Bertish, Chadwick Join The Cast Of 'MRS WARREN'S PROFESSION'

McCarter Theatre Center announces the complete cast of George Bernard Shaw's still provocative Mrs. Warren's Profession, the third show of the theater's 2008-2009 season. Directed by McCarter Artistic Director Emily Mann, the production will feature Suzanne Bertish, Robin Chadwick, Edward Hibbert, Madeleine Hutchins, Michael Izquierdo, and Rocco Sisto. Mrs. Warren's Profession begins performances in the Berlind Theatre on Friday, January 9 and runs through February 15. (Press opening Friday, January 16).

Shaw's story of the ultimate test of a mother-daughter relationship, written in 1893, is one of his most enduring and best loved works. Determined to have a comfortable life, Mrs. Warren refuses to take the dangerous, menial and underpaid jobs available to women of the 19th century. Instead, she finds a more lucrative way to earn a living and support her daughter, Vivie. Now that Vivie is about to embark on her own career, Mrs. Warren decides that it is time for her feminist daughter to finally learn the truth about her mother's profession. The shocking news sets the stage for a battle royal between mother and daughter about sex, love, money and morality.

With his frank discussion of prostitution, Shaw angered critics and censors so much with Mrs Warren's Profession that it was banned from performance in England for many years and actors were arrested at its first performance in New York. Never one to shy away from controversy, Shaw wrote of the play in a letter, "Ah, when I wrote that, I had some nerve." Ultimately, however, at the heart of Shaw's provocative social commentary is a complex and moving story of a mother and a daughter.

Suzanne Bertish makes her McCarter Theatre debut as Mrs. Warren. A former member of the Royal Shakespeare Company, Bertish appeared in Broadway's Nicholas Nickelby, Salome opposite Al Pacino and The Moliere Comedies, for which she received a Tony Award nomination. Bertish received an Olivier Award for her performance in Nicholas Nickleby at the Royal Shakespeare Company's Aldwych Theatre. Her Off-Broadway's credits include performances at the Manhattan Theatre Club (Theatre World Award for Skirmishes), Public Theater and ETC. In London, she has acted alongside such luminaries as Alan Rickman, Anthony Hopkins, Vanessa Redgrave, Derek Jacobi, and Ian McKellen.She has appeared in such films as 13th Warrior, Dirty Money, Hanover Street and Hearts of Fire, and the HBO's series Rome. Bertish's television credits include The Grid, the BBC miniseries Nicholas Nickleby, The Three Sisters and the popular Inspector Morse, Absolutely Fabulous, Shine on Harvey Moon, MR. Bean and others. Ms. Bertish, is a great granddaughter of Fred and Teresa Kuser of Kuser Farm Mansion in Hamilton, NJ.

Robin Chadwick returns to McCarter where he appeared in Emily Mann's Mrs. Packard and for several years as Scrooge in McCarter's annual production of A Christmas Carol. A prolific stage actor, Mr. Chadwick has spent seasons with the Bristol Old Vic, Cheltenham Everyman, and Northcott Theatre Exeter; has toured with various companies throughout England, Wales, and Scotland; and has been seen on Broadway in The Circle and Shadowlands.

Edward Hibbert most recently appeared on Broadway in Curtains and The Drowsy Chaperone, along with being seen in The Green Bird, Noises Off, and Me and My Girl. He earned an Obie Award for his performance in Jeffrey, and his credits on London's West End include The Mystery of Irma Vep, Hamlet, and Lend Me a Tenor. He has appeared in numerous films, including The Prestige, Everyone Says I Love You, The Paper, and The First Wives Club, but he is perhaps best known from 11 seasons as Gil Chesterton on NBC's Frasier.

Madeleine Hutchins has appeared in numerous theatrical productions in the UK, including You Never Can Tell on the West End and the National Tour of Hay Fever, as well as In the Balance, Macbeth, and A Midsummer Night's Dream. She also appeared in Sir Peter Hall's production of As You Like It at the Ahmanson in Los Angeles and Brooklyn Academy of Music.

Michael Izquierdo has appeared at numerous theaters regionally and in New York, including David Ives' New Jerusalem, directed by Walter Bobbie at Classic Stage Company, The Public, Amy Freed's Restoration Comedy, directed by John Rando at The Old Globe Theatre in San Diego, Much Ado About Nothing at New Jersey Shakespeare Festival, and the Public Theater's Shakespeare in the Park production of Mother Courage and her Children with Meryl Streep and Kevin Kline. He can also been seen in the films Meet Dave, with Eddie Murphy, and the highly anticipated Taking Woodstock, directed by Ang Lee.

Rocco Sisto comes to McCarter fresh off the Broadway production of To Be or Not to Be. His other Broadway credits include Amadeus, A Month in the Country, and The Comedy of Errors, and his recent off-Broadway appearances include: Palace of the End at Playwrights Horizons and Iphigenia 2.0 at Signature. In addition, he won Obie Awards for his performances in The Winter's Tale and Quills. Also a prolific screen actor, Mr. Sisto has been seen in Donnie Brasco, Frequency, Illumata, Eraser, Carlito's Way, and the cult hit The American Astronaut, as well as on such TV shows as The Sopranos, Law & Order: Criminal Intent, CSI, Close to Home, Alias, and NYPD Blue.

Multi-award-winning director and playwright Emily Mann is in her 19th season as Artistic Director as McCarter Theatre. She most recently directed the world premiere of Edward Albee's Me, Myself & I; as well as her free adaptation of Chekhov's The Seagull, A Seagull in the Hamptons; and her original play Mrs. Packard, which will be published by TCG this fall. Ms. Mann's other directing credits include Nilo Cruz's Pulitzer Prize-winning Anna in the Tropics (also on Broadway); the world premiere of Christopher Durang's Miss Witherspoon; and All Over (also off-Broadway; 2003 Obie Award for Directing). She also she adapted and directed Having Our Say, (Tony nominations, Best Director and Play; NAACP Award; Joseph Jefferson Award; Peabody and Christopher Awards for her screenplay). Mrs. Warren's Profession marks the first time Ms. Mann has directed a work by George Bernard Shaw.

Tickets for Mrs. Warren's Profession at McCarter Theatre Center (91 University Place, Princeton, NJ) range from $15 to $49. To order tickets by phone, call the McCarter Box Office at (609) 258-ARTS (2787) or order online at www.mccarter.org.

Special Performances

McCarter Theatre offers a variety of events in conjunction with the performance, as well as special services for patrons who have visual and audio impairments. (There is no additional charge for these services.) The dates for these programs and events are as follows:

Dialogue on Drama: Sunday, January 18, immediately following the 2 pm matinee

Dialogue on Drama will begin at approximately 4:15 pm; one need not attend the performance to attend the talk.

Post-performance Discussions: Wednesday, January 21 - 7:30pm & Sunday, January 25 - 2pm

Pride Night Party: Thursday, January 22 - 6 pm

Before the show, celebrate and mingle with other gay, lesbian, and gay-friendly theatergoers. Features a menu from The Ferry House, a selection of fine wines and hand-crafted beers, and door prizes from local businesses. Please Note: when ordering tickets, please ask for the Pride Night Theater Party Package.

After Hours Theater Party: Friday, January 23, immediately after the 8:00 pm performance

Party the night away with friends old and new after the curtain comes down. Features late-night refreshments from The Ferry House, a selection of fine wines and hand-crafted beers, and door prizes from local businesses. Please Note: when ordering tickets please ask for the After Hours Theater Party Package.

ASL (American Sign Language) Interpreted Performance: Saturday, February 14 - 3 pm

Each ASL performance is preceded by a brief introduction given by professional interpreters. To ensure optimal seating locations for viewing of both the interpreters and the stage, please indicate that you or members of your party will be using this service at the time of ticket purchase.

Audio Described Performance: Sunday, February 15 - 2 pm

Audio Described Performances are for the benefit of patrons who are blind or visually impaired. Without interfering with the dialogue, McCarter's staff of trained audio describers provides a live, objective and succinct description of the action and visual elements of the play, heard by participating patrons through an ear piece attached to a pocket-sized FM radio.

McCarter Theatre's 2008-2009 Theater Season continues with William Shakespeare's Twelfth Night, directed by Rebecca Taichman (March 8-March 29); and The Brother/Sister Plays by Tarell Alvin McCraney (April 17-June 14). For more information, visit www.mccarter.org.

McCARTER THEATRE CENTER

Under the leadership of artistic director Emily Mann, McCarter Theatre Center, home to the Matthews and Berlind Theatres, is recognized as one of the nation's premier theatre companies and performing arts centers. Renowned for major contributions to the theatrical canon, McCarter premieres have included Edward Albee's Me, Myself & I; Emily Mann's Mrs. Packard; Beth Henley's Ridiculous Fraud; Christopher Durang's Miss Witherspoon; Steven Dietz's Last of the Boys; ReGina Taylor's Crowns; Dael Orlandersmith's Yellowman; Emily Mann's Having Our Say; Athol Fugard's Valley Song; and Stephen Wadsworth's Marivaux trilogy. McCarter has also produced major new productions of Brian Friel's Translations, directed by Garry Hynes; Nilo Cruz's Anna in the Tropics; August Wilson's Gem of the Ocean, directed by Ruben Santiago-Hudson; Edward Albee's All Over (2 Obie Awards), directed by Emily Mann; and Electra, directed David Leveaux. McCarter is supported by Princeton University, the New Jersey State Council on the Arts, and over 3,000 individuals, corporations and foundations.

 

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