Renaissance Theaterworks Presents EDUCATING RITA, 1/18-2/10

Renaissance Theaterworks (RTW) presents the 2nd show of its 20th season EDUCATING RITA a comedy by Willy Russell. Jenny Wanasek will direct this comedy featuring Jonathan Smoots and Cristina Panfilio. Running January 18 – February 10, 2013 at the Studio Theatre, 158 N. Broadway, tickets can be purchased for $36 (fee & taxes not included) in person at the Broadway Theatre Center Box Office, by telephone at (414) 291-7800, or online at www.r-t-w.com.

EDUCATING RITA Synopsis
Rita, a spirited young hairdresser from Liverpool, yearns desperately for an education. Pursuing her dream, Rita enrolls at the Open University for non-traditional students. Her tutor Frank, a cynical career academic, teaches in order to pay for his drink. To his astonishment, Frank's spirit is awakened by Rita's comic honesty and passionate intellect. Together they embark on a challenging and wildly funny journey through the likes of Yeats, Ibsen and E.M. Forster. EDUCATING RITA was made into a hit film in 1983 starring Michael Caine and Julie Walters.

Cast
Jonathan Smoots (Frank)
Cristina Panfilio (Rita)

Production Team
Julie Swenson (Producer), Sarah Hoffmann (Stage Manager), Steve Barnes (Set Design), Ross Zentner (Lighting Design), Alex Tecoma (Costume Design), Paul Hurley (Sound Design), Nikki Kulas (Prop Design).

Ticket Information
Tickets to EDUCATING RITA are $28 for previews and $36 for regular performances (taxes and fess not included). Tickets are available through The Broadway Theatre Center box office by calling (414) 291-7800 or online at www.r-t-w.com. All performances are at The Studio Theatre, 158 N. Broadway. Monday, January 28, 2013 will be the Pay-What-You-Can performance at 7:30 p.m. (Tickets for the January 28 performance will be available at the door at 6:30 p.m. No phone-in orders or advanced sales will be accepted for the Pay-What-You-Can performance.)

The mission of Renaissance Theaterworks is to create moving theater that awakens our recognition of what it is to be human – from classics to world premieres – with attention to women's roles onstage and off. Founded in 1993, Renaissance Theaterworks is, presently, Milwaukee's only women-founded and women-run theatre company. Renaissance Theaterworks is a member of Theater Wisconsin and the Third Ward Arts District. Renaissance Theaterworks receives support from the Wisconsin Arts Board, Milwaukee Arts Board, CAMPAC, United Performing Arts Fund, the Greater Milwaukee Foundation, private donors and foundations.