Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey to Present Moliere's THE LEARNED LADIES Under the Stars, 6/18-7/27

The Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey's Outdoor Stage production of Molière's comedy The Learned Ladies brings theatre alive under the stars at the enormously popular summer venue on the campus of the College of Saint Elizabeth in Morris Township. This replica of an ancient Greek theatre nestled into the hillside of the bucolic campus offers a unique theatrical event. The Learned Ladies begins on June 18th and continues through July 27th.

Performances are Tuesdays through Saturdays at 8:00 p.m., Sundays at 7:30 p.m., and a special twilight performance on Saturdays at 4:30 p.m. Tickets are $15 for students and $35 for adults. Children under age five go for free. For tickets or more information, call 973-408-5600 or visit www.ShakespeareNJ.org. Groups of 10 or more are eligible for group discounts.

The large lawn surrounding the amphitheater is ideal for picnicking. Audience members may bring their own food and beverages, or purchase snacks and soft drinks on-site. Patrons are encouraged to bring low-backed beach chairs into the amphitheatre. Stadium seats are available for rental for $3.00 while supplies last. Seating is general admission.

Molière's satirical masterpiece follows the trials of the young couple Henriette and Clitandre while Henriette's female relations voice their high-brow disapproval. These women fancy themselves culturally "learned" and are great patrons of the pseudo-scholarly Trissotin, a poet with lofty aspirations which include receiving Henriette's hand in marriage. The bourgeois family's conflict provides the comic foundation for Molière's signature farce. As Henriette's father Chrysale wearily exclaims, "Is there a stranger house in Christendom/Than mine, where women are as mad as hatters/And everything is known except what matters?"

Molière's exceptional wit is on full display in this fun farce, filled with frolicking, flirting, and flaunting. Pulitzer Prize-winning American scholar and poet Richard Wilbur translated the work. The New York Times praised Wilbur's skill when Roundabout Theatre Company revived his translation of The Learned Ladies in 1982, "Molière has had no better American friend than...Richard Wilbur, whose translations...are beautiful works of art in themselves."

The Outdoor Stage is generously supported by Bank of America. A partner of The Outdoor Stage since 2004, their committed and generous support has helped make The Shakespeare Theatre's Outdoor Stage one of the most unique and anticipated summer theatrical events in the region. "We are immensely grateful to Bank of America for their steadfast backing," said the Theatre's Director of Development Heidi Speckhart. "This partnership makes it possible for tens of thousands of patrons to enjoy extraordinary world-class theatre under-the-stars."

"The Outdoor Stage is one of the most unique and anticipated summer theatrical events in the region," said Bob Doherty, Bank of America New Jersey president. "Local nonprofits like the Shakespeare Theatre make arts and culture more accessible, and the Outdoor Stage never fails to deliver inspiring entertainment."

Before each performance, audience members may visit the nearby Therese A. Maloney Art Gallery (located on the main floor of The College's Annunciation Center to the left of the Outdoor Stage) and view the new exhibit Compiled and Composed: Sculptural Formations. This exhibition of contemporary sculptural practices reveals accumulations, assemblages, and excavations in the work of New Jersey and New York artists. Gallery director Dr. Virginia Fabbri Butera describes the exhibition, "Working with shape, color and juxtapositions of found objects or carefully formed materials, these artists create beautiful, humorous, and profound compositions reflecting the chaos of contemporary life." The exhibit is on view June 18 - July 27, Tuesday - Sunday from 5:00 - 8:00 pm. For more information, visit maloneyartgallery.org or email artgallery@cse.edu.

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