Atlantic Stage Presents a Double Feature of Dark Comedy in Durang Durang

Christopher Durang’s Companion one-act plays, Sister Mary Ignatius Explains It All for You and The Actor’s Nightmare will preview on Thursday, November 8 and is followed by the opening night performance on Friday, November 9 and runs through Sunday, November 25.

In Sister Mary Ignatius Explains It All for You, a catechism lesson takes a dark and deadly turn. Sister Mary is answering questions and lecturing on the Ten Commandments and Heaven and hell, with the help of a young precocious student, Thomas. Meanwhile her former students are waiting to surprise her. The surprise is a revenge plan by her former student Diane who came to hate sister for teaching her that God answers all prayers. But, as Sister Mary also said, “Sometimes God says no.” A lapse in faith has Diane bring former classmates with her, a homosexual, a mother of an illegitimate child, and an alcoholic who hits his wife and is considering suicide. It is clear to Sister that they have all sinned and that no one learned anything in her class. Their stories, though disturbing, are given humor by sister’s reaction and advice. The religion lesson turns deadly; the only question left is who is going to Heaven and who is going to Hell?

In The Actor’s Nightmare, George finds himself trapped in the role of an understudy who has to go on that night. Now he is to perform alongside some of the greatest actors ever to live, but does not know his lines or even the play. In fact, he thinks he is an accountant, not an actor. In a panic, George tries his best to come up with the correct lines, but instead finds his neck on the line, literally, and just wants to wake up from what he believes is a nightmare. “Waking up in a theatre without knowing your lines, your cues, or even what play you are doing is the worst possible nightmare for an actor,” says director Kristi Rau McIntyre, Company Member. While this is a nightmare for George, it is a comedy for the audience as the rest of the cast and stage manager are trying to salvage what is left of the show.

Complete performance schedule for Durang Durang is as follows:

Friday November 9 @ 7:30 p.m. (Opening Night)

Week 1: Thursday November 8- Saturday, November 10 @ 7:30 p.m. and Sunday November 11 @ 3:00 p.m. (Talk back Sunday with the cast and crew of Durang Durang following the performance)

Week 2: Thursday November 15- Saturday, November 17 @ 7:30 p.m. and Sunday November 18 @ 3:00 p.m. (Talk back Sunday with the cast and crew of Durang Durang following the performance)

Week 3: Friday November 23 @ 7:30 p.m., Saturday, November 24 @ 3:00 p.m. and 7:30 p.m., and Sunday, November 25 @ 3:00 p.m. **

**Due to the Thanksgiving holiday, there will be no performance on Thursday November 22, but a Saturday matinee has been added on November 24 at 3:00 p.m. This production is recommended for mature audiences.

Tickets can be purchased by calling the Atlantic Stage box office at 1-877-287-8587 or www.atlanticstage.com. Single tickets range from $17.50-$27.50 at the door. Discounts are available for students, seniors (55+), the military and groups.

Atlantic Stage is also partnering with the charity Help for Kids Back Pack Buddies whose mission is to assist Horry County children living in poverty with food and other supplies. Patrons of Atlantic Stage are encouraged to bring donated items needed to the theatre. A list of items needed is available at http://help4kidssc.com.