Wagner College Theatre Presents NINE

NINE, the Tony Award-winning musical, is next on the Wagner College Theatre Mainstage with performances November 16-19 and November 30-December 3 in the Main Hall Auditorium.

NINE features a bewitching score by Maury Yeston (Titanic), book by Arthur Kopit, as translated and adapted by Mario Fratti.

Based on Italian director Federico Fellini's comic masterpiece of biographical filmmaking, 8 1/2, Maury Yeston's sultry and enchanting musical follows the life of world famous film director Guido Contini as he prepares his latest picture and balances the numerous women in his life. Contino is also, after recent box office failures, drifting towards a nervous breakdown, from which he is held back only by the support of his wife, Luisa. As his sanity disintegrates, he drifts into nostalgic reverie, eventually focusing on the formative sexual encounter of his life, which occurred at the age of nine.

The award-winning score includes "Be Italian," "My Husband Makes Movies," "A Call from the Vatican," "Unusual Way," "Folies Bergeres," and "Be On Your Own."

Making his WCT directing debut is Gregg Wiggans, a Directing Associate for the award-winning Transport Group. "Wagner has a noteworthy tradition of providing the theatre community with the next generation of great artists," said Gregg Wiggans. "I jumped at the opportunity to get to know the artists of tomorrow - today. I am proud of how this group has come together as a ensemble to set the bar high and with each choice strive to achieve it. The courage of these young artists to take risks, fail, get up, and try again doesn't make J.S. Good artists; it makes better people."

Wagner's production features Matthew Drinkwater (Guido Contini), Sophia Tzougros (Luisa Contini), Isabelle Miller (Carla), Emma Pittman (Claudia Nardi), Santa Claire Hirsch (Liliane La Fleur), Maggie Eley (Sarraghina), Julia Adams (Our Lady of the Spa), Victoria Gitten (Guido's mother), Hayley Hemminger-Martin (Lina Darling), Dana Kluczyk (Stephanie Necrophorus), Anthony Arpaio (Young Guido 11/16-11/19), Robert Terzino-Torres (Young Guido 11/30-12/3), Kolten Bell (Guido u/s), Miranda Abbott, Gabrielle Baker, Brianna Brice, Bailey Claffey, Emily Cobb, Erin Damers, Sabrina Kalman, Maddie Kendall, Katelyn Norman, and Francesca Valeska Litterio.

The production team includes Gregg Wiggans (Director), Dr. Lauri Young (Music Director), Carissa Bellando '04 (Choreographer), Anthony Freitas '13 (Scenic Design), Jimm Halliday (Costume Design), Caitlyn Maxwell (Hair and Makeup Design), Vicki Neal (Lighting Design), Richard Kroth (Sound Design), Phill Hickox (Production Manager), Brian T. Sharron (Technical Director), Annie Fox (Assistant Director), Anabel Caba (Assistant Lighting Design),and James Collins (Production Stage Manager).

Directed and choreographed by Tommy Tune, NINE premiered on Broadway at the 46th Street Theatre (now Richard Rodgers), 1982, running 890 performances. Winner of the Tony Award for Best Musical, the original cast included Raul Julia, Karen Akers, Liliane Montevecchi winning the Tony Award for Best Musical. In 2003, Antonio Banderas made his acclaimed Broadway debut playing Guido Contini with Laura Benanti, Tony Award-winner Jane Krakowski, Mary Stuart Masterson and Chita Rivera in the Tony Award-winning revival.

Wagner College Theatre presented NINE in 1997, directed by Christopher Catt, with a cast that included Craig Laurie, KT Pike, Heather Wagner, Amanda Conn-Levin, and Christine Nardone.

Performances of NINE are Thursday through Saturday at 8pm, with matinees Saturday and Sunday at 2pm. Located in Main Hall, the Wagner College Theatre box office can be contacted at (718) 390-3259 or www.wagner.edu/theatre. Wagner College Theatre Box Office hours are Monday through Friday 12:00Noon-4:00pm. Single ticket prices: Thursday evenings $25-$29, Fridays, Saturdays, and Matinees $28-$32. with price ranges for children, senior and adult tickets. Wagner College students attend free with current ID.

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