Dobama presents small-town drama 'Middletown'

The fourth major production of Dobama Theatre's 52nd season is the Cleveland premiere of "Middletown," a new play by Will Eno, directed by Joel Hammer, Dobama’s artistic director.

"Middletown," which runs through March 18, explores the universe of a small-town America. Mary Swanson has just moved into town, eager to start a family and enjoy the neighborly bonds that a small town promises. But when she befriends a local resident, John Dodge, she quickly discovers that below Middletown’s unflinchingly honest exterior lies something much more complex.

The play is a wry, human portrait of a town with two personalities—one that is ordinary and visible, the other dark and mysterious.

Eno was a finalist for a Pulitzer Prize in 2005 and is a recipient of a Guggenheim Fellowship and an Edward F. Albee Foundation Fellowship. In 2004, he was awarded the first-ever Marian Seldes/Garson Kanin Fellowship by the Theater Hall of Fame.

The production features an ensemble cast, including Dianne Boduszek, Emily Demko, Maryann Elder, Carly Germany, Robert Hawkes, Jason Markouc, Mark Mayo, Fabio Polanco, Laura Starnik and Tom Woodward. Many will be performing more than one role in a script that lists 21 characters.

This is Dobama's third season in its new location at 2340 Lee Road, part of the Lee Road Library complex. Performances of "Middletown" take place on Thursday, Friday and Saturday evenings, and Sunday afternoons. For a complete schedule, ticket prices, and reservations, call the box office at 216-932-3396. Ask about reduced prices for RUSH tickets.