SONORA — Sierra Repertory Theatre is bringing Stephen King’s ‘Misery’ to the stage.
Misery previews at the East Sonora Theatre (13891 Mono Way, Sonora) at 2 p.m. on Aug. 26 and opens at 7 p.m. that evening. The production closes Sept. 24.
Regular performance times are Wednesdays at noon, Thursdays at 2 p.m., Fridays at 7 p.m., Saturdays at 2 and 7 p.m., and Sundays at 2 p.m.
Tickets range from $35-$48. Discounts are available for groups of 10 or more, students, veterans, and first responders. Tickets are available by calling the box office at 209-532-3120, visiting SierraRep.org, or emailing tickets@sierrarep.org.
Before William Goldman (the Oscar-winning screenwriter of “Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid,” “All The President's Men,” and “The Princess Bride”) had adapted King's novel Misery for the stage; he had previously written the screenplay for the iconic hit 1990 movie version of the thriller.
Successful romance novelist Paul Sheldon, who is rescued from a car crash by his “number one fan,” Annie Wilkes, wakes up captive in her secluded home. While Paul is convalescing, Annie reads his latest book and becomes enraged when she discovers the author has killed off her favorite character, Misery Chastain.
“Boy, is this script fantastic,” said Scott Viets, SRT’s Executive Producer and director of Misery. “Goldman’s script is thrilling; it is always keeping us (me and the actors) on our toes in rehearsal.”
“The way he can communicate so much in a single line make this 90-minute play absolutely delicious, and so satisfying. And our actors are great — I know them and their process so well, but I find myself sitting in the rehearsal hall getting goosebumps while I get to watch them work. It seems counter-intuitive, Misery should not be this fun.”
The cast also includes Jerry Lee as Paul Sheldon, Laurie Strawn as Annie Wilkes, and Kevin Heath as Buster. Brenda O’Brien will play the role of Annie Wilkes September 16 through 24.
The creative team includes David Goldstein (Set Design), Diana Newington (Costume Design), William Brown (Lighting Design), Tatiana Covington-Parra (Sound Design), Brenda O’Brien (Special Effects, Hair and Make-Up Design), Josh Christensen (Properties Design), and stage managers Joanna Hobbs and Maggie Braun.
Misery is directed by Scott Viets, with fight choreography by Camryn Elias, and an original score by Sean Paxton. Sierra Rep’s season sponsors are Sonora Area Foundation and John and June Rogers.
This production contains violence, mature language and themes of physical and psychological abuse and torture, physical harm, self-harm, and death.
Stephen King’s novel Misery won the first Bram Stoker Award for Novel in 1987 and was nominated for the 1988 World Fantasy Award for Best Novel. An instant classic, reviewers praised King for avoiding the fantasy elements of his past works, and noted the novel's parallels with King's personal life and the study of the relationship between celebrities and their fans.
The novel, which took fourth place in the 1987 bestseller list, was adapted into an Academy Award-winning film directed by Rob Reiner and starring Kathy Bates and James Caan.
For more information about Sierra Repertory Theatre, visit www.SierraRep.org or call the Box Office at (209) 532-3120.
Follow Sierra Repertory Theatre on Instagram at @SierraRep; and on Facebook at Facebook.com/SierraRep. SRT operates out of two theaters, located in East Sonora and in Historic Columbia State Park in Northern California. The East Sonora Theatre is at 13891 Mono Way, Sonora. The Historic Fallon House Theatre is at 11175 Washington St. in Columbia, California.
Both theaters are air-conditioned and ADA accessible.
