Photo Flash: Bergen County Players' GLENNGARY GLEN ROSS

Bergen County Players (BCP) presents Glengarry Glen Ross, a hard-hitting portrait of cut-throat office politics and BCP's first foray into the world of David Mamet. Winner of the Pulitzer Prize for Drama, Glengarry Glen Ross features sharp dialogue, compelling characters and strong social commentary. Under the direction of Alyson Cohn of Wyckoff, Glengarry Glen Ross will be performed at the Little Firehouse Theatre in Oradell from March 26th through April 16th, 2011 with shows at 8pm on Friday and Saturday and 2pm on Sunday. Tickets can be purchased online at www.bcplayers.org, by calling 201-261-4200 , or by visiting the box office at 298 Kinderkamack Road in Oradell during regular box office hours.

Inspired partly by Mamet's stint as a typist in a Chicago real estate office during the late 1960s, Glengarry Glen Ross is a scalding dark comedy, driven by the playwright's trademark staccato and profanity-laced dialogue. The play won the 1983 Laurence Olivier Award for Best New Play and the 1984 Pulitzer Prize for Drama. A 2005 Broadway revival won both the Drama Desk Award and the Tony Award for Outstanding Revival of a Play. A 1992 film adaptation by Mamet further solidified Glengarry's place as one of the great masterpieces of 20th century drama. Here is Mamet at his very best, writing with brutal power and the tough life of tough characters who cajole, connive, wheedle and wheel and deal for a piece of the action, where closing a sale can mean a brand new Cadillac but losing one can mean losing it all.

Scathingly funny, with a thrilling whodunit at its core, Glengarry exposes a dog-eat-dog world in which small-time real estate brokers vie for the hot leads at a Chicago firm selling shoddy properties. With money, egos and jobs on the line, the cut-throat salesmen will stop at nothing to get their fair share of the American Dream. This gritty story of shifting values in the male-dominated workplace is as potent and exhilarating as ever!

Glengarry Glen Ross is directed by Alyson Cohn of Wyckoff who says, "Glengarry is a revolutionary piece of theater and one of the very best American plays of the 20th century. Mamet's language has the visceral power of machine gun fire and the savage grace of a puma. In short, it's theatrical perfection." Alyson is both a seasoned BCP performer and director. Her directing credits at BCP include One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest; Angels in America: Millennium Approaches; Six Degrees of Separation; The Heidi Chronicles; Proposals; True West; Art; and Proof, which won the 2006 Perry Award for Best Production of a Play. She has appeared on the BCP stage in many productions including The Full Monty, A Year With Frog and Toad, Little Shop of Horrors, Into the Woods, and Vanities, among others. Alyson is the founder and director of Music Together of Northern NJ, an acclaimed music program for young children and their caregivers.

"I couldn't have asked for a better cast," says Cohn. "The connection and level of dedication among the cast members is truly amazing." Ricky Roma, the most successful salesman in the office, is played by Larry Kadish of New Milford. Frank Osmers of Haworth plays Shelly "The Machine" Levene, an older, once-successful salesman who has fallen on hard times. Glengarry marks Larry and Frank's fourth collaboration with Alyson. Larry appeared in One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest and Angels in America and Frank appeared in Proof and True West, among others. Frank's most recent appearance was in Cat on a Hot Tin Roof. Hackensack resident Rich Ardito appears as George Aaronow, a follower with low self esteem and no confidence in his sales ability. Jon Cole of Glen Rock appears as John Williamson, the office manager, who is despised but needed by the salesmen. This is Rich and Jon's second collaboration with Alyson, both having appeared in One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest.

Dave Moss, a big-mouthed hothead with big dreams and schemes, is portrayed by Steven Reyngoudt of Hasbrouck Heights. Tom Lambrix of Franklin Lakes plays James Lingk, a timid, middle-aged man who becomes Roma's latest client, with disturbing results. Glengarry Glen Ross marks Steven and Tom's debut at the Little Firehouse Theatre. Jim Lugo of Congers, NY plays Baylen, the police detective who is investigating the office break-in around which the plot revolves. Jim's most recent BCP appearance was in Curtains.

The production team includes Marisa Dolkart and Kathie Robitz (Producers), Meg Renton and Janica Carpenter (Assistants to the Director); Steve Moldt (Set Design and Construction); Lauren Zenreich (Décor); Allan Seward (Lighting Design); Rob DeScherer (Sound Design); Katie Lupfer (Costumes); Pat Bain, Rosella DeVincenzo, and Joanne Guarnaccia (Properties and Crew); John Kiely and Emily Nelson (Lighting Operators); Glenn Rombough and Rob DeScherer (Sound Operators); and Alan Zenreich (Photography).

This production contains mature themes and language.

Photo Credit: Alan Zenreich

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