Doubt

The Orpheum Theatre launches its 2012 Red Carpet Series on February 19 with Doubt, a hard-hitting, captivating evening of dramatic theater.

Written by John Patrick Shanley, Doubt received immediate and resounding critical acclaim and multiple awards including a Pulitzer Prize for Drama, a Tony Award for Best Play, an Obie Award for Playwriting, and a Drama Desk Award for Best New Play. The film adaptation, which Shanley directed, was nominated for five Academy Awards (Oscars) as well as five Golden Globe Awards.

The play is presented by the Montana Repertory Theatre, one of the oldest and most-respected touring companies in the country. Montana Repertory Theatre was established in 1968 and has presented more than 450 productions in over 350 communities from California to New York. Orpheum patrons will remember the Montana Repertory Theatre last performed at the Orpheum with a spectacular production of To Kill a Mockingbird in May 2009.

Doubt tells the story of the charismatic Father Flynn who begins a sermon by asking "What do you do when you're not sure?" From that moment on, Doubt's audience is forced to question whether Father Flynn is using his position as teacher and coach to encourage youngsters or to take advantage of them? And is the hard-headed Sister Aloysius, the school principal, protecting children from harm, or is she falsely accusing an innocent man of a shocking betrayal of trust?

The audience quickly discerns that little is certain in this brilliant, aptly titled play. Set in 1964 in a fictional Catholic school, Doubt is nonetheless as timely as tomorrow's newspaper headlines.

Newsday called Doubt "a lean potent drama; passionate, exquisite, important and engrossing." The New York Times described Doubt as a "mystery without a solution that leaves audiences exhilarated."

The Orpheum Theatre presents Doubt on Sunday, February 19 at 3 pm. Tickets range from $20 to $35 and are on sale now. Tickets may be purchased at the box office (250 E Main St - Galesburg), on-line at tickets.theorpheum.org or by phone at 309-342-2299.

The Orpheum Theatre's 2012 Red Carpet Series is underwritten in part through a grant from the Illinois Arts Council - a state agency. Additional support for the Series comes from media sponsors Galesburg Register-Mail, Galesburg Radio, Comcast Spotlight and the official hotel of Red Carpet Series artists, Holiday Inn Express.