High Octane Ibsen! Black Box Presents PEER GYNT

December 20, 2017: The Black Box Performing Arts Center continues to emerge as the Tri-State area's premiere destination for both cutting-edge professional theater and collaborative performing arts education - in the heart of Teaneck, NJ- just a quick ride over the George Washington Bridge.

Peer Gynt by Henrik Ibsen (author of classic domestic dramas such as A Doll House and Hedda Gabler) continues BBPAC's second full 2017-18 season of professional theater, which includes four more 'mainstage' productions, two ongoing pop musicals for kids, and the development of at least three original works for the stage.

This new production of Peer Gynt - presented in special arrangement with Samuel French, Inc., NY - is directed by BBPAC Artistic Director Matt Okin, produced by Black Box Studios, and features a stellar cast of BBPAC mainstays and newcomers: Brennen Dopwell, Allison Falkenstern, Michael Gardiner, Bishon Prushankin, Joseph Ramondino, Jake Geary, Savannah Lloyd, Danielle MacMath, Ellen Revesz, and Laurence Wallace with Assistant Director/Production Stage Manager Savannah Lloyd. Peer Gynt will play over four weekends only, from January 11 through February 4, Thursday through Sundays at 7:30pm, at Black Box Studios' new home, Teaneck's Black Box Performing Arts Center (200 Walraven Drive. (just off Palisade Ave., GPS: 290 Walraven Drive), Teaneck, NJ 07666.

In Ibsen's infamous epic, a reckless and egotistical Peer seeks a life full of adventure and success, but without all the not-so-glamorous agony and dread. After wooing and subsequently crushing the heart of not one but three eager admirers, Peer decides that it's time to "quit this soil" and pursue a life beyond all that is familiar. An unprecedented experimental rendition of the most widely performing of all Norwegian plays, which - according to Klaus Van Den Berg - features a "cinematic script [that] blends poetry with social satire and realistic scenes with surreal ones." Peer Gynt has been described as the story of a life based on procrastination and avoidance. When all is said and done, will Peer discover "the victory only dread can give?"

Peer Gynt plays the following 16-performance schedule: 1. Thursday 1/11, 7:30pm 2. Friday 1/12, 7:30pm 3. Saturday 1/13, 7:30pm 4. Sunday 1/14, 7:30pm 5. Thursday 1/18, 7:30pm 6. Friday 1/19, 7:30pm 7. Saturday, 1/20, 7:30pm 8. Sunday 1/21, 7:30pm 9. Thursday, 1/25, 7:30pm 10. Friday 1/26, 7:30pm 11. Saturday 1/27, 7:30pm 12. Sunday 1/28, 7:30pm 13. Thursday 2/1, 7:30pm 14. Friday 2/2, 7:30pm 15. Saturday 2/3, 7:30pm 16. Sunday 2/4, 7:30pm

Tickets are $25 ($20 for students/seniors) and are now available at www.blackboxpac.com. Group rates for 10 or more are available by calling (201) 357-2221. Tickets can also be purchased at the venue; please call (201) 357-2221 for box office hours.

Black Box Performing Arts Center is located at 200 Walraven Drive, just off Palisade Ave., Teaneck, NJ 07666 (GPS: 290 Walraven Drive). Following this season's opener Hand To God by Robert Askins and then Sam Shepard's Pulitzer Prize winning Buried Child, the New York City area's most eclectic theatre offerings continue at BBPAC with Mr. Ibsen's classic masterpiece, to be followed with a new production of Hair and so much more: www.blackboxpac.com. In 2016017, BBPAC's first full season included new productions of Joshua Harmon's Bad Jews, Willy Russell's Blood Brothers A Musical, Evil Dead The Musical, Edward Albee's The Goat Or, Who Is Sylvia? , Caryl Churchill's Cloud 9, Michael Gurin's Twist Of Faith, Matthew Lopez's The Whipping Man, and Ayad Ahktar's Disgraced.

Bios

Joseph Ramondino (Young Peer Gynt, Button Molder, Ensemble) is proud to return to Black Box for this exciting and ambitious project. Past performances include Hand to God (Timmy) and Buried Child (Vince). Laurence Wallace (Middle-Aged Peer Gynt, Troll King, Ensemble) is thrilled to return to the BBPAC for this production of Peer Gynt on the heels of playing Tilden in Buried Child, Pastor Greg in Hand to God, and Isaac in Disgraced at BBPAC. Laurence was also in Skip and Rivka's Not-so-Kosher Interactive Wedding Experience, Cloud 9 and The Goat, Or Who Is Sylvia? at BBPAC. His previous theatre credits include Red, The Realistic Joneses, Purlie Victorious, A Soldier's Story, ART, The Death of a Salesman, The Diary of Anne Frank, The Learned Ladies of Park Avenue and True West.

Michael Gardiner (Older Peer Gynt, Aslak, Ensemble) is thrilled to return to Black Box Performing Arts Center. Black Box credits include Buried Child (Dodge), Hand to God(Jason/Tyrone), Cloud Nine (Betty/Gerry), Bad Jews (Jonah), Twist of Faith (Sam). He was Petruchio in Hudson Shakespeare Company's The Taming of the Shrew. Michael graduated from Fairleigh Dickinson University with a BA in Theatre Arts. Some credits from the Fairleigh Dickinson University stage include The Crucible (John Proctor), Merrily We Roll Along (Joe Josephson), A Midsummer Night's Dream(Oberon/Theseus).

Ellen Revesz (Older Solveig, Master of Ceremonies, Eberkopf, Ensemble) has a BA in Theatre from Western Connecticut State University. She recently appeared as Kate in the premiere production of The Grand Tour, winner of the NJ Playwrights Contest. She performed the role of Katherine Stockman in Enemy: Project Ibsen, both Off-Broadway and at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in Scotland. Other favorite performances: Almost, Maine; The Merchant of Venice; The Threepenny Opera; Gypsy.

Bishon Prushankin (Ingrid, Woman in Green, Anitra, Ensemble) is delighted to return to the BBPAC stage so soon after her debut as Shelly in Buried Child. She spent the last year studying at the Lee Strasberg Theater and Film Institute, as well as producing and starring in Killers and Other Family at the Time Square Arts Center. Past theater credits include Alma Winemiller in Summer and Smoke, Abigail Williams in The Crucible, Louise in Gypsy, Ilse in Spring Awakening, Janet in The Rocky Horror Show, Sabina in The Skin of Our Teeth, and Emily Webb in Our Town.

Jake Geary (Aase, The Lean One, Ensemble) is thrilled to be apart of Black Box's production of Peer Gynt. A BA graduate in Theater Arts with a British Studies Minor from Fairleigh Dickinson University's Florham campus, Jake has appeared in many other productions such as in Staten Island Shakespearean Company's production of King Lear (Edgar) and Villagers Theatre's production of Equus (Alan Strang).

Danielle MacMath (Young Solveig, Captain, Pastor, Ensemble) was most recently seen performing in Black Box's production of Junie B. Jones: The Musical. Other recent credits include Cornelius in Cymbeline (Powerhouse Apprentice Company), Edward/Victoria in the award-nominated Cloud 9 (Black Box), Cheryl in Evil Dead: The Musical (Black Box), and a Baker on the Polar Express (Warner Bros./Event Energizers). Danielle is a graduate of Fairleigh Dickinson University, with credits such as Mary Warren in The Crucible and Janice in Fire Exit. www.daniellemacmath.com

Brennen Dopwell (Bridegroom, Fellah, Ensemble, & original music composer)is an ambitious, determined, and funny twenty year old graduate of the American Musical and Dramatic Academy. He is the owner of PowerBeat Studios in New Jersey, and Brennen's dream is to create something that will open and inspire the hearts of others to achieve great things.

Allison Falkenstern (Kari, Begriffenfeldt, Ensemble) is recent grad of Fairleigh Dickinson University, where she got her BA in Theatre. Allison has been working with Black Box since June and is very grateful for all the opportunities to act, direct, teach, and everything in-between. Recent credits from Black Box include Junie B. Jones: The Musical (Lucille/Junie u/s) and Soul Searching: A Rock Musical (Becky).
Savannah Lloyd (PSM/Assistant Director/Ensemble) finds herself incredibly fortunate to have stumbled upon this Ibsen classic, along with the creative minds of BBPAC! She just received her BA in Musical Theatre and Directing from Fairleigh Dickinson University, with past production credits including: Production Assistant (George Street Playhouse's Summer Theatre Academy, Jewish Plays Project), Assistant Director (Dostoyevsky's The Idiot, Laugh Out Loud (cry quietly)), and Assistant Stage Manager (The Mah Nishtanah Plays, Cabaret). www.savannahlloyd.com

Matt Okin (Director/BBPAC Artistic Director) founded Black Box Studios in 2007 and opened Black Box Performing Arts Center in November 2015. Recent directing credits include: Buried Child, Hand To God, Heathers The Musical: High School Edition (teens), Disgraced, Cloud 9, Skip & Rivkah's Not-So-Kosher Interactive Wedding Experience, The Goat Or, Who Is Sylvia?, Blood Brothers A Musical, Evil Dead The Musical, Bad Jews, RMTI's new production of Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (teens), True Groove Productions' Diana & Navy & The Golden Tooth, The Pillowman, and Passing Strange (all at BBPAC); the Off-Broadway premiere of Huey Esquire's This Time, A New Musical Romance (at Theater For The New City, as well as BBPAC); and the BBS Ensemble's productions of Falsettos "In Concert", House Of Blue Leaves, and Next To Normal (all at bergenPAC), among many others. As a playwright, director, and composer, Matt's original plays and musicals include: Beltsville/Rockville, Part One: Rise Of The Goatman (NJ workhops), Out Of Whack: The All-Kids Rock Musical (devised, at Theater For The New City), Soul Searching (45th Street Theater, DR2 Theater, D-Lounge, and the NYMF), Generations (various NYC venues and NYMF), and A Match Made In Manhattan: The Interactive Jewish Wedding Experience (NYC and national tours). Other original plays, produced both in New York and on national tours include: Second Chances, Twist Of Faith, Walter Liked To Sit In His Big Backyard, Cherry Hill, The Ugly Wife, and Pigs. Matt received a BFA in Dramatic Writing from New York University's Tisch School Of The Arts and has two grad school/college-age daughters, Rachel and Arielle.

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