THE MAY QUEEN at The Cape Playhouse

The May Queen, the sassy, new office comedy, has its Cape Playhouse premiere as the fourth play in in the historic theatre's 90th anniversary season. Directed by Amanda Charlton, it plays a two week engagement, July 26 - August 6; press night is set for Tuesday, July 26 at 7:30 pm.

In Molly Smith Metzler's The May Queen, everyone who graduated from the Kingston, NY High School class of '97 wonders what happened to their adorable May Queen. Some say she became one of Elliot Spitzer's hookers...others say she married a sheik in Dubai...but when she suddenly resurfaces in town and starts temping in a small insurance agency, things are a far cry from what they expected. Gossip kicks into high gear among these classmates turned co-workers in this fun, fresh, and savvy new office comedy with a gigantic heart.

Making their Cape Playhouse debut are Julian Leong (Netflix's "Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt," NBC's "Shades of Blue") as David Lund; Keira Naughton(Broadway's The Rivals, Dance of Death, and Three Sisters; television: "Body of Proof," "Law & Order: SVU," "Sex and the City;"), as Gail Gillespie; Peter O'Connor(Starz's "Flesh & Bone," NBC's "Mercy," "Ed" and "Book of Daniel") as Michael Petracca; Natasha Warner (feature films Farah Goes Bang and Odyssea) asNicole Chen and Ariel Woodiwiss (Significant Other at Roundabout Theatre and The Convent of Pleasure at Cherry Lane Theatre) as Jennifer Nash.

Amanda Charlton (Cape Playhouse debut; Williamstown Theatre Festival, Atlantic Stage, Geva Theater) directs. The design team includes Timothy Mackabee(scenic design), Amy Clark (costume design), Jake DeGroot (lighting design), and Bart Fassbender (sound design).

Molly Smith Metzler grew up in Kingston, New York. Her plays - including Elemeno Pea, Close Up Space, Carve, andTraining Wisteria - have been produced by Manhattan Theatre Club, Actors Theatre of Louisville (Humana Festival), South Coast Repertory, SPF, Cherry Lane Mentor Project, Ars Nova, Tristan Bates Theatre (London), Boston Playwrights' Theatre, and The Kennedy Center, where she was the recipient of three KCACTF national playwriting awards. Her work has also been developed by The O'Neill Theater Center, Manhattan Theatre Club, Chautauqua Theatre Company, Williamstown Theatre Festival, Playwrights Horizons, The Lark, and more. She is a recent graduate of The Juilliard School and a member of the Ars Nova Play Group, Primary Stages writing group, and EST.

Playing July 26 through August 6, performances are Monday through Wednesday evenings at 7:30 pm, Thursday through Saturday evenings at 8:00 pm, with matinees on Wednesdays and Thursdays at 2:00 pm and Saturdays at 4:00 pm.

Tickets begin at $35.00, and can be purchased at CapePlayhouse.com, at the Cape Playhouse Box Office (820 Main Street, Route 6A, Dennis, MA), or by phone at508-385-3911.

The non-profit Cape Playhouse was founded in 1927 by Californian Raymond Moore, who spent several summers in Provincetown painting scenery, writing plays, and acting in local theatre. His vision, however, was to have a theatre of his own - a smart, sophisticated summer theatre that would bring Broadway to Cape Cod. He purchased a 19th-century former Unitarian Meeting House for $200, had it moved to 3½ acres of pasture land fronting the Old Kings Highway in Dennis, and converted it into a professional theatre. The Cape Playhouse has been kept true to its original structure - even the original pews still serve as seats. The opening performance on July 4, 1927 was The Guardsman, starring Basil Rathbone. Over the years, many big- name stars from Broadway and the silver screen have acted there, including Bette Davis (who first worked as an usher), Gregory Peck, Gertrude Lawrence, Lana Turner, Ginger Rogers, Humphrey Bogart, Tallulah Bankhead, Helen Hayes, Julie Harris, and Paulette Goddard. It's no wonder the Cape Playhouse is known as "The Birthplace of the Stars." Many young, aspiring performers have spent their summers here. In 1956, a young student was given a small part in The Male Animal, starring Henry Fonda (his daughter, Jane)! Today, most of the stars still come from Broadway, but it seems that almost every well-known star of stage, screen, and TV has walked the stage of the Cape Playhouse.

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