, Folger Shakespeare Theatre, and Trumpet Vine in Washington, D.C., and Actors Theatre in Louisville. Professional musicians from the Annapolis area will provide live accompaniment, under the musical direction of local entertainer and actress, Anita O’Connor. Lucinda Merry-Browne, Artistic and Managing Director of The Bay Theatre, will direct and produce. Tupper Stevens will serve as the Equity Stage Manager.

I Do! I Do! opens Friday, September 28 and plays through November 10, 2007. Tickets are $25 for general admission, $20 for seniors (age 65 or over) and $17 for students (with school ID). Gift certificates and group rates are available. Performances are held weekly on Fridays and Saturdays at 8:00 p.m. and Sundays at 3:00 p.m. Five additional evening shows will be offered at 8:00 p.m. on Thursdays, starting October 11 and running through November 8; Thursday, October 11 will be “pay what you can” night. A matinee will be offered on Saturday, November 10 at 3:00 p.m. in addition to the closing 8:00 p.m. performance. Post-show discussions with the director and actors are scheduled on October 14 and November 2, and there is a complimentary reception opening night. Tickets may be purchased online (www.baytheatre.org) or reserved by email (reserve@baytheatre.org) or phone (410) 268-1333. MasterCard, Visa and Discover are accepted.

The theatre is located on the lower level of the West Garrett office building, 275 West Street, Annapolis. Ample free parking is available in the West Garrett garage on Amos Garrett Boulevard. For driving directions, visit The Bay Theatre website (www.baytheatre.org) or call (410) 268-1333. Handicapped access is available; please call in advance to arrange.

This production is made possible through the generous support of the MacQuilliam Organization, owner of 275 West Garrett LLC, Lou Hyatt, Skip Gardiner, Roy Morauer, M&T Bank, the Arts Council of Anne Arundel County, the Maryland State Arts Council, the City of Annapolis, and Anne Arundel County.

The Bay Theatre Company is a not-for-profit Equity theater company and studio in Annapolis, Maryland. Tucked away in the lower level of the West Garrett office building, the intimate, off-Broadway style house is in its sixth season. The Bay Theatre Company’s goal is to offer exciting productions that leave audiences thinking and transformed by the experience of the play. It exists as an artistic force in the community, providing opportunities for artists to work and a source of theater education for all ages.

The mission of Actors' Equity Association (AEA) is to advance, promote and foster the art of live theatre as an essential component of our society. AEA represents more than 40,000 actors, singers, dancers and stage managers working in hundreds of theatres across the United States. Equity members are dedicated to working in the theatre as a profession, upholding the highest artistic standards Through its agreement with Equity, this theatre has committed to the fair treatment of the actors and stage managers employed in this production..

The Bay Theatre Company is a professional non-profit repertory theatre company located at 275 West Street in Annapolis, Maryland. It was founded in 2002 with a threefold mission: (1) to produce plays of superb quality and richness for audiences of diverse ages and cultures; (2) to promote theatre education for students of all ages, and (3) to provide working opportunities for theatre artists. To fulfill this mission, the Bay Theatre Company produces four to five professional productions each year, employing experienced theatre artists and Actors’ Equity professionals, as well as recent theatre school graduates. In addition, the Company offers workshops and performance opportunities for students of all ages, both independently and in association with Maryland Hall for the Creative Arts.