Actor to play 40 roles at opera house play

BANGOR – Penobscot Theatre, Bangor’s professional theater company, will present the 2004 Pulitzer and Tony Award-winning drama “I Am My Own Wife” through March 25 at the Bangor Opera House.

The production is made possible by a generous grant by the Maine Equity Fund of the Maine Community Foundation.

“I Am My Own Wife” is the true story of Charlotte von Mahlsdorf, a real life German transvestite who survived the Nazi onslaught and the repressive East German Communist Regime.

Actor Gabriel Sigal transforms himself into close to 40 roles in this one man tour-de-force.

“This exquisite play is impossible to produce without the right actor. Luckily for us, Gabe’s past performances at Penobscot Theatre proved that he was the perfect actor for the play,” said producing artistic director Scott R.C. Levy. “We are thrilled that following the performance run in Bangor, we will be able to bring this important story to at least five other stages throughout Maine.”

The Penobscot Theatre Company’s production of “I Am My Own Wife” is scheduled to take to stages in Dover-Foxcroft, Gardiner, Houlton, Eastport and Bath.

Gabriel Sigal’s last appearances in Bangor include his critically acclaimed portrayal of Einstein in Steve Martin’s “Picasso at the Lapin Agile” and Jigger in the Penobscot Theatre’s al fresco production of Rodgers and Hammerstein’s “Carousel.”

Sigal holds a master’s degree in Shakespeare from George Washington University and studied mime and masks in Paris at Jacques Locoq.

Playwright Doug Wright won the Pulitzer Prize for “I Am My Own Wife” and an Obie Award for his play “Quills.” Wright’s screenplay adaptation of “Quills” garnered three Academy Award nominations and won a Golden Globe for Best Screenplay.

The Penobscot Theatre Company’s production of “I Am My Own Wife” is directed by Levy, whose recent directing credits include “Almost, Maine,” “Picasso at the Lapin Agile” and “Tuesdays with Morrie.”

Shon Causer, who received a master’s degree in lighting design from Temple University, is making his lighting design debut with PTC for “I Am My Own Wife.” Causer is the assistant lighting designer for American Ballet Theatre.

Scenic and costume design for “I Am My Own Wife” is by resident designer Lex Liang, who joined Penobscot Theatre in September 2005 and has lent his talents to every production since then.

Along with the Maine Equity Fund of the Maine Community Foundation, Penobscot Theatre Company thanks Eaton Peabody, production underwriter; The Charles Inn, hospitality sponsor; and Kiss 94.5, WLBZ NewsCenter 2 and the Bangor Daily News, media sponsors.

Performances of “I Am My Own Wife” will be presented at 7 p.m. Thursday, March 22; 8 p.m. Thursday, Friday and Saturday, March 15, 23 and 24; 2 p.m. Sunday, Saturday and Sunday, March 18, 24 and 25; and 5 p.m. Saturday, March 17 at the Bangor Opera House, 131 Main St.

For tickets and information, call 942-3333 or visit www.penobscottheatre.org. Ticket prices begin at $15.

The Penobscot Theatre will tour “I Am My Own Wife” at:

. 7 p.m. March 30, Center Theatre, Dover-Foxcroft.

. 7:30 p.m. March 31, Johnson Hall, Gardiner.

. 7 p.m. April 4, Houlton High School.

. 7 p.m. April 5, Eastport Arts Center, Eastport.

. 7:30 p.m. April 7, Chocolate Church, Bath.