American Repertory Theater presents Wild Swans

American Repertory Theater (A.R.T.) continues its 2011-12 season with Wild Swans, the first stage version of Jung Chang's astonishing personal memoir. The production begins previews on Saturday, February 11 at the Loeb Drama Center, 64 Brattle Street, Cambridge. The production runs through March 11, 2012 then transfers to the London's Young Vic.

China, at the heart of the 20th Century, became a nation transformed beyond recognition. Through the eyes of one fiercely courageous family, Wild Swans takes us on a journey from the early days of Communist hope and struggle, through the chaos and confusion of Mao's Cultural Revolution, to the birth of a superpower.

Actress Katie Leung, best known as Harry Potter's girlfriend Cho Chang in the film series, will play Er-Hong, the character based on Jung Chang, and lead the cast of British and American actors including Oliver Biles as Jian, Eric Chan as Dr. Wan, Annie Chang as Dai, Ka-Ling Cheung as De-Hong, Victor Chi as Heng, Celeste Den as Ting, Joanne Fong as Huifen, Jon Kit Lee as Bo Lin, Orion Lee as Shou-Yu, Jennifer Lim Mrs. Shu, Les Mau as Comrade Chi, Ron Nakahara as Commissar Lin, Zenghui Qui as a musician and ensemble member, and Julyana Soelistyo as Yu Fang.

Wild Swans unites the talents of Young Vic directorSacha Wares (Sucker Punch, Royal Court), adapter/playwright Alexandra Wood (The Eleventh Hour), and designer Miriam Buether (Anna Nicole, Royal Opera House; King Lear, The Public Theater NYC). The production will include specially commissioned video designs by groundbreaking Beijing artist Wang GongXin, whose work has been seen at MOMA in San Francisco, the V&A and many other major galleries throughout the world. Costume design is by Tom Rand, sound design by Gareth Fry, lighting design by D M Wood, choreography by Leon Baugh, projections by Tim Reid, and music by Zenghui Qiu.

The American Repertory Theater (A.R.T.) is one of the country's most celebrated theaters and the winner of numerous awards, including the Tony Award, the Pulitzer Prize and Elliot Norton and I.R.N.E. Awards. In May of 2003 it was named one of the top three regional theaters in the country by Time magazine. The A.R.T. was founded by Robert Brustein in 1980, who served as Artistic Director until 2002, when he was succeeded by Robert Woodruff. In 2008, Diane Paulus became the A.R.T.'s Artistic Director. During its 31-year history, the A.R.T. has welcomed manymajor American and international theater artists, presenting a diverse repertoire that includes premieres of American plays, bold reinterpretations of classical texts and provocative new music theater productions. The A.R.T. has performed throughout the U.S. and worldwide in 21 cities in 16 countries onfour continents.

Since becoming Artistic Director, Diane Paulus has programmed innovative work that has enhanced theA.R.T.'s core mission to expand the boundaries of theater. Productions such as Sleep No More, The Donkey Show, Gatz, The Blue Flower, Prometheus Bound and Death and the Powers: The Robots' Opera have immersed audiences in original theatrical experiences. The A.R.T.'s club theater, OBERON, which Paulus calls a "second stage for the 21st century," has become an incubator for local artists and has also attracted national attention for its groundbreaking model for programming. Through all of its work, the A.R.T. is committed to building a community of artists, technicians, educators, staff and audience, all of whom are integral to theA.R.T.'s mission to expand the boundaries of theater.

The balance of the A.R.T.'s 2011-12 Season includes AS YOU LIKE IT by William Shakespeare, featuring members of The A.R.T. /MXAT Institute for Advanced Theater Training Class of 2012 (Loeb Drama Center • January 13 - January 28); the world premiere of FUTURITY: A Musical by The Lisps, with music and lyrics by Cesar Alvarez with The Lisps; book by Molly Rice and Cesar Alvarez; directed by Sarah Benson (Oberon • March 16 - April 15); and WOODY SEZ, with words and music by Woody Guthrie, devised by David M. Lutken with Nick Corley (Loeb Drama Center • May 5 - May 26).

The Loeb Drama Center, located at 64 Brattle Street, Harvard Square, Cambridge, is accessible to persons with special needs and to thoserequiring wheelchair seating or first-floor restrooms. Deaf and hard-of-hearing patrons can also reach the theater by calling the toll-free N.E. Telephone Relay Center at 1-800-439-2370.

For further information call 617-547-8300 or visit americanrepertorytheater.org.

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