Misery
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October 15, 2025 – November 2, 2025
By William Goldman, based on the novel by Stephen King
Chilling Classic
“I am your number one fan.”
Following a wintry car accident, notable author Paul Sheldon is rescued by Annie, his “number one fan.” What begins as a rescue turns into a nightmare as Annie’s obsession takes hold. Based on Stephen King’s terrifying novel that inspired the Oscar winning film, this production will have you on the edge of your seat.
RUN TIME: 90 minutes, no intermission
Media Sponsor: WBUR
Notable Performance Dates
Notable Performance Dates
- $5 First Night – Wednesday, October 15
- $10 Lowell Night – Thursday, October 16
- Press Opening Night – Saturday, October 18
- Ask the Artist: Post Show Conversation with the Cast – Thursday, October 30
Cast
KAREN MacDONALD
Karen is a Boston based artist and has worked at the MRT many times, most recently in A Christmas Carol( 3 seasons as Scrooge) and Gaslight. Other recent work includes Pru Payne(Speakeasy Stage), Nassim ( Huntington Theatre Company), Wipeout (Gloucester Stage) and Rooted( Lyric Stage).
Regional work includes Greater Boston Stage Company, Trinity Rep, Gamm Theatre, Boston Theatre Company, Sleeping Weazel, Martha’s Vineyard Playhouse, Commonwealth Shakespeare Company, New Repertory Theatre, Arts Emerson, Boston Playwrights Theatre, Portland Stage, Hartford Stage and Berkshire Theatre Festival
A Founding Company Member of the American Repertory Theatre, she appeared in 73 productions, including Endgame, The Sea Gull, Mother Courage, No Exit, Highway Ulysses and Othello, performing in Cambridge and touring internationally.
On Broadway, she understudied and performed the role of Amanda Winfield in John Tiffany’s production of The Glass Menagerie.
Nationally, she has worked extensively, from Philadelphia’s Wilma Theatre to Berkeley Rep.
She appeared with The BSO at Symphony Hall and Tanglewood, playing Titania in a concert version of Mendelssohn’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream and premiered A Soldier’s Carol with the Boston Pops.
Her teaching credits include Harvard University for over two decades, teaching undergraduates and extension students and Boston College, where she was the Monin Fellow 2010-2011.
Karen is the recipient of several Eliot Norton and IRNE awards for her work and she received both the Robert Brustein Award for Sustained Achievement in the Theatre and the Eliot Norton Prize for Sustained Excellence.
She is married to sound designer, David Remedios.
TOM COINER
Tom Coiner is thrilled to be returning for MRT’s 47th season. Tom was born in Marlborough, went to Kenyon College, and got his MFA from the National Theater Conservatory. Off-Broadway: The Daughter in Law (Mint Theater), God Said This (Primary Stages). MRT: Gaslight, The 39 Steps, A Christmas Carol, Silent Sky. Other Theatres: The Winter’s Tale, The 39 Steps (Utah Shakespeare Festival), The Invisible Hand (Milwaukee Rep), The Full Catastrophe, On Clover Road, Wrecked, and Support Group for Men (Contemporary American Theater Festival), God Said This (Humana Festival), Good Men Wanted (New York Stage & Film), Both Your Houses, Our Betters, The Little Foxes, and The Great Society (Asolo Rep). TV: Law & Order: SVU, Law & Order, The Good Fight, Boardwalk Empire, The Night Of, Person of Interest, It’s Bruno! GAMES: Red Dead Redemption 2.
CHRISTOPHER CENTINARO
Chris is delighted to be making his MRT debut. Other Credits include A Christmas Carol (Alabama Shakespeare Festival) The Winter’s Tale, Henry VIII, Taming of the Shrew, Coriolanus, & Timon of Athens (Utah Shakespeare Festival)and Mojada, Oedipus El Rey (Indianapolis Shakespeare Company).
Content Advisory
Misery contains scenes of stage violence, stage blood, simulated gunshot sound effects, strobing light effects, and strong language.
Press Release
PRESS RELEASE – FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
DATE: August 11, 2025
PR CONTACT: carolyn.andrews@mrt.org
PRODUCTION PHOTOS BY MEG MOORE/MEGPIX. COM CAN BE FOUND HERE
MERRIMACK REPERTORY THEATRE OPENS ITS 2025-26 SEASON WITH STEPHEN KING’S MISERY
Lowell, MA — The Merrimack Repertory Theatre (MRT) is proud to begin its 2025-26 season with Misery, adapted by William Goldman based on the novel by Stephen King. This thrilling stage adaptation of the popular book runs October 15 through November 2, 2025, at the Nancy L. Donahue Theatre at Liberty Hall.
In this gripping psychological thriller, celebrated novelist Paul Sheldon is rescued from a car crash during a blizzard by Annie Wilkes—his self-proclaimed “number one fan.” What begins as a lifesaving gesture spirals into a chilling battle of wills when Annie’s obsession takes a sinister turn. Best known for the iconic 1990 film that earned Kathy Bates an Oscar, Misery on stage delivers the same suspense, heightened by the intimacy of live theatre.
Director Courtney Sale shares, “Stephen King uses the fundamental tools of suspense to grasp the human psyche of the audience. There is nothing supernatural in this work. Misery has no monsters, no ghosts. Instead, the story probes the darkest corners of human existence – obsession, captivity, physical and psychological torture. These elements deliver a profound impact – the story isn’t scary simply just to scare; beneath the tension we find a bigger reflection on control and the boundaries between devotion and obsession.”
The production boasts an accomplished cast of MRT veterans and new faces. Karen MacDonald stars as Annie Wilkes. MacDonald is a founding Company Member of American Repertory Theatre and a pillar of the Boston theatre scene, her previous MRT credits include A Christmas Carol (2024), Gaslight (2023), Erma Bombeck: At Wit’s End (2022), and The Rise and Fall of Holly Fudge (2021). Tom Coiner returns to MRT in the role of Paul Sheldon. His screen credits include Law & Order: SVU, and he was most recently seen on the MRT stage in A Christmas Carol (2024), Gaslight, and The 39 Steps (2022). Christopher Centinaro makes his MRT debut and rounds out the cast as Buster, the local sheriff in the rural Colorado town where the story unfolds. Centinaro’s stage work includes performances at the Utah Shakespeare Festival and the Alabama Shakespeare Festival.
Misery is directed by MRT’s Executive Artistic Director Courtney Sale. In addition to her recent productions at MRT, Courtney’s directing has been featured nationwide, including Tiny Beautiful Things at Seattle Rep and Support Group for Men, and The Overview Effect at the Contemporary American Theater Festival.
The production team also includes Ryan Bates, who makes his MRT debut as Scenic Designer. Based in New England, Bate’s work has been featured across numerous regional theatres including New Repertory Theatre and Bridge Repertory Theatre. Yao Chen serves as Costume Designer. Chen’s MRT credits include Lady Day at Emerson’s Bar and Grill (2025) and What You Are Now (2025), as well as work at the Utah Shakespeare Festival. Brian J. Lilienthal and David Remedios return to MRT as Lighting Designer and Sound Designer respectfully. Brian J. Lilienthal has done 38 productions with MRT including Silent Sky (2017), and A Christmas Carol (2022). David Remedios is know for his work on acclaimed MRT Productions such as The
Search for Signs of Intelligent Life In The Universe ( 2024), Lady Day at Emerson’s Bar and Grill (2025).
Tickets for Misery are available now on mrt.org, as well as by contacting the Rockland Trust Bank Box Office at 978-654-4678 or box_office@mrt.org. Other discounts are also available for Misery, including student discount ticket prices to any show, in person, by phone, or online. For Middlesex Community College (MCC) and UML students, $15 tickets are available with Student ID proof required for ticket pickup. Recurring discounts include the $5 first night, $10 Lowell night as well as Educator, Group, Military discounts, and much more. For further information, visit www.mrt.org/discountsandevents or contact the Rockland Trust Bank Box Office.
After Misery, MRT will be welcoming the cast of Ring of Fire: The Music of Johnny Cash, co-directed by Courtney Sale and Karen Oster, from November 29th through December 24th. Get ready for a rollicking musical ride. Ring of Fire brings the celebrated sound of the Man in Black on stage with a genre-spanning mix of rock & roll, country, and gospel. Featuring timeless hits like “I Walk the Line,” “A Boy Named Sue,” and many more, this dynamic production explores the life, struggles, and triumphs of one of America’s most legendary artists.
About Merrimack Repertory Theatre
Celebrating its 47th Season, Merrimack Repertory Theatre has been Merrimack Valley’s professional theatre company since 1979 and is an integral part of Lowell’s identity as the cultural heart of the region. MRT’s mission is to build community through theatre. A five-show season runs through May in the intimate 279-seat Nancy L. Donahue Theatre. The company is known as a leader in producing new plays, especially world and regional premieres. MRT is one of 72 theatres nationwide (one of three in Massachusetts) with membership in LORT (the League of Resident Theatres).
Merrimack Repertory Theatre
Performance Space: The Nancy L. Donahue Theatre at Liberty Hall
(In Liberty Hall, adjacent to Lowell Memorial Auditorium)
50 E. Merrimack Street
Lowell, MA 01852
Box Office: 978-654-4678 | mrt.org
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Press Coverage and Reviews
- The Boston Globe Review: Karen MacDonald gives a career-highlight performance in ‘Misery’
- “MISERY” named Top 10 Shows of the Year by The Boston Globe Theatre Critic Don Aucoin
- Karen MacDonald sits down with Lowell Sun “Stages”
- Tom Coiner with Kilian Melloy of Theater Mirror
- Stage and Cinema Review “Misery”
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