Act II Playhouse is pleased to present Misery by Stephen King and adapted by William Goldman as its Fall Thriller offering.
Previews begin Tuesday, Oct. 7, and the production opens Friday, Oct. 10. Misery closes after a five-week run on Sunday, Nov. 9.
“Misery is one of the greatest thrillers ever written.” – The Guardian
Starring in the role of Annie Wilkes, made famous on screen by Kathy Bates (which won her the 1990 Best Actress Oscar), is Act II favorite, Sabrina Profitt. Profitt is well-known to Playhouse audiences, having previously appeared as Olga, the maid, in Theatre People. Profitt has also taken to the Playhouse stage in The Outsider; Tea For Three: Lady Bird, Pat, and Betty, playing three First Ladies of the United States; as M’Lynn in the classic Steel Magnolias; and as the put-upon wife in Neil Simon’s The Prisoner of Second Avenue (opposite Tony Braithwaite).
In Misery, Profitt plays the reclusive Annie Wilkes, the self-confessed number one fan of famed writer Paul Sheldon. Sheldon, a romance novelist and the creator of the fictional icon, Misery Chastain, is saved from an automobile accident by Wilkes and taken to her isolated home, where she begins to nurse him back to health. Paul believes that Annie is his salvation…until she discovers what plans Paul has for his literary creation. So begins a deadly game of cat and mouse between the captive and the captor that will have audiences on the edge of their seats in suspense.
“Audiences have responded so well to our previous productions, Gaslight and Dial M For Murder. Misery will be no different,” said Act II Artistic Director, Braitwhaite. “Audiences will feel swept up in the excitement, the surprises, and the unexpected humor of this beloved story.”
According to Braithwaite, Profitt delivers a powerful performance as Annie. “Sabrina is a dynamic performer of incredible range,” he said.
Accompanying Profitt on stage is Christopher Patrick Mullen, making his Act II debut as Paul Sheldon. Also in the cast is Mark Swift as Sheriff Buster. Swift returns to the Playhouse, having previously appeared in last season’s Dial M For Murder.
Directing the production is Mary Martello, a pillar of the Philadelphia theatre community for over 20 years. Act II audiences may know Martello from her appearance in Boca (2023) and as the Director of Tea For Three (2024).
The stage adaptation of Misery is written by Academy Award-winning writer William Goldman, Author of The Princess Bride, All the President’s Men, and many, many others. Goldman wrote the screenplay to the 1990 film adaptation starring Kathy Bates, James Caan, and directed by Rob Reiner, before reworking his own script for the stage.
Behind the scenes at Act II, Patricia G. Sabato is the Production Stage Manager, Rhiannon Charney and Laura Mancano the Assistant Stage Managers, Parris Bradley is the Scenic Designer, Lily Fossner is the Lighting Designer, Adam Danoff the Sound Designer, Eliot Curtis the Props Master and Scenic Artist, Sean McGarry the Fight Choreographer, and Britt Plunkett the Technical Director and Scenic Constructor.
Ticket prices start at $35 and are available online, by calling the Act II Box Office at 215-654-0200, or in person at the Box Office at 56 E. Butler Ave., Ambler, PA. The Box Office is open Monday to Saturday, 2-6:00 PM. Student tickets are $15, and group discounts are available.
Act II Playhouse is committed to theatrical programming that is both accessible and entertaining. Act II is committed to creating and producing original, classic, and contemporary plays, musicals, and cabarets (both comedic and musical) that reflect the highest artistic standards, and presenting them in our intimate venue that draws audiences and performers into a unique, vibrant, and dynamic interaction. Since 2012, Braithwaite has served as Artistic Director.
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