NVA Ensemble Presents THE COMEDY OF ERRORS, Opening 2/11

The Ensemble at New Village Arts takes on Shakespeare's broadest farce in THE COMEDY OF ERRORS.  Directed by Justin Lang, THE COMEDY OF ERRORS allows the Ensemble to show off its comedic skills.  Set in the 1950s as if it were being filmed in front of a "live studio audience", NVA's THE COMEDY OF ERRORS is a tale full of mistaken identity, slapstick humor and romance.  Featuring NVA favorites Amanda Sitton, Manny Fernandes, Kristianne Kurner and John DeCarlo, this show promises to be a big departure from NVA's highly lauded OF MICE AND MEN and an easy laugh before the intense dark comedy of BURIED CHILD.  THE COMEDY OF ERRORSwill be playing at New Village Arts Theatre (2787 State Street, Carlsbad Village) from February 8 – March 4, 2012.  The official opening night is February 11 at 8 PM.  Tickets can be purchased at www.NewVillageArts.org or by calling 760-433-3245. 

 

THE COMEDY OF ERRORS is Shakespeare's uproarious farce about mistaken identity, love and mayhem.  Imagine entering a strange land where all of the inhabitants are alien to you, but you are well-known, even notorious, to them all. So is the story of Antipholus and his servant Dromio, when they visit a small town and accidentally step into the lives of their long-lost identical twins. 

 

NVA has a long history of performing Shakespeare, starting with an outdoor production of AS YOU LIKE IT in 2002. Since that time, NVA has produced eight of Shakespeare's plays over the last eleven years, and this is the first time they have produced THE COMEDY OF ERRORS.  Generally recognized as one of Shakespeare's earliest plays (if not his earliest), COMEDY is a great precursor of what is to come from Shakespeare.  It's his shortest, broadest comedy.  To capture the world of COMEDY, director Justin Lang is setting the play in the early days of the television sitcom, taking inspiration from shows such as I LOVE LUCY, THE Dick Van Dyke SHOW and MARTIN AND LEWIS.  The audience at NVA will serve as the "live studio audience" for THE COMEDY OF ERRORS.

Director Justin Lang has been working intently on the work of William Shakespeare for the past eight years, first as a member of San Diego's Poor Players Theatre and then at Intrepid Shakespeare and New Village Arts.   He is an Ensemble Member at New Village Arts, where he has performed as Orlando in AS YOU LIKE IT and George in OF MICE AND MEN and he currently serves at the Education and Outreach Manager, leading NVA's awarded Education program, THE SHAKESPEARE NETWORK.  THE COMEDY OF ERRORS is his professional directing debut.

THE COMEDY OF ERRORS welcomes Ensemble Member Amanda Sitton (Luciana) back onto NVA's stage for the first time since 2009's FOUR DOGS AND A BONE.  "Amanda became one of our most important directors, and we are thrilled to bring her back onto stage to show off her brilliant comedic skills," says Executive Artistic Director Kristianne Kurner. Playing the lead Antipholus twins are Max Macke (special guest to The Ensemble Project) and John DeCarlo, with the Dromio twins played by Adam Brick and Kyle Lucy.  Also in the cast are Executive Artistic Director Kristianne Kurner as Adriana, her real-life son Jonah Gercke as Angelo and Frances Regal as the Courtesan.  Jack Missett and Dana Case continue their run at married couples as Egeon and Emilia, Christopher Loren Renda (in addition to designing the lights) will portray Balthasar and the highly laudEd Manny Fernandes will be Duke Solinus.

Tim Wallace will be designing the 1950's television studio set along with the "Three Stooges" sound design.  Christopher Loren Renda is designing lights and Kristianne Kurner and Amanda Sitton are on costumes.  Bonnie Durben will be creating the world of props and Sam Sherman is the stage manager.

Ticket prices range from $26 - $29 for all performances, with the exception of three pay-what-you-can previews on February 8, 9 & 10 at 8 PM.  Showtimes are Thursdays and Fridays at 8 PM; Saturdays at 3 PM & 8 PM and Sundays at 2 PM (no 3 PM show on Opening Night, February 11).  The theatre is located in the heart of Carlsbad Village, at 2787 State Street.  Tickets can be purchased by visiting www.NewVillageArts.org or calling 760-433-3245.

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