Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey Presents ARMS AND THE MAN, Begins 7/7

The Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey continues its summer season with George Bernard Shaw's comedy Arms and the Man. Arms and the Man begins performances on July 7 and continues through August 1. For tickets or more information, call the box office at 973-408-5600 or visit www.ShakespeareNJ.org. Discount 4 and 5-play ticket packages are also available. Associate Artistic Director Joe Discher directs.

Shaw's 1894 comedic "confection" remains one of the world's most beloved plays. The story's hero, the sensible and war-weary "chocolate cream soldier," is the catalyst for a hilarious and, in Shaw's own words, "delightful firecracker of a play" which explodes the romantic notions of love, war and heroic sentiment.

With the opening of Arms and the Man, Shaw was recognized as a great wit and the play became his first commercial success. A prolific playwright, Shaw went on to write a number of witty and pithy social comedies including Candida, Misalliance, Pygmalion, Major Barbara and Mrs. Warren's Profession.

Nisi Sturgis plays Raina, the heroine of Shaw's comedy. Sturgis last appeared at The Shakespeare Theatre as Stella in the acclaimed 2008 production of A Streetcar Named Desire. Sturgis also appeared in the Theatre's production of Pride and Prejudice directed by Bonnie J. Monte and has appeared at prestigious theatres nationwide. On Broadway, she appeared in the hit comedy The 39 Steps. This fall, she can be seen in Martin Scorcese's new HBO series Boardwalk Empire.

Shakespeare Theatre veteran Sean Mahan plays Bluntschli, the distinguished soldier who carries chocolates rather than bullets. Mahan was last seen at the Theatre in The Time of Your Life. He also appeared in Pride and Prejudice and Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead. He has also appeared at Alabama Shakespeare Festival and Indiana Repertory and in the HBO mini-series John Adams.

Anthony Marble plays Raina's flirtatious fiancé, Sergius. Marble appeared at The Shakespeare Theatre in Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead and has appeared at the Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park, The Actor's Theatre of Louisville and The Alabama Shakespeare Festival.

Raina's father, the high ranking Major Petkoff, is played by Bill Christ who most recently appeared at The Shakespeare Theatre in last season's The Tempest on the Outdoor Stage. He has appeared on Broadway in The Miracle Worker and Inherit the Wind.

Anne-Marie Cusson plays Catherine, Raina's mother. Cusson has appeared at The GeVa Theatre, and Alabama Shakespeare Festival and is making her Shakespeare Theatre debut in this production.

Rounding out the cast are Ames Adamson as Nicola, the family servant; Helen Farmer as Louka, the servant girl; and Jason Edward Bobb as the Russian officer. Adamson returns to The Shakespeare Theatre for his 8th season having appeared in Hamlet, King Lear, A Christmas Carol and Henry V among many others.

The Director
Director Joe Discher is celebrating his 20th Anniversary season with The Shakespeare Theatre where he serves as the Associate Artistic Director. His Shakespeare Theatre directing credits include The Grapes of Wrath, Amadeus, The Play's the Thing, Cymbeline, Life of Galileo, Of Mice and Men, A Midwinter Night's Dream, The Fantasticks, and Twelfth Night on the Main Stage as well as The Tempest and That Scoundrel Scapin on the Outdoor Stage. In 2006 he directed Julius Caesar for The Shakespeare Festival of St. Louis, which broke attendance records, playing to 50,000 in three weeks. He sings professionally at St. Cassian Church in Upper Montclair, and is an alumnus of Drew University.

The Artistic Staff

Creating the world of Arms and the Man are set designer Charles Calvert, lighting designer Matthew Adelson, and costume designer Emily Pepper. Christine Whelan serves as production stage manager.

Full price single tickets for Arms and the Man are now on sale and range in price from $31 to $54 depending on performance day and time. 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.

Save with Discount Ticket Packages
Five-play and 4-play choose-your-own discount ticket packages are now on sale. The discount ticket packages feature up to 40% percent savings off the cost of regular tickets, the best seats to all Main Stage productions; free, easy and unlimited ticket exchanges should schedules change; discounts on additional tickets; and the convenience of having tickets in hand and dates scheduled in advance. Choose-your-own 5-play and 4-play ticket packages start at $80. Call The Shakespeare Theatre Box Office at 973-408-5600. Call the box office at 973-408-5600. Look for more information at www.ShakespeareNJ.org.

Special Performances
Preview performances for Arms and the Man are Wednesday, July 7 at 7:30 p.m; Thursday and Friday, July 8 and 9 at 8:00 p.m., and Saturday, July 10 at 2 p.m. 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 June 2 and name your own admission price for that evening's 7:30 preview performance (regularly $31 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 Arms and the Man will be Tuesday, July 13 at 7:30 p.m., and Saturday, July 17 and 24 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 will be held on July 15 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 balcony seating or $47 for orchestra seating.

 

The Saturday, July 24 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.

 

2010 Season

The 2010 Season includes 4 additional Main Stage plays and one long run show at the popular Outdoor Stage.

 

The Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey's Outdoor Stage will feature Carlo Goldoni's zany comedy THE SERVANT OF TWO MASTERS in a world premiere translation/adaptation by Bonnie J. Monte. A perfect commedia piece for families, THE SERVANT OF TWO MASTERS will be presented "under-the-stars" at the outdoor amphitheatre on the pastoral campus of The College of St. Elizabeth in Morris Township. THE SERVANT OF TWO MASTERS runs through August 1.

On the Main Stage, a dark masterpiece from one of the world's most important playwrights and the winner of the 2005 Nobel Prize for Literature, NO MAN'S LAND, takes the stage August 11 through August 29. It marks director Bonnie J. Monte's first return to the mysterious, haunting world of Harold Pinter since her acclaimed production of The Homecoming in 1995. This disturbing and provocative piece offers up Pinter's biting wit and brilliant use of language at its best. The play contains adult content and is not appropriate for children.

Shakespeare's comedic genius returns to the Main Stage with ALL'S WELL THAT ENDS WELL running September 15 through October 10. Not seen on The Shakespeare Theatre stage in more than a decade, this new vision of Shakespeare's mercurial romance will be directed by longtime company member Stephen Fried.

James Goldman's wickedly biting "domestic comedy" THE LION IN WINTER follows next. Goldman's acerbic comedy of a dysfunctional family dynasty in the year 1183 was nominated for two Tony Awards when it opened on Broadway, and was later made into an Academy Award winning film featuring Peter O'Toole and Katharine Hepburn. THE LION IN WINTER will be directed by veteran company member Paul Mullins and runs October 20 through November 14.

To celebrate the Holiday Season, the Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey will present the American East Coast premiere of Dodie Smith's British romantic comedy I CAPTURE THE CASTLE. Most famous for her novel The Hundred and One Dalmatians, I CAPTURE THE CASTLE was Ms. Smith's first novel which she then adapted for the stage. This 1930's coming-of-age classic is perfect for family audiences and is full of colorful Bohemian characters, wit, wisdom, and a fabulous crumbling castle. Directed by Cameron Watson, I CAPTURE THE CASTLE runs December 1 through January 2.

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 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. Contact the theatre for more information. For more information, or to purchase tickets, call 973-408-5600 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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