Local Talent Spotlighted in ARMS AND THE MAN, Now thru 6/14

For its tenth season, the Northern New England Repertory Theatre Company (NNE Rep) presents George Bernard Shaw's romantic comedy Arms and the Man on the Sawyer Center stage at Colby-Sawyer College. In this delicious romantic confection, Shaw's barbed wit targets themes of love, honor, and illusions, and serves up laughs aplenty at the foibles of human nature. NNE Rep's production of Arms and the Man will run for seven performances from today, June 5th through June 14th.

Artistic Director John Goodlin casts talented actors from the area to round out a stellar ensemble:

Sutton, N.H., resident CINDY JOHNSON will be featured as Louka, who is described by Shaw as a "handsome, proud girl. . . so defiant that her servility is almost insolent." Cindy was featured in the role of Mrs. Elvsted in NNE Rep's production of Hedda Gabler last season. She is a longtime resident of the Kearsarge area, has performed at the Barn Playhouse and Lebanon Opera House, and played the role of Reno Sweeney in Anything Goes at the Turtle Lane Playhouse in Boston.

Newbury, N.H., resident MIKE GREGORY, a newcomer to NNE Rep, will undertake the role of Nicola - a man Shaw describes as having "the soul of a servant" and the "imperturbability of the accurate calculator with no illusions." Mike spent a year and a half touring with the Big Apple Circus, working behind the scenes, before making his stage debut with San Francisco's sketch/improv comedy troupe Jonny Kats. He has appeared in several local productions with SKIT.

GREGERT JOHNSON of Bradford, NH, will appear as the Russian Officer. Gregert most recently played Larry in NNE Rep's 2012 production of Anna Christie.

The Creativity of Arms and the Man's Production Team Enhances the Ensemble's Onstage Work:

Scenic and Lighting Designer MICHAEL LOVELL of Croydon, NH, in addition to his 15 years as lighting designer at Colby-Sawyer, has designed and built theater sets for over 60 productions at numerous theaters in the Upper Valley. His set design for NNE Rep's Anna Christie received national attention in the Eugene O'Neill Society Newsletter, and his rendering of the scenic elements for last season's Hedda Gabler was praised by AVA Gallery's Executive Director Bente Torjusen.

Lebanon, N.H., resident and Costume Designer SUSAN MONTMAGNY has been costuming in the Upper Valley since she moved here in 1986. Locally, Susan has designed for, among others, Revels North, Opera North, North Country Community Theater, and Hanover, Hartford, Lebanon, and Oxbow High Schools in the Upper Valley. Following her "bravo" costuming for NNE Rep's Hedda Gabler last season, Susan costumed NCCT's Sound of Music with 43 nuns, and last December worked with Northern Stage on their production of White Christmas.

Sutton, NH, resident and widely respected Composer WILL ÖGMUNDSON has composed original music for the past eight NNE Rep productions. He has written music and/or lyrics for Pollyanna (recently published by Dramatic Publishing), Wild Swans, Marking the Moment (winner of the 2013 Moss Hart Memorial Award), Benny Pierce: A Ghost Story, Las Posadas, and Shiner Watson's Original Play Gets Produced. His most recent project is a collaboration with the author George Herman on the musical Twins.

Rounding out the local talent in NNE Rep's Production Team are PETER SWEATT (New London, NH) as Assistant Stage Manager; MICHAEL BACOTE (Wilmot, NH) as Light Board Operator; JACOB LETOURNEAU (Rochester, NH) as Sound Operator; ALICA HARRIS (New London, NH) as Wardrobe Mistress; and BEN MONTMAGNY (Lebanon, NH) as Sound Designer.

Evening performances of Arms and the Man begin at 7:30 PM tonight, June 5, 6, 7, & 12, 13, 14, with a matinee on June 8 starting at 2:00 PM. Tickets are $28, with student and group rates available. For tickets, call NNE Rep's Box office at (603) 526-4112: Toll-free: 1- 844-323-9455; in person: Tatewell Gallery (Mon-Sat, 10-5), New London Shopping Center; online: www.NNERTC.org, and at the Sawyer Center Theater for 2 hours before curtain. For more information, email: info@NNERTC.org

"Arms and the Man" is produced by special arrangement with SAMUEL FRENCH, INC.

The Northern New England Repertory Theatre Company, Inc. is dedicated to the enrichment and entertainment of theatre audiences in Northern New England with stellar performances of the classics. It is our mission to produce the vital and enriching works of such playwrights as Moliere, Ibsen, Shaw, Brecht, Chekhov, Hellman, Williams, Coward, O'Neill, Pinter, and, of course, Shakespeare.

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