Connecticut Repertory Theatre (CRT) will present the world premiere of Mike Reiss' comedy I'm Connecticut, December 1 - 10 in the Harriet S. Jorgensen Theatre, Storrs. For tickets and information, call 860-486-4226 or visit www.crt.uconn.edu.
If you're from Connecticut - the joke is on you! Mike Reiss is a Peabody Award-winner, and four-time Emmy award-winning writer for The Simpsons. He's also a Connecticut native and this time he's turned his sharp, satirical comic genius on his home state - and yours. I'm Connecticut is a love story about a young man who grew up in Simsbury now living in New York City and searching for love. Amid the anxieties of dating he begins to ask himself what a Nutmegger really is? If you've ever wondered about the identity of The Land of Steady Habits, be prepared for a hysterical surprise.
Mr. Reiss has spent two decades writing for The Simpsons. He ran the show in Season Four, which Entertainment Weekly called, "The greatest season of the greatest show in TV history." In 2006, Mike received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Animation Writers Caucus. He co-created the animated series The Critic, featuring actor John Lovitz, and created Showtime's hit cartoon Queer Duck (about a gay duck). His other TV credits include It's
Garry Shandling's Show, ALF, and The Tonight Show with
Johnny Carson.
Mr. Reiss' screenplay, My Life in Ruins, was made into a major motion picture in 2009 starring Nia Vardalos and Richard Dreyfuss. He also co-wrote The Simpsons Movie, Horton Hears A Who! and Ice Age, Dawn of the Dinosaurs. His caveman detective story Cro-Magnon P.I. won an Edgar Award from the Mystery Writers of America. He has published 14 children's books, including the best-seller How Murray Saved Christmas and the award-winning Late for School. Mike also composes puzzles for NPR and Games Magazine. He's a former president of The Harvard Lampoon and editor of The National Lampoon.
I'm Connecticut will feature
Joyce Dewitt as Polly. She starred as "Janet Wood" in the 18 year run of Three's Company. She has also appeared in the Canadian premiere of Dinner With Friends, The Last Night of Ballyhoo, the North American premiere of Daylight Savings, Noises Off, Anything Goes and Olympus on My Mind. DeWitt recently starred in the play Miss Abigail's Guide to Dating, Mating & Marriage off-Broadway.
Tony Award-Winning actor
Jerry Adler will play Grampa. Mr. Adler recently starred as "Hesh" in the hit HBO series The Sopranos. He also appeared in
Woody Allen's Manhattan Murder Mystery and in The Public Eye, opposite
Joe Pesci. He has appeared in many television programs, including The West Wing, Law & Order, Northern Exposure, CSI: Miami, Hudson Street, Raising Dad, and Curb Your Enthusiasm. He was a regular on the hit sitcom Mad About You. Mr. Adler is a veteran of more than 50 Broadway productions as producer, director, and production stage manager, including the original My Fair Lady, Coco, The Homecoming, and Annie. He won a Tony Award for Good Evening, which he directed with
Peter Cook and
Dudley Moore. His recent films include In Her Shoes opposite
Shirley MacLaine, Prime with
Meryl Streep and
Uma Thurman, and Synechdoche, New York with
Philip Seymour Hoffman. He recently finished the final season of the critically-acclaimed FX drama Rescue Me, as well as The Good Wife.
The role of Marc will be played by
Harris Doran. Mr. Doran's credits include - New York Theatre: It Must Be Him, Reading Under The Influence, Love Jerry (NYMF Best Actor Award), Hair, Marrying Meg, Richard Cory, The Whore Of Sheridan Square (IT Award Nom). Regional: Amadeus, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels,
Harry Connick Jr's The Happy Elf, Cabaret, A Midsummer Night's Dream, The Compleat Works Of Wllm Shkspr (abridged), Oliver (Ovation Award Nom). Film & TV: The Sea Is All I Know, Exposing The Order Of The Serpentine, Together, The Black Donnellys, Malcolm In The Middle, Any Day Now. Upcoming Film: Junction, My Best Day.
I'm Connecticut tells the story of a 30-something Connecticut native now living in New York trying to come to terms with his apparent lack of personality that he, and others, attribute to his upbringing in Simsbury. This highly satirical comedy sets its sights squarely on all things Connecticut. From the origins of our nickname, The Nutmeg State, to our town names that he observes all sound like the names of English butlers (Simsbury, Litchfield and Old Saybrook) Reiss turned his comic genius on his native state and created a 75 minute new piece of live theatre that will delight Connecticut audiences. I'm Connecticut is a love story. Its structure of dramatic action carried by a love story intermingled with direct commentary to the audience dates back to ancient Roman and Greek comedy styles. A secondary love story emerges as the protagonist's new girlfriend's mother develops a fondness for his grandfather. The combination of the older and younger couple's romantic engagements provide a rich, dual-layered narrative for the hysterically funny commentary on Connecticut culture.
Director
Paul Mullins said, "Mike Reiss' new play I'm Connecticut, is a hilarious look at love, both what we are willing to go through to find it and what we might discover about ourselves while on that journey. Mike has created funny, full, dynamic characters who will be brought to life by an amazing cast and wonderful designers."
Artistic Director Vincent Cardinal said, "One of the exciting and unique elements of this show is the wealth of experience that the guest artists bring to the CRT stage. The combination of their talents brings Reiss' comedic genius to life."
Paul Mullins (Director) CRT: Urinetown, The Comedy of Errors; The Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey (Company Member): Accidental Death of an Anarchist, Richard II, King John, Noises Off, The Lion in Winter, The Time of Your Life, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead, Rhinoceros, The Threepenny Opera and many others;
The Old Globe: Twelfth Night, Macbeth, Merry Wives and Measure For Measure; The
Studio Theatre in Washington, DC: Tynan, Fat Pig, The Seafarer, This Is How It Goes and The Russian National Postal Service. He has also directed productions for Portland Stage Company, Chautauqua Theater Company, Dorset Theatre Festival, American Stage, The State Theatre, The Juilliard School, Yale School of Drama and The University of Texas.
The Design team includes:
Michael Anania, Scenic Designer; Sara Ewing, Costume Designer; Billy Albertelli, Lighting Designer; and Steven Magro, Sound Designer.
The cast will feature UConn students, including Maggie Sulka as Diane. Ms. Sulka is a 5th semester Undergraduate BFA Acting Candidate. Past credits include- CRT: Pride and Prejudice (Catherine "Kitty" Bennet) The Last Days of Judas Iscariot (Mary Magdalene, Sister Glenna, Loretta); Westford Academy Theater Arts: Angels in America (Harper Pitt), Dancing at Lughnasa (Christina), The King Stag (Angela).
The ensemble cast will also feature BFA actors: Alyson Danielczuk, Kaitlyn Gorman, Will Graziano, Harrison Greene, Darrell Hollens, Michael Improta, Hannah Kaplan, Briana Maia, Ryan Marcone, Molly Martinez, Coles Prince, Adam Schneemann,
Bryan Swormstedt, and Tiffany Vinters.
INFORMATION
Please call 860-486-4226 for tickets or for more information and call or visit the box office for specific show dates and times because performance schedules vary and are subject to change. Tickets available online at
www.crt.uconn.edu.
Weeknight evening performances start at 7:30 p.m. Weekend evening performances start at 8 p.m. Matinee performances start at 2 p.m.
Ticket prices range from $6 - $29.
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