A Prayer for Owen Meany

A novel by JOHN IRVING
Adapted by SIMON BENT

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Robert S. Marx

Directed by BLAKE ROBISON

Believe in miracles. Adapted from the bestselling novel, A Prayer for Owen Meany is a sweeping saga of friendship, destiny and the miracle of faith. Set against the backdrop of societal upheaval in America during the 1960s, this heartwarming and often amusing story recounts the unbreakable bond between Owen and John, who remain forever linked by a tragic childhood accident. The aftermath propels John into a lifelong journey of questions regarding his own spiritual beliefs. At the same time, Owen surfaces with the unwavering conviction that he is an instrument of God. After capturing the imagination of generations of readers, Owen Meany has become an extraordinary and unforgettable theatrical event.

"Staged with epic flair ... Owen Meany soars." — The Washington Post

ADVISORY: A Prayer for Owen Meany is appropriate for adult and older teenage audiences. While a powerful story of friendship and faith, the play also contains very strong adult language and mature themes.

RUNNING TIME: The show runs approximately 2 hours and 27 minutes, including one intermission.

Ernaisja Curry

Mary Beth/Ensemble

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Annie Fitzpatrick

Barb Wiggins/Mitzy Lish/Jarvit Mother/Ensemble

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Laura Gordon

Harriet Wheelwright/Ensemble

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Tatum Hunter

Girl/Jarvit Daughter/Ensemble

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Naomi Jacobson

Mrs. Meany

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Jared Joplin

Rector Wiggins/Coach Chickering/Randy White/Major Rawls/Ensemble

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John Lescault

Reverend Merrill

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Sean Mellott

Owen Meany/Lenny Bruce

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Matt Mundy

Harold Crosby/Larry Lish/Jarvit Boy/Ensemble

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Kevin Orton

Mr. Fish/Chief Pike/Dr. Dolder/Ensemble

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Lawrence Redmond

Mr. Meany

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Gardner Reed

Tabitha Wheelright/Ensemble

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Koray Tarhan

Boy/Ensemble

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Jeremy Webb

John Wheelright

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David Whalen

Dan Needham/Jarvit Father/Ensemble

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Kate Wilford

Lydia/Sam White/Ensemble

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Simon Bent

Playwright

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John Irving

Book

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Blake Robison

Director

Blake Robison

Blake Robison is in his fifth season as artistic director of the Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park where he oversees artistic and educational programming while serving as co-CEO of the organization. Since his arrival, he has reconceived the theatre's artistic model to include four associate artists, embraced the Playhouse's tradition of new work, made an ongoing commitment to produce culturally diverse plays and multigenerational works, and ramped up the theatre's community engagement.

At the Playhouse, he has directed the world premiere of Karen Zacarías’ Native Gardens, Mad River Rising, Peter and the Starcatcher, Tenderly: The Rosemary Clooney Musical, Pride and Prejudice, 4000 Miles, The Three Musketeers, The Book Club Play and the world premiere of Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa’s Abigail/1702. He collaborated with John Morris Russell and the Cincinnati Pops as director of the concert staging of The Music Man starring Will Chase and Betsy Wolfe. This season at the Playhouse, he will direct the stage adaptation of John Irving’s A Prayer for Owen Meany.

Next summer, Mr. Robison will direct Native Gardens at Guthrie Theater in Minneapolis. Other directing includes productions at Milwaukee Repertory Theater, The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis, Utah Shakespeare Festival, PlayMaker’s Repertory Company, Folger Theatre, Round House Theatre, Clarence Brown Theatre, National Shakespeare Company and Vermont Stage. Internationally, he directed the Tennessee Williams classic Summer and Smoke at English Theatre Berlin and has worked several times at the renowned Avignon Festival in France. As an adapter, he created successful stage versions of Alice McDermott's beloved novel Charming Billy and Jay Parini's The Last Station.

Before joining the Playhouse, he served as producing artistic director of Round House Theatre from 2005-2012, artistic director of Clarence Brown Theatre from 2000-2005 and founding artistic director of Vermont Stage from 1994-2000. He lives in Cincinnati with his wife, Connan Morrissey, and their sons, Declan and Callum.

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James Kronzer

Set Designer

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GALLERY

David Whalen, Jeremy Webb and Gardner Reed in A Prayer for Owen Meany. Photo by Mikki Schaffner.

Sean Mellott and Gardner Reed in A Prayer for Owen Meany. Photo by Mikki Schaffner.

The cast of A Prayer for Owen Meany. Photo by Mikki Schaffner.

Jeremy Webb and Sean Mellott in A Prayer for Owen Meany. Photo by Mikki Schaffner.

Jeremy Webb and Gardner Reed in A Prayer for Owen Meany. Photo by Mikki Schaffner.

Sean Mellott, Ernaisja Curry, Tatum Hunter, Koray Tarhan and Matt Mundy in A Prayer for Owen Meany. Photo by Mikki Schaffner.

Sean Mellott and Jeremy Webb in A Prayer for Owen Meany. Photo by Mikki Schaffner.

The cast of A Prayer for Owen Meany. Photo by Mikki Schaffner.

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