After Franklin Woolsey, a famous early twentieth-century novelist, dies mid-sentence, his long-time secretary, Myra Babbage, continues to write the story, claiming that she is still taking dictation from the deceased author. Conflicts arise between Myra, Vivian (Woolsey's jealous widow), and other skeptics who believe that Myra is only finishing the novel for fame and fortune. Is she perpetrating a fraud, or does her insistent claim hold some truth? Written by Michael Hollinger and directed by Charles Towers, Ghost-Writer runs April 19 - May 13 at Merrimack Repertory Theatre.

Ghost-Writer will feature Rebecca Harris as Myra Babbage, Dan Kremer as Franklin Woolsey, and Maureen Garrett as Vivian Woolsey. Rebecca Harris has been involved in several other MRT productions: Mrs. Whitney (currently playing), The Missionary Position, and Fabuloso, and Maureen Garrett returns after previously appearing in Mrs. California. Daniel Kremer will be making his MRT debut. The creative team for Ghost-Writer consists of Bill Clarke (Scenic Design), Deb Newhall (Costume Design), Dan Kotlowitz (Lighting Design), and Jason Weber (Sound Design).

"Ghost-Writer is a magical play" says MRT Artistic Director Charles Towers. "In it, playwright Michael Hollinger has brilliantly interwoven literary finesse, psychic speculation, soul-mate romance, wry humor and genuine mystery. It is a pleasure to savor his craft as a writer, and to discover how he packs so much intellectual delight and emotional pull in this three-actor, eighty minute jewel."

In the fall of 2011, Ghost-Writer received the "Independence Foundation Award for Outstanding New Play" at the Barrymore Awards for Excellence in Theatre. The play is also a winner of the prestigious "2010 Edgerton Foundation New American Plays Award."

Playwright Michael Hollinger says that the inspiration for Ghost-Writer came from an anecdote about Henry James and his secretary who typed his stories as he dictated them. As the story goes, the two became very close and when James died, the secretary claimed to continue receiving dictation from him. "My mother had died shortly before I encountered this story, and, through conversations with my father, I began thinking about 'the presence of absence' - that is, the power that a departed loved one holds over us, and how we negotiate the space left by that person," says Hollinger. He also states that he found inspiration in reflecting upon the creative process behind writing a play.

Hollinger has seen a great deal of success as a playwright with such works as Opus, Tooth and Claw, Red Herring, Incorruptible, An Empty Plate in the Cafe Du Grand Boeuf, and Tiny Island. Starting his career as a musician, he says that he sees some strong similarities in the way that he writes music and the way that he writes plays, considering his plays compositions. Several awards have been given to Hollinger for his work including: Steinberg/ATCA New Play Citation, a Mid-Atlantic Emmy Award, the Frederick Loewe Award for Musical Theatre, two Barrymore Awards, and fellowships from the Independence Foundation, Mid-Atlantic Arts Foundation and Pennsylvania Council on the Arts.

Tickets are available online at MerrimackRep.org or by calling 978-654-4MRT.