Morris-Jumel Mansion Presents New Production of THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING EARNEST

This spring, the Morris-Jumel Mansion in upper Manhattan will present an original production of "The Importance of Being Earnest," Oscar Wilde's farcical play set in Victorian England, in its newly reinterpreted Octagon Drawing Room, recently restored Sunken Garden, front porch, and portico. The Octagon Room contains furnishings and portraits authentic to the era in which the story takes place. Performances run between May 26 and June 11, 2017, on Fridays through Sundays at 6 pm.

Directed by Vincent Carbone, the Mansion's public programs and events manager, with costumes designed by Vanessa Soto, "The Importance of Being Earnest" is Wilde's classic comedic tale about the foibles and conventions of Victorian society revealed through a twisting plot, secret identities, and unexpected revelations. Through witty dialogue and word play, Wilde's characters (both real and imaginary) expose the hypocrisy of class-conscious individuals and rarefied codes of conduct of the day.
The cast includes: Yannick Trapman-O'Brien as Algernon Moncrieff; Robert L. McCaffrey, Jr. as John (Jack) Worthing; Phoebe Dunn as Gwendolyn Fairfax; Tiffany Springle as Cecily Cardew; Constance Copper as Lady Bracknell; Rosanne Rubino as Miss Prism; Andrew Hamling as Doctor Chasuble; and Michael Whitten as the Butler/Manservant.

Admission is $30 per person, $25 for members and seniors, $20 for students with a same day student rush of $10 (limited to 10 tickets per show). In the event of cancellation due to rain, tickets will be reissued for another performance. Tickets are available here.

About Vincent Carbone
Vincent Carbone is a playwright and director who graduated from SUNY, The College at Brockport, Department of Theater. His previous directing credits include "Barefoot in the Park," "Cul-de-Sac," "The Nina Variations," "The Yellow Wallpaper," "Dog Sees God: Confessions of a Teenage Block Head," "Birdbath," and, at Morris-Jumel Mansion, the ghost story "Awakening in Ink," an original adaptation of "Alice in Wonderland," and "Fancy Me Mad."

Morris-Jumel Mansion
At over 250 years old, Morris-Jumel Mansion is Manhattan's oldest house. Built in 1765 by British Army Colonel Roger Morris, the Mansion served as headquarters to General George Washington during the 1776 battle of New York and, for fifty years, was the residence of Eliza Jumel, one of America's richest women and second wife to Vice President Aaron Burr. Today, Morris-Jumel Mansion is a not-for-profit museum, welcoming tens of thousands of international and local visitors annually, including elementary- and high school-age children. Committed to preserving, interpreting, and making relevant to diverse audiences the Mansion's illustrious past and varied collection of period art and furnishings, Morris-Jumel is a member of the Historic House Trust of New York City and the American Alliance of Museums.

The Mansion is located in upper Manhattan at 65 Jumel Terrace, and is open to the public Tuesdays to Fridays from 10 am to 4 pm, and Saturdays and Sundays from 10 am to 5 pm. Accessible by subway on the 1, A, and C subway lines. For more information, visit www.morrisjumel.org.

Photograph by Trish Mayo. Courtesy Morris-Jumel Mansion