Alley Theatre Announces Cast and Creative Team for THE ELEPHANT MAN

Alley Theatre Artistic Director Gregory Boyd announces the cast and creative team for Bernard Pomerance's The Elephant Man, a story about the strength of the human spirit, compassion and humanity. Called "enthralling and luminous" by The New York Times, The Elephant Man, directed by Gregory Boyd, runs April 12 through May 5, 2013 on the Hubbard Stage.

Tony Award-winning and Drama Desk winner, The Elephant Man, is based on the true story of the "elephant man," so-called because of his hideous deformity. Its powerful and moving story chronicles the life of John Merrick, detailing his desperate existence in a Victorian freak show to his days as the toast of London high society. Pomerance weaves Merrick's tale into a parable on beauty, innocence and human dignity. Suitable for most audiences; some mature subject matter and brief nudity.

In the tradition of this play, John Merrick's deformity is suggested without the aid of makeup or prosthetics. Boyd explains that "this creates a highly theatrical depiction of the character and is essential to illustrate one of the plays central themes, the contrast between one's inner innocence and beauty - and society's confinement and power. By using the deformity to separate the protagonist from those in his Victorian world, Pomerance constructs a brilliant examination of 'the other' in society."

Using his body and voice to convey Merrick's deformities, Resident Company Actor Jay Sullivan will take on this challenge, and build this character collaboratively with the Director, Movement Director Peter Lobdell and Dialect, Voice and Text Coach Pamela Prather.

The Elephant also features Resident Company Members Jeffrey Bean as Frederick Treves, James Belcher as Ross/Will/Bishop Walsham How, James Black as Man/Conductor/Snork, Elizabeth Bunch as Mrs. Kendal, Emily Neves as Pinhead/Nurse/Princess Alexandra, Melissa Pritchett as Pinhead/Miss Sandwich/Countess and Todd Waite as Carr Gomm/Belgian Policeman/London Policeman. Also featured are Ellen Dyer, Justin O'Brien, Rebekah Stevens, and Tristien Marcellous Winfree.

The Elephant Man features scenic design by Riccardo Hernandez and costume design by Fabio Toblini. Lighting design is by Christopher Akerlind with original music and sound design by John Gromada, projection design by Jeff Sugg. Jacey Little is dramaturg and Brandon Weinbrenner is Assistant Director.

The Elephant Man, by Bernard Pomerance and directed by Gregory Boyd, begins performances Friday, April 12, opens officially Wednesday, April 17, and runs through Sunday, May 5, 2013, on the Hubbard Stage.

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