STAGE TUBE: Behind the Scenes - THE FIGARO PLAYS in Rep at the McCarter Theatre Center

The McCarter Theatre Center presents two all-new adaptations of Pierre Beaumarchais' comic masterpieces that inspired Rossini and Mozart's operas: The Barber of Seville and The Marriage of Figaro. Filled with material rarely seen by modern theatregoers (due to being cut by censors for the operas), The Figaro Plays will contain fresh surprises, unexpected laughs, and new insight for 21st century audiences. Click below to go behind the scenes with the cast and creative team!

Performed in repertory in the U.S. for the first time in recent memory, The Figaro Plays mark the return of Stephen Wadsworth to McCarter Theatre Center. A master of 18th century theatre, Wadsworth's Marivaux trilogy is still remembered with wide-eyed admiration by all who experienced it. His new translations of The Figaro Plays bring a crisp and electric immediacy to Beaumarchais' words, proving battles amongst the sexes, classes, and friends ever relevant, risqué, and riotously funny.

The cast is comprised of Adam Green (Helen Hayes Nom. for Shakespeare Theater Co.'s Midsummer Night's Dream) as Figaro, Neal Bledsoe (Smash, Ugly Betty) as Count Almaviva, Naomi O'Connell (Master Class with Tyne Daly on the West End) as Rosine, Maggie Lacey (Mirandolina at McCarter) as Suzanne, Derek Smith (The Lion King) as Dr. Bartolo, Cameron Folmar (The Tempest at McCarter) as Bazile, Jeanne Paulsen (Broadway's The Kentucky Cycle with Stacy Keach) as Marceline, Frank Corrado as LeBébe/Alcade/Brid'oison, Burton Curtis as Engarde/Antonio, Cody Buege as Constable/Grip-Soleil, Betsy Hogg as Fanchette, David Andrew Laws as Pedrillo, Larry Paulsen at Doublehands, and Magan Wiles as Chérubin.

Also included in the company are five local NJ actors in ensemble roles, including Andrew Clark (Lawrenceville); Zoe Mann (Jersey City); Jean Prall Rosolino (Princeton); and teenagers Kimani Isaac (North Brunswick) and Kate Weinstein (Pennington).

From the wooden boards and painted backdrops to the footlights and trompe l'oeil proscenium arch, The Figaro Plays will be a master-class in 18th century theatrical design. Both productions will have a detailed look and feel matching that of the Parisian theatres where Beaumarchais' work was first performed. The creative/design team includes scenic design by Charles Corcoran, costume design by Camille Assaf (design editor of CHANCE Magazine), lighting design by Joan Arhelger, wig design by Tom Watson (head of wig and makeup for The Metropolitan Opera), musical direction by Gerald Steichen, choreography by Daniel Pelzig, vocal coaching by Kate Wilson, and fight direction by Shad Ramsey.

About the Plays:

The Barber of Seville - Count Almaviva has fallen in love with Rosine, but she's been locked in the house by her guardian, who has his own matrimonial plans for her. What's a Count to do? Fortunately, the crafty Figaro is on hand to help sort everything out-or maybe to complicate it further...

The Marriage of Figaro - Figaro, everyone's favorite troublemaker, is finally ready to settle down and get married. But when his master, the Count, starts eyeing Figaro's bride, this crafty barber must use all his wiles and schemes to save his marriage. Servant and master are pitted against each other in an exuberant battle of the wits, and the aristocracy itself is at stake.

McCarter Theatre is located at 91 University Place in Princeton, NJ. For more information, www.mccarter.org.

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