Shakespeare Theater Of NJ Announces THE SCHOOL FOR WIVES 7/8 & NOISES OFF 8/5

The Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey celebrates the summer with two back-to-back classic comedies on the Main Stage. Molière's classic farce, The School for Wives, directed by Brian B. Crowe, kicks off the summer's mirth on July 8 and runs through July 26. The Tony Award nominated Noises Off, the hugely popular British farce by Michael Frayn and directed by Paul Mullins, begins performances on August 5 and continues through August 30.

The Shakespeare Theatre has also announced that Tony Award and Drama Desk award-winner Harriet Harris has joined the cast of Noises Off, and will play Dotty, the role originated by Dorothy Loudon on Broadway. The School for Wives and Noises Off will be performed on the Shakespeare Theatre Main Stage - The F. M. Kirby Shakespeare Theatre, 36 Madison Avenue at Lancaster Road in Madison.

Single tickets for The School for Wives and Noises Off are now on sale and range in price from $30 to $54 depending on performance day and time. Patrons can save up to 45% off regular ticket prices by purchasing discount Ticket Packages and subscriptions that allow ticket buyers to select five or four plays of their choice at significantly discounted prices. Ticket Packages also offer additional benefits such as discounts on additional tickets and free and flexible ticket exchange privileges. Patrons may also select FlexPasses -- discounted vouchers that are redeemed for tickets during the season. Ticket packages start at $76. Single ticket prices include a $2 facility fee not subject to discount. For tickets, call the box office at 973-408-5600, visit www.ShakespeareNJ.org or email boxoffice@shakespearenj.org.

THE SCHOOL FOR WIVES

First up, running July 8 through July 26th, is Molière's French farce The School for Wives. Jean Baptiste Molière, considered one of the great masters of comedy, penned such audience favorites as The Miser, Tartuffe and The Misanthrope. In The School for Wives, translated into English verse by Richard Wilbur, a pompous middle-aged bachelor is determined to mold his ward into the perfect bride - for himself! But, it is he who gets the true education when best laid plans fall prey to a determined rival suitor, a pair of inept servants, and true love.

Returning for his third season with the Shakespeare Theatre is Bruce Cromer (The Taming of the Shrew, Life of Galileo) in the role of Arnolphe, the pompous bachelor determined to make his ward a bride. Cromer has appeared at The Ensemble Theatre of Cincinnati, Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park and Cincinnati Shakespeare Festival. He is a professor of theatre at Wright State University in Dayton, Ohio.

Erin Partin returns to the Shakespeare Theatre for her ninth season as Agnes, ward to Arnolphe. Partin has appeared in King Lear, A Christmas Carol and The Cherry Orchard, among many others at The Shakespeare Theatre.

Also in the cast are Shakespeare Theatre veterans Daren Kelly as Orante (Amadeus), Jon Barker as Horace (The Winter's Tale, A Streetcar Named Desire), Kristie Dale Sanders as Georgette (King Lear, Measure for Measure, The Rivals), Greg Jackson as Alain (The Winter's Tale, Amadeus, The Comedy of Errors, A Christmas Carol), and Scott Whitehurst as Chrysalde (The Winter's Tale, King Lear, Henry VI: Blood & Roses, Henry V). Making his Shakespeare Theatre debut is Jim Hopkins as Enrique.

NOISES OFF

Beginning performances on August 5 and continuing through August 30 is the back-stage farce Noises Off, by British playwright Michael Frayn. Frayn's other hit Broadway productions include Copenhagen and Democracy. A hit on London's West End and twice on Broadway, as well as achieving much success as a major feature film, Noises Off has become the quintessential farce about the theatre and the antics on stage and behind-the-scenes. Frayn got the idea for the play while watching one of his plays from the backstage wings. "It was funnier from behind than in front and I thought that one day I must write a farce from behind," Frayn noted.

Frayn's Olivier Award-winning play Noises Off follows the frantic antics of a fifth-rate company of actors touring the country in a bedroom sex farce called Nothing On. In Noises Off, audiences see Nothing On performed three times - once in a disastrous dress rehearsal, once from backstage, and once again later in the run! Frank Rich, of the New York Times, said that Noises Off "is, was, and probably always will be the funniest play written in my lifetime."

Leading this troupe of mismatched actors is Tony Award winner Harriet Harris as Dotty Otley. Harris won a 2002 Tony Award and Drama Desk Award for her role as Mrs. Meers in the hit Broadway musical Thoroughly Modern Millie. She has also appeared on Broadway in Old Acquaintance and the Tony Award-nominated Cry Baby. On television, Harris has appeared as the recurring character Felicia Tilman in Desperate Housewives and as Frasier Crane's agent Bebe Glazer on hit television series Frasier.

Playing Harris' on-stage and off-stage rival is Shakespeare Theatre favorite Laila Robins (A Streetcar Named Desire, The Cherry Orchard) as BeLinda Blair. Robins most recently appeared as Tammy Meswick in HBO's In Treatment and on the hit NBC-TV's 30 Rock. On Broadway, Robins appeared in the Tony Award-nominated Frozen and Heartbreak House among others.

The cast also includes Shakespeare Theatre veterans Andrew Weems (The Time of Your Life, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead, King John) as Lloyd Dallas, the director; Scott Barrow (Private Lives) as Garry Lejeune; and Matt Bradford Sullivan (King Lear) as Frederick Fellows.

Edmond Genest (Around the World in Eighty Days, King Lear) returns to The Shakespeare Theatre for his fourteenth season to play Selsdon Mowbray. Rounding out the cast are Katie Fabel as Brooke Ashton, Jessica Ires Morris as Poppy Norton Taylor, and Jack Moran as Tim Allgood.

To purchase tickets or ticket packages and subscriptions, call the box office at 973-408-5600, email boxoffice@shakespearenj.org or visit www.ShakespeareNJ.org.

ABOUT THE DIRECTORS

Resident Director Brian B. Crowe, in his 14th Season with The Shakespeare Theatre directs The School For Wives. At The Shakespeare Theatre, Crowe has directed The Winter's Tale, Henry VI: Blood & Roses, Julius Caesar, Love's Labour's Lost, The Tempest and Comedy of Errors on the Main Stage as well as A Midsummer Night's Dream and The Taming of the Shrew on the Outdoor Stage. The Star-Ledger called Crowe "one of the most ingenious directors" for his work on Love's Labour's Lost and named him Best Director of a Drama for Julius Caesar and Wonderland.

Company member Paul Mullins returns for his 18th Season to direct Noises Off. Mullins has directed Private Lives, The Time of Your Life, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead and Richard II among many others for The Theatre. Also an actor, Mullins has appeared in a score of Shakespeare Theatre productions including Richard III, Othello, and The Three Sisters.

SPECIAL PERFORMANCES

Performances of The School For Wives begin with Previews on Wednesday, July 8 at 7:30 p.m., and Thursday and Friday July 9 and 10 at 8 p.m. Preview performances for Noises Off are Wednesday, August 5 at 7:30 p.m. and Thursday and Friday, August 6 and 7 at 8:00 pm. These Preview performances offer opportunities for reduced-priced tickets while enjoying the excitement of the very first performances in front of an audience. As always, the first Preview performance is Pay What You Wish night. Visit The Shakespeare Theatre Box Office between noon and curtain on July 8 for The School for Wives and August 5 for Noises Off and name your own admission price for that evening's 7:30 preview performance (regularly $30 to $34, offer subject to availability).

For no more than the cost of a regular ticket, three Symposium Series performances for each show include a post-play discussion with the cast and artistic staff. Symposium performances for The School for Wives will be Tuesday, July 14 at 7:30 p.m., Saturday, July 18 and 25 at 2:00 p.m.

For each production, The Shakespeare Theatre presents the popular education program Know the Show. From 7:00 to 7:30 p.m., artists from The Shakespeare Theatre will present a pre-performance talk that provides background information and an insider's perspective on the production. Know the Show for The School for Wives will be held July 16 and for Noises Off on August 13 at 7:00 p.m. General admission is $5 for the general public, $4 for ticket package holders. Tickets to that evening's 8:00 p.m. performance may be purchased separately for $43 or $47.

The Saturday, July 25 (The School for Wives) and Saturday, August 22 (Noises Off) at 2 p.m. performance will be audio described for those who are blind or have visual impairments. Audio description enables patrons with visual impairments to hear, through an FM transmitter, a live description of the action on the stage. A pre-performance sensory seminar is offered that allows patrons to feel props, costumes and set pieces to further enhance their live theatrical experience. The service is offered free of charge. Tickets for the Saturday 2 p.m. performance are $43 and $47.

The Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey's 2009 Season continues with 3 additional Main Stage productions and a summer production at its famed Outdoor Stage.

The Shakespeare Theatre brings back Shakespeare "under-the-stars" with The Tempest performed at The Theatre's Outdoor Stage - the Greek Theatre located on the campus of the College of St. Elizabeth in Morristown. Marooned on a mysterious island full of magical creatures, the magus Prospero prepares to wreak havoc on those who have wronged him, only to learn the greater value of compassion and forgiveness. This fun and mystical romance offers an opportunity for families and people of all ages to experience Shakespeare. The Tempest runs June 24 through August 2 and is directed by Joe Discher.

Considered by many to be the greatest play ever written, Shakespeare's Hamlet takes the stage September 9 through October 11. Directed by Bonnie J. Monte, this production will feature a haunting and evocative soundscape featuring the voices of Harmonium Choral Society. Broadway veteran Gareth Saxe returns to The Shakespeare Theatre to play Hamlet, the Prince of Denmark.

Adapted by Frank Galati from the epic novel by John Steinbeck, The Grapes of Wrath runs October 21 through November 21. The story of Tom Joad and his family's flight from the Dust Bowl of Oklahoma during the Great Depression is a majestic and deeply affecting portrait of American life and the American soul at a defining moment in our nation's history. The production is directed by Joe Discher.

Closing the season is Shakespeare's Twelfth Night running December 2 through January 3, 2010. Directed by Bonnie J. Monte, Twelfth Night is a shimmering confection - delightfully tart, ravishingly bittersweet and spectacularly frothy all at once. It is a joyous show for the holidays and for families of all ages.

For more information about the season, call 973-408-5600, email or visit www.ShakespeareNJ.org.

The Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey's Main Stage, the 308-seat F.M. Kirby Shakespeare Theatre, is conveniently located in Madison at 36 Madison Avenue (Route 124) at Lancaster Road (on the Drew University campus), just minutes from routes 287, 78 and 10. Parking is free. The Outdoor Stage is located at the Greek Theatre on the campus of the College of St. Elizabeth in Morristown. The F.M. Kirby Shakespeare Theatre is barrier free with access into the Theatre via a ramp and elevator access to all floors. Wheelchair seating and transfer seating is available. Braille and large print programs are available. Infrared listening devices are available free of charge. Some performances are audio described, captioned and sign-language interpreted. Contact the theatre for more information. For more information, or to purchase tickets, call 973-408-5600, email boxoffice@ShakespeareNJ.org or visit www.ShakespeareNJ.org. The acclaimed Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey is an independent, professional theatre company located on the Drew University campus. One of the leading Shakespeare theatres in the nation, serving 100,000 adults and children annually, it is New Jersey's only professional theatre company dedicated solely to Shakespeare's canon and other world classics. Through its distinguished productions and education programs, the company strives to illuminate the universal and lasting relevance of the classics for contemporary audiences.

 

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