A production of Oscar Wilde's comic classic The Importance of Being Earnest will open at the Shakespeare Theatre on New Jersey on September 6th, where it will run on the Madison, NJ theatre's Main Stage through October 2nd.
Helmed by British director Tamara Harvey (Much Ado About Nothing at Shakespeare's Globe and more), the show will star Caralyn Kozlowski (Shakespeare Theatre's Macbeth and Othello, off-Broadway's The Odyssey) as Gwendolen, Gareth Saxe (The Public Theatre's Richard III, Kimberly Akimbo at MTC) as John (and "Jack"/"Ernest"), Elena Shaddow (Shakespeare Theatre's Illyria, Fiddler on the Roof, Nine) as Cecily and Steve Wilson (Illyria, The Frogs, By Jeeves) as Algernon. Also featured in the cast are Jane Altman as Lady Bracknell, Susan Greenhill as Miss Prism and Davis Hall as the Reverend Canon Chasuble, D.D."This wildly witty and ever-popular classic weaves a hilariously tangled web of alter egos and mistaken identities. John Worthing leads a double life as 'Jack' while in London and "Ernest" in the country, which causes comical confusion when he tries to woo the lovely Gwendolen. The mayhem multiplies when Algernon also adopts the alias 'Ernest,' and sets out to visit Jack at his country home. The tables quickly turn on these mischievous young men as their bachelorhood slips and their aliases are stripped, despite the duo's best efforts," as production notes describe the show's plot.
For no more that the cost of a regular ticket, Symposium Series performances on Tuesday, September 13 at 7:30 p.m. and Saturday, September 17 at 2:00 p.m. include the additional treat of a post-play discussion with the cast and artistic staff. Regular ticket prices apply.On Thursday, September 15, The Shakespeare Theatre will present the popular education program Know the Show. From 7:00 to 7:30 p.m., "Harvey will present an insightful pre-performance talk that offers background information and an expert's perspective on the play." General admission is $5 for the general public, $4 for subscribers. Tickets to that evening's 8:00 p.m. performance may be purchased separately for $37 to $41.For school groups, The Shakespeare Theatre will present four Student Matinee performances of The Importance of Being Earnest on Thursday, September 22; Tuesday, September 27; Wednesday, September 28; and Thursday, September 29, all at 11:00 a.m. Tickets to these special on-school-time performances are only $15 each for student groups, including a post-show discussion with the actors and a comprehensive study guide for each teacher. For Student Matinee reservations, call 973-408-3980.
Regular tickets for The Importance of Being Earnest are $27 to $49 ($61 to $65 for Opening Night on September 10), with discounts available for subscribers and groups of 10 or more. The Importance of Being Earnest is sponsored by RBC Dain Rauscher. For tickets, call 973-408-5600 or visit www.ShakespeareNJ.org.
