Photo Flash: IMPORTANCE OF BEING EARNEST Celebrates 100 Performances

Last night, March 15th, Roundabout Theatre Company (Todd Haimes, Artistic Director) celebrated the 100th performance of the new Broadway production of Oscar Wilde's comedy The Importance of Being Earnest, directed by and starring Brian Bedford as "Lady Bracknell," at the American Airlines Theatre on Broadway (227 West 42nd St.). Check out photos from the celebration below!

The cast also features Dana Ivey as "Miss Prism," Paxton Whitehead as "Rev. Canon Chasuble," Santino Fontana as "Algernon Moncrieff," David Furr as "John Worthing," Tim MacDonald as "Merriman," Paul O'Brien as "Lane," Charlotte Parry as "Cecily Cardew," Sara Topham as "Gwendolen Fairfax" and Amanda Leigh Cobb as "Servant." Beginning March 22nd, Brian Murray will take over the role of "Rev. Canon Chasuble," Jayne Houdyshell will take over as "Miss Prism" and Jessie Austrian as "Gwendolen Fairfax."

The limited engagement of The Importance of Being Earnest has been extended 17-weeks through Sunday, July 3rd, 2011. It was originally scheduled to run through March 6th, 2011.

The design team includes Desmond Heeley (Sets & Costumes), Duane Schuler (Lights) and Drew Levy (Sound).

The Importance of Being Earnest is a glorious comedy of mistaken identity, which ridicules codes of propriety and etiquette. Dashing men-about-town John Worthing and Algernon Moncrieff pursue fair ladies Gwendolen Fairfax and Cecily Cardew. Matters are complicated by the imaginary characters invented by both men to cover their on-the-sly activities - not to mention the disapproval of Gwendolen's mother, the formidable Lady Bracknell.

Wilde's classic production premiered in 1895 at the St. James Theatre in London offering a stinging critique of love, sex and social hypocrisy that remains relevant today.

It has been announced that this celebrated production of The Importance of Being Earnest will be screened in HD on cinema screens across the world, beginning June 2nd. The live performance was captured using seven HD cameras and features the original Roundabout Broadway company. For more information: www.earnesthd.com