'Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike' Extended

                            THROUGH MARCH 16 AT THE MARK TAPER FORUM 

 Center Theatre Group has a big hit in Christopher Durang’s Tony Award-winning comedy
“Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike,” currently in performances at the CTG/Mark Taper Forum. With strong ticket sales and critical acclaim, CTG has extended the run by a week, now closing on March 16, 2014.

The hysterically funny and affecting new play, directed by David Hyde Pierce, based on the
Broadway direction of Nicholas Martin, opened February 9 and features (in alphabetical order) Mark
Blum, Christine Ebersole, Shalita Grant, David Hull, Kristine Nielsen and Liesel Allen Yeager.
 Charles McNulty of the Los Angeles Times said “Rarely has middle-aged despair over dashed
dreams and squandered hopes been put to more hilarious effect than in ‘Vanya and Sonia and Masha
and Spike.’” And Hollywood Reporter’s Myron Meisel called it, “… a shrewd and smartly carpentered entertainment, the production, with original Vanya David Hyde Pierce building upon the Broadway direction of Nicholas Martin, is nigh onto perfect.”

 Set in 21st century Bucks County, Pennsylvania, with hints of 19th century Russia, “Vanya and
Sonia and Masha and Spike” is a riotous comedy with the Chekhovian set-up of a middle-aged Vanya and his stepsister, Sonia, who live together in their ancestral farmhouse, complete with a pond and a cherry orchard.

 Their normally quiet existence is thrown into upheaval by the surprise visit from their glamorous,
movie-star sister, Masha, and her 20-something boyfriend, Spike, the unlikely prophecies of their
cleaning lady and an all too important costume party. 

“Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike” features sets by David Korins, costumes by Gabriel
Berry, lights by David Weiner and original music and sound by Mark Bennett.  Casting is by Mark B.
Simon, CSA, and Daniel Swee, CSA, and the production stage manager is David S. Franklin.
Tickets are currently on sale for performances of “Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike”
through March 9.  Tickets for the extension week will go on sale to the public on February 19. 
Tickets are available by calling (213) 628-2772, visiting www.CenterTheatreGroup.org, or in
person at the Center Theatre Group box office at the Ahmanson Theatre. Tickets range from $20 - $109 (ticket prices are subject to change). The Mark Taper Forum is located at the Music Center, 135 N. Grand Avenue in Downtown L.A. 90012.