‘Collected Stories’ opens at Artists’ Ensemble March 16

Staff Report

Celebrated writer Ruth Steiner teaches at NYU but would much rather spend her time holed up in her Greenwich Village apartment. Into Ruth’s haven stumbles insecure Lisa Morrison, a student and aspiring writer. Seeing potential, Ruth reluctantly agrees to act as Lisa’s mentor.

Over the years, Lisa moves from being Ruth’s student to her assistant, to her trusted friend.

Then, Lisa crosses a line, and an explosion ignites with accusations of betrayal.

Collected Stories, the acclaimed drama by Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Donald Margulies, opens March 16 at Rockford’s Artists’ Ensemble Theater.

The New York Times raved, “The emotional current between performers takes on a sweeping, electric life of its own as these women chart the rise and fall of a friendship.”

Ensemble member Linda Abronski plays Ruth, and Chicago actress Lydia Berger returns to AE to play Lisa with Richard Raether directing. The two actresses last shared the AE stage in Jeeves in Bloom in 2009.

Performances are Thursdays at 7:30 p.m., Fridays at 8 p.m., Saturdays at 4 and 8 p.m., and Sundays at 2 p.m.

Thursday tickets are $19. All other performances are $28, $26 for seniors, and $10 for students.

Tickets may be purchased online at www.artistsensemble.org or by calling (815) 904-2277.

Artists’ Ensemble is an Equity professional theater performing in residence at Rockford College.

From the March 14-20, 2012, issue

Print This Article