Regional Premiere of "Shining City" at Beck Center

Beck Center for the Arts proudly presents the regional premiere of "Shining City" from April 1 through May 1 in the intimate Studio Theater. Show times are 8 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays, and 3 p.m. on Sundays.  

Written by the Tony® nominated and Olivier® winning playwright Conor McPherson, this haunting play begins when a guilt-ridden man reaches out to his therapist after seeing the ghost of his recently deceased wife. Wrestling with his own demons, the therapist can only do so much to help. Their sessions soon become a gripping struggle to survive through parallel journeys of self-discovery. "The New York Times" praised "Shining City" as being “as close to perfection as contemporary playwriting gets.” 

Having previously performed at Beck Center, the award winning Bernadette Clemens now returns as director for this psychological thriller. Trained at Columbia University and the British American Drama Academy, Clemens currently serves as the Co-Artistic Director and Co-Producer of Mamaí Theatre Company. "McPherson is a known playwright, and audiences will walk into the Studio Theatre assured of his proven gifts,” said Clemens. “What they may not be prepared for is this gem of a play.”

The talented cast of four includes Ursula Cataan, Nicholas Chokan, Robert Hawkes, and Adam Heffernan. Cataan and Heffernan appear courtesy of the Actors’ Equity Association. “Three men and one woman navigate a transient struggle as McPherson manipulates our allegiances from one scene to the next,” Clemens continued. “'Shining City' ultimately leads us to the final moments of the play with a hair-raising, mind-bending twist. It's a train ride, a ghost story, and possibly a lesson."

Tickets are $31 for adults, $27 for seniors (65 and older), and $12 for students. A $3 service fee per ticket will be applied. Purchase tickets online at beckcenter.org, or call Customer Service at 216-521-2540 x10. Beck Center for the Arts is located at 17801 Detroit Avenue in Lakewood.