When the personal conflicts of a long-suffering acting couple, their adult daughter, and a young newcomer start to affect their performances, the audience is guaranteed a front row seat to this company's theatrics. "Half 'n Half 'n Half," a world premiere comedy written by John Kolvenbach and directed by Kyle Fabel, is a farcical behind-the-scenes look at life in a repertory theatre. "Half 'n Half 'n Half" runs at Merrimack Repertory Theatre (MRT) from November 29 through December 23. Tickets begin at just $20 and are on sale now thru MRT.org or by calling 978-654-4678.

"Half 'n Half 'n Half' will feature Jim Ortlieb as George, Carol Halstead as Loretta, Zoë Winters as Frances, and Andrew Pastides as Michael, all making their MRT debut. Kyle Fabel has previously directed "Homestead Crossing," "Mrs. Whitney," "The Persian Quarter," "Fabuloso," "Tranced," and "The Four of Us". The creative team for "Half 'n Half 'n Half" consists of Randall Parsons (Scenic Designer), Paul Hackenmuller (Lighting Designer), J Hagenbuckle (Sound Designer/Composer), and Lara de Brujin (Costume Designer).

Director Kyle Fabel is no stranger to the MRT stage, or to working with playwright John Kolvenbach. "This is my fourth time working on a John Kolvenbach play, third time as a director. And for the first time, I've been involved almost from the ground up. John and I have been reading, work-shopping and scheming 'Half n' Half n' Half' for what seems like ages now, and I can't wait to finally present it to my favorite audience, here at MRT."

Playwright John Kolvenbach elaborated on the production. "'Half 'n Half 'n Half' is a backstage comedy. Four actors are on tour, performing a Russian melodrama and a 1930's Boulevard comedy. We also see them backstage, as themselves. Two of the touring actors are married and in their fifties. They are accompanied by their daughter and a stranger.

The original idea for the play was this: Could you draw a line through all of these disparate styles, an emotional line across the genres that would be continuous, that the audience could follow with their hearts? The two lead actors have been married for decades and have been looking forward to their divorce. In each of the plays within the play, this relationship is pushed and prodded and tested. I hope that the audience will follow the subtext across the melodrama and the comedy, so that the whole - the elaborate, comic and messy whole - will add up to a meditation on marriage and time."

John Kolvenbach says he is very pleased to continue his ongoing collaboration with MRT. This is the third Kolvenbach play produced by MRT, starting with "Fabuloso" in 2010, and then "Mrs. Whitney" last season, both under the direction of Kyle Fabel. Kolvenbach's other plays include: "Goldfish," "Love Song," "on an average day," and "Gizmo Love." "Goldfish" premiered at South Coast Repertory in the spring of 2009, directed by Loretta Greco. "Goldfish" was then produced at the Magic Theatre in San Francisco in the fall of that year. The Magic also premiered "Mrs. Whitney" in the fall of 2009, under Kolvenbach's direction. "Love Song" premiered at Steppenwolf in Chicago in the spring of 2006, directed by Austin Pendelton. "Love Song" went on to the West End, where it was nominated for an Olivier Award, Best New Comedy. The London production was directed by John Crowley, with Neve Campbell, Cillian Murphy, Kristen Johnston and Michael McKean. "Love Song" has been produced in Zurich, Melbourne, Sydney, Wellington, Seoul and Rome. There have been over fifty productions in the US. "on an average day" premiered at the Comedy Theatre on the West End in 2002, with Woody Harrelson and Kyle MacLachlan, also directed by Mr. Crowley. "on an average day" has been produced in Tel Aviv, Buenos Aires, and Lisbon, among many other places. Kolvenbach's plays are published by Methuen and licensed by DPS. Kolvenbach's first screenplay, "Clear Winter Noon," was selected for the Black List in 2008.