For Immediate Release:
Contact: David Kuehn, Executive Director
Cotuit Center for the Arts
Phone: (508) 428-0669
Email: [email protected]
Website: ArtsOnTheCape.org
“Visiting Mr. Green” at Cotuit Center for the Arts
Cotuit Center for the Arts presents “Visiting Mr. Green,” a play by Jeff Baron, June 1 to 18, in the
Black Box Theater. Performances are Thursday, Friday, and Saturday at 7:30 PM and Sunday at 4 PM
(The Saturday, June 17 performance is a 2pm matinee, there is no evening performance that day).
CCftA’s production of “Visiting Mr. Green” is a family affair. Directed by Ruthe Lew, the play stars her
husband Barry as 86-year-old Mr. Green and her son Ari as Ross Gardner, a rising corporate executive
in his 30s. After Ross nearly hits Mr. Green with his car, he is charged with reckless driving and
ordered to visit the curmudgeonly widower every week for the next six months. Both are resentful at
first, but their relationship begins to change in unexpected ways.
“‘Visiting Mr. Green’ is a warm, funny, heartfelt journey that leads to the unlikely connection
between these two very different men from different worlds,” said Ruthe Lew. “This is one of my alltime favorite plays. It is well-written, well-crafted; the characters are very well developed. I am
thrilled to be directing it.”
Ruthe has been in communication with Jeff Baron, the playwright, and their conversations have been
helpful to her in deciding how to approach the play. It is not the first time she has directed “Visiting
Mr. Green” though. She also directed it 11 years ago—with her husband and son in the same roles.
“They are a little older now, and better suited for the roles,” she said. “Barry is in his sixties now, and
plays ‘old’ very well,” she said. Barry recently played Richard Nixon in CCftA’s production of
“Frost/Nixon,” and Ruthe performed in the center’s production of “Sordid Lives.” Ruth directed Barry
in the Woods Hole Theater Company production of “Prisoner of Second Avenue.”
Ruthe and Barry moved to Falmouth recently from Leominster, where they were very active in the
Central Mass Repertory Theatre. Ruth, who has acted for over 40 years and directed for 35 years,
taught music at Northwest Elementary School; she also directed theater production at Leominster
High School. Barry has been acting for more than 45 years; he taught biology, chemistry, theater arts,
and television production at Leominster High School. Recently he performed in the off-Broadway
production of “Old Jews Telling Jokes.”
Ari is a professional actor who lived in New York, toured nationally, and is now residing in Harwich
with his new bride Holly. He has appeared in numerous plays on the Cape, including several at CCftA:
“Sunday in the Park with George,” “The Woolgather,” “The Dumbwaiter,” and “Gift of the Magi.” He
also appeared in “Sister Act” at Harwich Junior Theater, and other productions at Eventide, Wellfleet
Harbor Actors Theatre, and the Theater Under the Stairs.
Tickets are $18, $15 for members. For more information, and to purchase tickets, visit
artsonthecape.org or call 508-428-0669. Cotuit Center for the Arts is at 4404 Route 28 in Cotuit.
# # #
What:
“Visiting Mr. Green,” by Jeff Baron
Where:
Cotuit Center for the Arts, 4404 Route 28, Cotuit
When:
June 1 to 18. Thursday, Friday, and Saturday at 7:30 PM; Sunday at 4 PM.
The Saturday, June 17 performance is a 2pm matinee, there is no evening performance that day.
Admission:
$18, $15 for members
END