Mrs. Whitney, written by John Kolvenbach, directed by Kyle Fabel, follows the comedic journey of middle-aged divorcee Margaret Whitney as she attempts to reconnect with her long-estranged ex-husband, Tom. After realizing her loneliness in the absence of her newly-wed daughter, Mrs. Whitney sets about locating her ne'er-do-well ex, sending her on an odyssey of surprising and sharply-funny encounters. Mrs. Whitney runs March 15 - April 15 at Merrimack Repertory Theatre. Tickets are available online at MerrimackRep.org or by calling 978-654-4MRT.

Mrs. Whitney will feature Deirdre Madigan as Margaret Whitney, Joel Colodner as Francis, Rebecca Harris as Louisa, Jay Ben Markson as Fin, and Dennis Parlato as Tom Whitney. Madigan and Harris have graced the MRT stage before, Madigan in Gun-Shy and Harris in The Missionary Position and Fabuloso (also by Kolvenbach). Colodner, Markson, and Parlato all make their MRT debuts. Kyle Fabel has previously directed Trying, The Four of Us, Tranced, Fabuloso, and The Persian Quarter at MRT. The creative team for Mrs. Whitney consists of Campbell Baird (Scenic Design), Deb Newhall (Costume Design), and Paul Hackenmueller (Lighting Design).

"I'm beyond excited to be working on my third John Kolvenbach play" says director Kyle Fabel who previously directed Kolvenbach's Fabuloso at MRT, "John's plays are all rich, both with irresistible humor and with deep, complex, compassionate insight into the human soul. This play has plenty of the former, but perhaps more of the latter than any of his others. Also, having John more involved in the process this time around has already proven wonderfully rewarding."

"The idea for this play comes from a radio station which played American standards in the 70's, WNEW in New York, from the DJ's William B. Williams and Jonathan Schwartz, and from the mid-career albums of Frank Sinatra (Wee Small Hours) and Bob Dylan (Blood on the Tracks and Desire)" says playwright John Kolvenbach. "The play is about romance and loneliness. It's about the notion that love is a cure for the fundamental human difficulty: that we are born and remain alone. It's about how that romantic notion both sustains and betrays us. It's a comedy. About heartbreak."

John Kolvenbach has enjoyed a great deal of international success as a playwright. Author of Goldfish, Love Song, on an average day, Gizmo Love, Fabuloso, and of course Mrs. Whitney, his plays have been performed in Zurich, Melbourne, Sydney, Tel Aviv, Buenos Aires, and Lisbon among many others. Love Song made its way to the West End in London where it was nominated for an Olivier Award for best new comedy. On an average day premiered at the Comedy Theatre on the West End in 2002 starring Woody Harrelson and Kyle MacLachlan. His screenplay Clear Winter Noon was selected for the Black List in 2008, and he is currently writing a screenplay for MGM.