Center Stage Tackling “Reasons To Be Pretty”

Center Stage at Southampton Cultural Center (SCC) will open 2019 with Neil LaBute’s Reasons to be Pretty.

Debuting at SCC’s Levitas Center for the Arts on Friday, January 11, the production stars Bethany Dellapolla, Jonathan Fogarty, John Lovett and Bethany Trowbridge.

The play revolves around two couples that become increasingly unhappy with their dull, unfulfilling lives and relationships. A seemingly innocent comment that Greg makes about his girlfriend Steph’s appearance sparks a tumultuous turn in the couple’s relationship – leading to Greg’s life spiraling out of control. Greg’s co-worker and best friend Kent is married to Steph’s best friend Carly. When Greg and Steph’s relationship starts to crumble, Kent and Carly are pulled into the drama.

“LaBute celebrates the ‘uncommonness’ of common speech in Reasons to be Pretty,” Joan M. Lyons, who will direct the SCC production, noted. “As a director with my cast, I’ve come to understand that the more dialogue and words one chooses to use to communicate, the less communication there seems to be.”

Originally produced by MCC theater, Reasons to be Pretty premiered off-Broadway at the Lucille Lortel theater in June 2008. It is the final installment of LaBute’s trilogy, which includes The Shape of Things and Fat Pig. The play won the 2009 Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Featured Actor in a Play (Pablo Schreiber), the 2009 theater World Award, and earned three Tony Award nominations.

Reasons to be Pretty will run Friday, January 11 through Sunday, January 27 – with performances on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays at 7 p.m., and Sundays at 2:30 p.m.

General admission is $25. There is also a brunch theater package available at Fellingham’s and dinner theater packages available at the Plaza Cafe and Claude’s.

Southampton Cultural Center’s The Levitas Center for the Arts is located at 25 Pond Lane in Southampton. For more information, call 631-287-4377 or visit www.scc-arts.org.