Casting Announced for NJ Shakespeare's 'Time of Your Life'

The Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey launches the Fall portion of its 2007 season with a rarely-performed modern American classic by William Saroyan, author of the novel and screenplay The Human Comedy.  The Time of Your Life takes the stage at the Shakespeare Theatre's Main Stage -- the F.M. Kirby Shakespeare Theatre in Madison -- on Tuesday, September 4 and continues performances through Sunday, September 30th.   

This production was selected by the New Jersey State Council on the Arts as part of the American Masterpieces Series in New Jersey.   American Masterpieces is a program of the National Endowment for the Arts.       

"The author of dozens of plays, novels, stories and screenplays, William Saroyan wrote The Time of Your Life in 1939.  It opened on Broadway in October of that year and featured such well-known actors as Gene Kelly and Celeste Holm.   The following year, the play was awarded the Pulitzer Prize and in 1948 it was adapted into a feature film starring James Cagney.  Set in a San Francisco waterfront saloon, The Time of Your Life features a cast of more than 20 colorful and off-beat characters, representing the universal scope of the common man.  "The people in the play are people you are likely to see any day in almost any part of America, certainly at least in certain kinds of American places," wrote Saroyan," state press notes.

"The play's anti-hero, Joe, has chosen Nick's Pacific Street Saloon as the place to spend 'the time of his life.'  Joining him in this tapestry of an America under the threat of impending war are such vibrant and idealistic personalities as Harry – the hoofer who wants to make people laugh; Tom – Joe's disciple; and Kitty Duval – a 'wanna-be' burlesque dancer.    Hope, optimism, love, and compassion abound – all the way to the surprising and dramatic ending of this ode to the value of living life to its absolute fullest."

Shakespeare Theatre veteran Andrew Weems plays Joe, the mysterious central figure in the play.   Weems last appeared at The Shakespeare Theatre in Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead and appeared in prior seasons in Rhinoceros and in the title role in King John. Ned Noyes, making his Shakespeare Theatre debut, plays Tom – loyal friend to Joe.   Noyes has appeared at several prestigious Chicago regional theatres including Steppenwolf, Chicago Shakespeare Theatre and The Court Theatre.  Gregory Derelian plays Nick, the owner of the honky-tonk saloon.   Derelian returns to The Shakespeare Theatre for his ninth season, having most recently appeared in Taming of the Shrew on the Outdoor Stage.  Shakespeare Theatre newcomer Sofia Jean Gomez plays Kitty Duval, who dreams of a life as a burlesque star.  Gomez recently appeared at the Manhattan Theatre Club in Regrets Only and Mirror of the Invisible World, adapted and directed by Mary Zimmerman at the Goodman Theatre. 

Blake Hackler plays Harry – the dancer who simply wants to make people laugh.  Making his Shakespeare Theatre debut, Hackler was seen on Broadway in The Adventures of Tom Sawyer. Newcomer Christopher Burns debuts at The Shakespeare Theatre as Blick – a dangerous man who oversteps his authority with devastating consequences.  Burns appeared in the London production and U.S. Tour of Stones in His Pockets and on Broadway in the recent revival of Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf.  In his twelfth season with The Shakespeare Theatre, Edmond Genest returns to play Kit Carson – a man with a treasure trove of fascinating stories.  Genest most recently appeared in The Shakespeare Theatre production of Pride and Prejudice.  His many Broadway credits include The Elephant Man with Billy Crudup. Shakespeare Theatre veteran Allison Daugherty returns to play the beautiful Mary L.   Daugherty last appeared at The Shakespeare Theatre as Mistress Ford in Merry Wives of Windsor.  Paul Meshejian makes his debut at The Shakespeare Theatre in the role of the Arab.  Meshejian has been a member of the acting company at People's Light and Theatre for 16 years and is the founding artistic director of PlayPenn, a new play development conference.  Sean Mahan returns to The Shakespeare Theatre to play Krupp, the cop.   Mahan appeared last season in Pride and Prejudice and Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead. 

Rounding out the epic cast of characters are Salvatore Cacciato, Carole Caton, Megan Irene Davis, Jenifer Gawlik, Michael Mungiello, John Nahigian, Barry Smith and Anthony Stokes.  

The Time of Your Life begins performances on September 4 and continues through September 30th.   For tickets or more information, call 973-408-5600 or visit www.ShakespeareNJ.org.  

Performances are Tuesdays through Sundays.  Regular ticket prices are $28-$52.  Discount ticket packages are also available.  For tickets or more information, call 973-408-5600 or visit the company's website.