NEW HAVEN, CT - Long Wharf Theatre under the leadership of Artistic Director Gordon Edelstein and Managing Director Joan Channick, presents Shipwrecked! An Entertainment - The Amazing Adventures of Louis de Rougemont (as told by himself) written by New Haven resident and Pulitzer Prize-winner Donald Margulies, directed by Evan Cabnet from Feb. 13 - March 16 on Stage II.

In Margulies' new play, an old man named Louis de Rougemont finds that stardom is a fleeting thing.

Gaining notoriety at the turn of the century for his fantastic tale of being shipwrecked, living on a remote island with his beautiful islander wife and learning to ride sea turtles, de Rougemont recalls his adventures wistfully even while his audience becomes increasingly more skeptical.

This whimsical fantasy challenges audiences to think about the delicate dance between truth and fiction - are the quiet lives we lead enough to make a mark on the world? How far do we go to be remembered and loved?

The play was initially commissioned by South Coast Repertory Theatre as a piece for young audiences. However, in crafting the material Margulies found nuance that would go well beyond its target audiences of children.

"My aim with Shipwrecked! An Entertainment - The Amazing Adventures of Louis de Rougemont (as told by himself) was to capture the attention of the hidden child in everyone in my audience," wrote Margulies in the Los Angeles Times.

"I wanted to write a play that would make no attempt to replicate onstage what television and movies do but would instead celebrate the uniqueness of theatre. My impulse was to strip away the trappings of spectacle and get back to what theatre does best: tell stories that reflect our world or create new ones that can enlighten, amuse, transport, make you forget, or force you to remember.

"I set out to tell a ripping good yarn, the sort of narrative that captivated me when I was a boy, that I think enthralled all of us. For my subject, I was drawn to a story about the very nature of storytelling," he wrote.

Curtain times are Tuesdays and Wednesdays at 7 p.m., Thursdays and Fridays at 8 p.m., Saturdays at 3 p.m. and 8 p.m., and Sundays at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. Opening Night is Wednesday, Feb. 20, at 7:30 p.m.

Tickets are $31.25-$61.25 and are available online; by calling the box office at (203) 787-4282; and in person at the box office, 222 Sargent Drive, New Haven.

Audience members are invited to enrich their theatre-going experience by participating in any of Long Wharf Theatre's premiere events during the run of Shipwrecked!

Backstage With . . .

• The Artistic Director, Thursday, Feb. 14, at 7 p.m. - Gordon Edelstein will interview a member of the artistic team.
• The Technical Staff, Thursday, March 6, at 7 p.m. - Long Wharf's technical staff will provide an inside look at technical tricks and the construction of Shipwrecked!.

Pre-Play Introduction

• Saturday, February 23 and Saturday, March 8, at 2 pm - Long Wharf's Artistic staff leads a discussion emphasizing the secrets and challenges of the creative process during the making of Shipwrecked!.

Audience Exchange

• Tuesdays, Feb. 26, March 4 and 11, immediately following performance - Meet members of the acting company and artistic staff for a post-performance discussion.

Sunday Symposium

• Sunday, March 9, immediately following matinee performance - Long Wharf Theatre presents a panel discussion with scholars and artist discussing the issues of the play. Free admission.