The Pearl to Present Mark Shanahan's THE DINGDONG

The Pearl Theatre Company is pleased to present the world premiere of The Dingdong, Mark Shanahan's adaptation of French farceur Georges Feydeau's Le Dindon. Directed by The Pearl Theatre's Artistic Director Hal Brooks, The Dindong follows the misadventures of one madcap night in a Paris Hotel, dancing us into a world where opening the wrong door in the dark of night leads to mayhem, laughter and, maybe, a few home truths about the secrets to a happy marriage. The production runs April 5-May 15 and features five actors taking on multiple roles in this breezy comedy full of romance, lust and theatricality.

Director Hal Brooks said, "Shanahan's brilliant adaptation of Feydeau's Le Dindon manages to capture all of the essence of farce while making it the perfect vehicle for our incredibly dynamic resident actors. The play works like gangbusters--and I can't wait to finally bring Feydeau to The Pearl audience."

The cast of The Dingdong features The Pearl's Resident Acting Company members Rachel Botchan, Bradford Cover, Chris Mixon, and Brad Heberlee with guest artist and Calloway Award winner Kelley Curran.

The creative team is Sandra Goldmark (Set), Amy Clark (Costumes), Mike Inwood (Lights), and Mikhail Fiksel (Sound), and Miriam Hfyler (Production Stage Manager).

Performances of The Dingdong will take place at The Pearl Theatre, which is located at 555 West 42 Street. Critics are welcome as of Thursday April 14th for an official opening on Monday, April 18th. Tickets are $65 regular, $85 premium ($50 previews, $20 student rush, $20 Thursday rush) and can be purchased by visiting pearltheatre.org or calling 212.563.9261.

Mark Shanahan (Playwright) has appeared as an actor on Broadway's The 39 Steps; Off- Broadway's Tryst (Irish Rep); The Shaughraun (Irish Rep); Checkers (The Vineyard Theatre); As Bees In Honey Drown (Lucille Lortel Theatre); Philadelphia, Here I Come! (Roundabout); The Internationalist (45 Bleecker and Fairfield Theatre); and others. Regionally, he has appeared extensively at The Alley Theatre, The Fulton Opera House, The Westport Country Playhouse, Hartford TheatreWorks, The Kennedy Center, The Denver Center, The Pioneer, Bay Street Theatre, and Penguin Rep and others. His directing work has been seen at The Alley, The George Street Playhouse, Arkansas Rep, Theatre Squared, Florida Studio Theatre, Florida Rep, The Hangar Theatre, The Fulton Opera House, Penguin Rep, The Cape Playhouse, Merrimack Rep and more. Film includes Kill Me (also co-writer), The Felix Chronicles, Safe Men, Bug, Kinsey Three, Endsville, Mad About Harry. On television Mark has appeared on David Letterman and All My Children. Mark is a graduate of Brown University (BA) and Fordham University (MA), where he serves on the faculty. As an author, Mark was nominated for an Edgar Award by the Mystery Writer's of America for his adaptation of The Chronology Protection Case, and with Gibson Frazier he is the co-screenwrter of Kill Me All You Want, now in development.

Hal Brooks (Director) has been Artistic Director of The Pearl Theatre Company since April 2014. At The Pearl, he has directed Molière's Don Juan, Chekhov's Uncle Vanya, Sheridan's The Rivals, Ionesco's Bald Soprano, and Figaro (an adaptation of Beaumarchais' The Marriage of Figaro). Other credits include Residence (Humana Festival 2016); By The Water (Manhattan Theatre Club, Ars Nova); Nilaja Sun's No Child, Will Eno's Pulitzer Finalist Thom Pain (based on nothing), Urge for Going (Public Theater), The Bad Guys (Second Stage), The Whale (Denver Center), Six Years (Humana), Tigers Be Still (Dallas Theater Center), Picasso at the Lapin Agile (Two River). Mr. Brooks is also Artistic Director of The Cape Cod Theatre Project, Associate Artistic Director of the Ojai Playwrights Conference, a member of LCT Directors Lab, a Drama League Fellow, and a recipient of the NEA/TCG Program for Directors.

About The Pearl Theatre Company

As New York's only classical resident company, The Pearl is a theatre where past becomes present. As the advocate for significant plays across history, The Pearl protects and honors the spirit of every play, while also guiding its artistic evolution for future generations. Striking the balance between heritage and innovation, The Pearl explores acknowledged masterpieces, lost treasures, and contemporary adaptations, serving as a nexus of theatrical past, present, and future.

Founded in 1984 by a small troupe of artists in Chelsea, The Pearl has grown into a renowned Off-Broadway company. The Pearl connects audiences to timeless classic plays, while providing an artistic home to theatre professionals, especially its core company of resident actors.

The Pearl has garnered numerous awards, including most recently, a special 2011 Drama Desk Award for "notable productions of classic plays and nurturing a stalwart resident company of actors." In October 2012, The Pearl celebrated the opening of its first permanent home, located at 555 West 42nd Street.

The 32nd Season marks Hal Brooks's second year as Artistic Director of the Company.