Sarah Ruhl's Eurydice to Close Second Stage Season in May

Sarah Ruhl's Eurydice, a modern take on the myth of Orpheus and Eurydice, will be produced by Second Stage as its final offering of the season, according to Variety. The show begins previews on May 29, 2007, and will open off-Broadway on June 12. Les Waters, who directed the play at Yale Repertory Theatre last month, will also direct the off-Broadway production.

When she abruptly dies on her wedding day, Eurydice must journey through the underworld, reunite with her father and struggle to retain her memories of her lost love. Ruhl's version, described as having contemporary characters, ingenious twists of plot and breathtaking visual effects, aims to provide a fresh look at a timeless love story. New York Times reviewer Charles Isherwood called the Yale Rep production, starring Maria Dizzia in the title role, "devastatingly lovely—and just plain devastating." The play debuted at Wisconsin's Madison Repertory Theatre in 2003. In interviews, Ruhl has said that the death of her father inspired her to write Eurydice.

A recent recipient of a MacArthur Foundation "genius" grant, Ruhl is currently represented off-Broadway by Lincoln Center Theater's production of The Clean House, which has announced an extension through January 28, 2007.

Eurydice will feature sets by Scott Bradley, costumes by Meg Neville, lighting by Russell H. Champa, sound design by Bray Poor and musical staging by John Carrafa. Casting is still to be announced.

Second Stage Theatre's 28th season will continue with the New York premiere of Theresa Rebeck's The Scene, starring Patricia Heaton and Tony Shalhoub, directed by Rebecca Taichman, beginning previews on December 12 and officially opening on January 11, 2007. The New York premiere of Terrence McNally's latest play, Some Men, directed by Trip Cullman, will be the season's next production, beginning previews February 23 and officially opening on March 26.