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Long Wharf Theatre, in conjunction with The Old Globe in San Diego, presents the world premiere of Steve Martin's Meteor Shower, directed by Artistic Director Gordon Edelstein, running from September 28 through October 23, 2016. The press opening will take place on Saturday, October 8 at 8 pm.
Just announced, the full cast includes Craig Bierko (Gerald), Patrick Breen (Norm), Sophina Brown (Laura), and Arden Myrin (Corky).
The entire cast is making their Long Wharf Theatre debut. Bierko, a Tony Award nominee, was most recently seen as Chet Wilton on "UnREAL" for Lifetime and opposite David Duchovny in the film Louder Than Words. Patrick Breen, a founder of MCC Theater, was recently seen in NYC in Dada Woof Papa Hot at Lincoln Center. Sophina Brown, a Broadway veteran, has been a series regular in "Shark" and "Numb3rs," among others. Arden Myrin, also a writer and comedian, recently joined the cast of "Shameless" and is a popular panelist on "Chelsea Lately." She has been seen on television in "Orange is the New Black," "Key & Peele," and "Inside Amy Schumer," among many others.
The creative team is Michael Yeargan (sets), Jess Goldstein (costumes), Don Holder (lights), John Gromada (sound/original music), and Kathy Snyder (stage manager). Casting by Caparelliotis Casting.
Iconic writer and comedian Steve Martin has become a true friend to Long Wharf Theatre. His plays Picasso at the Lapin Agile and The Underpants were met by rave reviews, and his talk last season with writer Adam Gopnik was a real treat. "Meteor Shower is in the tradition of Steve Martin's other work - super smart, super silly. It's about how we work out the issues in our marriages," Edelstein said.
Corky and Norm are excited to host Gerald and Laura at their home in the valley outside Los Angeles to watch a once-in-a-lifetime Meteor Shower. But as the stars come out and the conversation gets rolling, it becomes clear that Gerald and Laura might not be all that they appear to be. Over the course of a crazy, starlit dinner party, the wildly unexpected occurs. The couples begin to flirt and insanity reigns. Martin, using his trademark absurdist humor, bends the fluid nature of time and reality to create a surprising and unforgettably funny new play, called "a laugh filled rocket ride" by the San Diego Union- T ribune.
For more information about Meteor Shower or to purchase tickets (starting at $27), visit longwharf.org or call 203-787- 4282.
ABOUT THE CAST AND CREATIVE TEAM
Gerald
Craig currently stars in the series regular role of 'Chet Wilton' in "UnREAL" for Lifetime. Bierko most recently appeared in Anthony Fabian's feature film Louder Than Words opposite David Duchovny, Hope Davis and Timothy Hutton. Craig's other motion pictures credits include The Change Up (Universal), The Three Stooges (20th Century Fox), Scary Movie 4 (Weinstein/Disney), Christopher Guest's For Your Consideration, Ron Howard's Cinderella Man (Universal), Renny Harlin's Long Kiss Goodnight and Fear And Loathing In Las Vegas (Universal), amongst several others. In the theatre, Craig appeared in the 2012 New York Philharmonic's performance of Stephen Sondheim's Company directed by Lonny Price. He also starred in Des McAnuff's Tony-Nominated Broadway production of Guys & Dolls in the role of Sky Masterson, as well as, the critically acclaimed Broadway run of Meredith Willson's The Music Man in the role of Professor Harold Hill. For his extraordinary talent, he received a nomination for the Tony Award, Drama Desk Award, Outer Critics Circle Award and the Drama League Award. He was the winner of the Theater World Award for that same year. Bierko's other television credits include large roles in the Farrelly Brothers' sitcom "Unhitched" (FBC) and David E. Kelley's "Boston Legal" (ABC). Additionally, Craig had guest appearances on "Damages" (FX), "The Good Wife" (CBS), "Necessary Roughness" (USA) and "Sex And The City" (HBO).
Norm
Appeared in Peter Parnell's Dada Woof Papa Hot last season at Lincoln Center. Recent stage credits: Next Fall, The Normal Heart, Wild Animals You Should Know at MCC, and Sideways at La Jolla Playhouse. Ancient NY stage credits include: Brighton Beach Memoirs, The Substance of Fire, Life and Limb, A View of The Dome, Sideman, Baby Anger, Celebration/The Room, Aven U Boys, and Chelsea Walls. Movie work: Galaxy Quest, Men in Black, The Bleeding House, and Ishtar. Television: "Braindead," "A Series of Unfortunate Events," "Good Wife," "Law and Order: SVU," "Madame Secretary," "Royal Pains," "The Slap," and "Show Me A Hero." He has written two movies: East Of A and Just A Kiss, and two web series: "Whole Day Down" and "Town Car Willie." He is a member of Naked Angels and helped found MCC Theater many years ago.
Laura
Broadway and National Tours: Disney's The Lion King, Fame: The Musical. Regional: Good People (La Mirada-Los Angeles Ovation Award Nomination), No Strings (Freud Playhouse), Jesus Christ Superstar (Sacramento Music Circus). Film: Because I Said So. TV: "The Good Wife," "Castle," "NCIS," "NCIS:LA," "Bones," "Scream, "Ravenswood," "Chappelle's Show," "Strangers with Candy," as well as series regular roles on "Shark," "NUMB3RS," and the upcoming "Cruel Intentions." She is a graduate of The University of Michigan's B.F.A. Theatre program.
Corky
Arden is a new cast member on Showtime's Shameless, and will be seen next in the feature film Extracurricular Activities. Theatrically Arden just completed a run of the world premiere of Robert O'Hara's Barbecue at The Public Theater in New York, and the premiere of John Ross Bowie's play Four Chords and A Gun at the Bootleg Theater in Los Angeles. Arden was in the original New York production of David Mamet's Boston Marriage at The Public Theater, and appeared in Hay Fever at the Westport Country Playhouse directed by Darko Tresnjak. A regular roundtable panelist on Chelsea Lately, Arden appeared on the show over 100 times, and was a cast member on MADtv for four years. Arden has recurring parts on ABC's Fresh Off The Boat and is a popular guest on Comedy Central's @midnight. In the past few years Arden has appeared on Orange Is the New Black, Key and Peele, Inside Amy Schumer, With Bob and David, Psych, Bones, Hung, Reno 911, The Howard Stern Show among others. Her film credits include the Sundance movies Bachelorette, Wrong and Wrong Cops as well as Morning Glory, Kinsey, and The Lucky Ones. Arden just sold a pilot starring alongside Private Practice star Kate Walsh called Get in My Van, where the gals host a mobile talk show in a van. Arden has performed comedy all over the country as both a stand-up and an improviser. She currently headlines at various clubs and festivals across the nation.
Playwright
Steve Martin began his career on "The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour" (1967-1969), for which he earned his first Emmy Award for Outstanding Writing Achievement in Comedy, Variety or Music in 1969. In the mid-1970s, MR. Martin shone as a stand-up on "The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson" and NBC's "Saturday Night Live." Martin's films are widely popular successes and are the kind of movies that are viewed again and again: The Jerk (1979), Planes, Trains & Automobiles (1987), Roxanne (1987), Parenthood (1989), L.A. Story(1991), Father of the Bride (1991), and Bowfinger (1999). As an author, Martin's work includes the novel An Object of Beauty; the play Picasso at the Lapin Agile; a collection of comic pieces, Pure Drivel; a bestselling novella, Shopgirl; and his memoir, Born Standing Up. His writing has also appeared in The New Yorker. MR. Martin is an accomplished, Grammy Award-winning, boundary-pushing bluegrass banjoist and composer who has won three Grammys for performing and composing. He has earned numerous honors including an Academy Award, five Grammy Awards, an Emmy Award, the Mark Twain Prize, and the Kennedy Center Honor. MR. Martin and Edie Brickell's musical Bright Star premiered at The Old Globe in summer 2015, played a limited engagement at The Kennedy Center, and received acclaim in its Broadway run at the Cort Theatre. In addition to five Tony Award nominations, Bright Star received Outstanding New Broadway Musical and Outstanding New Score at the Outer Critics Circle Awards.
Director
Edelstein is entering his 15th season as Artistic Director of Long Wharf Theatre, where his recent productions include Disgraced, The Second Mrs. Wilson, Picasso at the Lapin Agile, Our Town, The Last Five Years, The Underpants, and Ride the Tiger. His New York credits include the award-winning Satchmo at the Waldorf (Drama Desk and Outer Critics Circle Awards for Outstanding Solo Performance) and My Name Is Asher Lev (Outer Critic Circle Award for Outstanding New Off-Broadway Play). Mr. Edelstein's acclaimed Long Wharf Theatre production of The Glass Menagerie played Roundabout Theatre Company and Mark Taper Forum and was the recipient of the Lucille Lortel Award for Outstanding Revival. He has a continued artistic association with Athol Fugard, directing the world premieres of his plays The Shadow of the Hummingbird (also starring Mr. Fugard), Have You Seen Us?, and Coming Home; the East Coast premiere ofThe Train Driver; and the Broadway production of The Road to Mecca. Last summer, Mr. Edelstein directed six-time Tony Award winner Audra McDonald in A Moon for the Misbegotten at Williamstown Theatre Festival. He has directed regionally, from Washington, DC's Arena Stage to Alaska's Perseverance Theatre, including such plays as Uncle Vanya (also adapted), Death of a Salesman, Mourning Becomes Electra, The Crucible, Betrayal,BFE, The Day the Bronx Died, A Doll's House (also adapted), A New War, Anna Christie, and The Front Page. Before Long Wharf, Mr. Edelstein served for five years as Artistic Director of A Contemporary Theatre in Seattle.
Set Design
Michael Yeargan returns to Long Wharf Theatre where he last designed The Curse of the Starving Class, The Glass Menagerie, Uncle Vanya, The Cocktail Hour and The Front Page. His Broadway and Off-Broadway credits include designs for The Ritz, Bad Habits, Seascape, The Umbrellas of Cherbourg, Happy Days, Dinah Was, Athol Fugard's A Lesson From Aloes (World Premiere), A Light in the Piazza (Tony Award and Drama Desk Award), Awake and Sing! (Drama Desk Award), Joe Turner's Come and Gone, South Pacific (Tony Award, Drama Desk Award), Blood and Gifts and Golden Boy. His opera credits are equally extensive; he has designed the world premieres of A Streetcar Named Desire and Dead Man Walking for San Francisco Opera, The Great Gatsby for the Metropolitan Opera, Cold Sassy Tree for Houston Grand Opera, and Central Park for Glimmerglass and New York City Opera among many others. Michael Yeargan has designed extensively for America's regional theaters, including the Guthrie Theater, Goodman Theatre, American Repertory Theatre, Long Wharf Theatre, Hartford Stage, Washington's Arena Stage, Dallas Theater Center, Indiana Repertory Theatre, Old Globe in San Diego, La Jolla Playhouse, Center Stage, McCarter Theatre, and the Yale Repertory Theatre where he is resident designer. Mr. Yeargan is a Professor of Stage Design and co-chair of the Design Department at the Yale School of Drama.
Costume Design
Long Wharf Theatre: over 20 productions since 1985's The Glass Menagerie with JoAnne Woodward, including February House and Ride the Tiger. Selected Broadway credits include On the Town, Jersey Boys, Disney's Newsies, Next Fall, Take Me Out, The Most Happy Fella, The Apple Tree with Kristin Chenoweth, Enchanted April, Julius Caesar with Denzel Washington, Love! Valour! Compassion!, Proof, Sight Unseen, Judgment at Nuremberg, The Merchant of Venice with Al Pacino (Tony nomination) and Lincoln Center Theater's Henry IV with Kevin Kline (Tony nomination) and The Rivals (2005 Tony Award). Off-Broadway he has designed Buried Child, How I Learned to Drive, Dinner With Friends, The Substance of Fire, Other People's Money, Black Tie and The Mineola Twins (Lortel and Hewes Awards). He is a graduate of Yale School of Drama and has served on their faculty since 1990. www.jess-goldstein.com
Lighting Design
Long Wharf: Picasso at the Lapin Agile, The Day The Bronx Died, Sight Unseen, Almost All in the Timing, Blithe Spirit, The Importance of Being Earnest. Broadway: Fifty productions, two Tony awards (The Lion King and South Pacific) and eleven Tony nominations. Recent projects include: She Loves Me, Fiddler On The Roof, The Father, The King and I, On The Twentieth Century, The Bridges of Madison County, Golden Boy, Spiderman- Turn Off The Dark, Ragtime, Movin' Out, Bullets Over Broadway, The Boy From Oz, many others. Television: "Smash" Seasons 1 and 2 (NBC-Dreamworks). Education: Yale School of Drama
Sound Design/Composer
Long Wharf Theatre: The Shadow of the Hummingbird, Fences, Satchmo at the Waldorf, The Killing of Sister George, My Name is Asher Lev, It's a Wonderful Life: A Radio Play, The Old Masters, The Train Driver, The Old Man and the Sea, The Blue Album, Hamlet, Midsummer Night's Dream, Twelfth Night, How Do You Like Your Meat, and others. Broadway: Music and sound design for more than 30 shows including The Trip to Bountiful (Tony nomination), The Best Man (Drama Desk Award), and Clybourne Park. Regional: Orphans' Home Cycle (Hartford Stage, Drama Desk and Henry Hewes Awards). New York: The Old Friends, The Screwtape Letters, Shipwrecked! (Lucille Lortel Award), The Singing Forest, Henry V, The Skriker (Drama Desk Award), Machinal (Obie). Television: "The Trip to Bountiful" (Lifetime), "The Interrogators" (Biography). www.johngromada.com
Production Stage Manager
Kathy is thrilled to be back at Long Wharf having just done the west coast premiere of Meteor Shower at The Old Globe Theatre. Past credits with Long Wharf Theatre include Love Letters, brownsville song (b- side for tray) and 4000 Miles. New York credits include Women Without Men, The New Morality, and A Picture of Autumn with the Mint Theater Company; Wolfpit and The Lifeblood with the Phoenix Theatre Ensemble; Belize and Delicious Rivers with The Talking Band at La MaMa, E.T.C. She has worked eleven seasons at the Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey having done such shows as The Alchemist, The Misanthrope, No Man's Land, Hamlet, and The Bald Soprano. Other credits include: Party Time at the Napoli Scena Internationale Festival in Naples, Italy.
Casting
Upcoming/Current Broadway: The Front Page, Les Liaisons Dangereuses, Jitney and The Glass Menagerie. Recent and Select Broadway/Off Broadway: Blackbird, The Father, An Act of God, Fish in the Dark, Airline Highway, It's Only a Play, Disgraced, Sex with Strangers, Lost Lake, The Country House, Casa Valentina, Holler if Ya Hear Me, The Trip to Bountiful, Fences. Also: MTC, 2nd Stage, Atlantic, LCT3, Ars Nova, Old Globe, Goodman, Steppenwolf, McCarter and others. Film/television: "American Odyssey" (NBC), "How to Get Away With Murder" pilot (ABC), "Ironside" pilot (NBC), "Steel Magnolias" (Sony for Lifetime).
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