(TUCSON, AZ – March 19, 2008) Alternative Theatre Company will kick off its 2008-2009 theatre season with “Beyond Therapy,” a hilariously off-kilter comedy by Christopher Durang. Directed by award-winning playwright/actor/director Joe W. Marshall, “Beyond Therapy” runs May 23 – June 1 at the Temple of Music and Art Cabaret Theatre, 330 S. Scott Ave., in downtown Tucson.

Performances are held at 8:00 pm on Friday and Saturday, and at 3:00 pm on Saturday and Sunday. Tickets cost $13 in advance, $18 at the door, and may be purchased online at www.AlternativeTheatreCo.org or by calling the Alternative Theatre Company box office at (520) 883-8246.

There will be an opening night silent auction in support of the 2008-2009 season on May 23, starting at 7:00 pm. Additional information is available online at www.AlternativeTheatreCo.org.

“Beyond Therapy” addresses the thin line between being gay, straight and bisexual. Set in Manhattan during the early 1980s, two singles seek love and find sanity (sort of) as they navigate the neuroses of their not-so-stable psychoanalysts. Prudence’s macho therapist swears a lot and calls her nasty names; Bruce’s wacky female shrink recommends barking as a form of self-expression. Prudence is urged to be more assertive, while Bruce is encouraged to meet women by placing a personal ad. His therapist does not fully comprehend that Bruce has a male lover who is not pleased by Bruce's desire to date a woman, so when Bruce’s personal ad brings him and Prudence together, the hapless couple must come to their senses and overcome their zany therapists’ “help” to find romance in a whacked-out world. They ultimately learn to live beyond therapy in this delightful Off Broadway hit that moved successfully to Broadway.

Director Joe W. Marshall appreciates the quick wit of the script, but also recognizes the human emotions that bring the characters in “Beyond Therapy” to the brink of insanity. “The characters in this play exist in a world where everything is permitted,” says Marshall. “That makes it very difficult for them to figure out the best way to find happiness. They spend a lot of time wavering, trying to work through things with their therapists, but ultimately each one has to decide whether or not to compromise on issues that are important to them. As bizarre as the situations are, we find ourselves reflected in the characters’ dilemmas, and that empathy is where the comedy comes from.”

About Alternative Theatre Company:

The Alternative Theatre Company is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. While we are renowned for producing award-winning LGBT plays, we also produce original plays from local playwrights, full-scale musicals and children’s productions. We are a unique, innovative theatre company for Southern Arizona. Founded in 1991 by Joe W. Marshall, the company relocated from Phoenix to Tucson in 2006.

About Joe W. Marshall:

A graduate of The American Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York City, Joe Marshall continued his education at Arizona Technical Institute, obtaining an F.C.C. License in broadcast communication.

Joe has appeared as an actor in more than 40 shows and three films, including the movie “Postcards From America” and a national tour of the play “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow.” Joe has directed and choreographed more than thirty award-winning productions. He also was the Director of Children's Programming at Theatre Works for two years, winning five People's Choice awards.

He is the founder and artistic director for the Alternative Theatre Company, where he also teaches acting classes. He has produced and written seven plays that premiered in Phoenix, Arizona. His play “A Night in Vegas” received two AriZoni awards: Best Original Script and Best Overall Production.

Contact:

For more information about this announcement, photos and interview opportunities, please contact Adrian Maynard at adrian.maynard@cox.net or (520) 883-8246.