The Bickford Theatre Presents MOONLIGHT AND MAGNOLIAS 11/11-12/5

The Bickford Theatre, 6 Normandy Heights Road in Morristown, NJ, continues its 16th Season with Moonlight and Magnolias by Ron Hutchinson, running November 11 through December 5, a wildly funny and illuminating behind-the-scenes tale of the business of movie making during the golden age of Hollywood.

1939 Hollywood is abuzz! Legendary producer David O. Selznick has shut down the filming of his newest epic, Gone with the Wind, just three weeks into production. The screenplay just isn't working. So what's an all-powerful movie mogul to do? Fire the director, pull Victor Fleming off The Wizard of Oz, and lock himself, Fleming, and script doctor Ben Hecht in his office until they have a script. Subsisting on a diet of bananas and peanuts, they spend five days working through and acting out Margaret Mitchell's bestseller and in the process make movie history by fashioning a screenplay for one of the most successful and beloved films of all time. "

The Chicago Sun-Times called the clashing of the egos of these three movie industry titans "a hyperventilating slapstick comedy," and Howard Kissel of the NY Daily News said, "Frankly, my dear, this is one funny play."

Moonlight and Magnolias, partly sponsored by Linde, Hansen & Co., LLC, stars Gary Littman as David O. Selznick, Jarel Davidow as Victor Fleming, Duncan M. Rogers as Ben Hecht, and Michele Danna as Miss Poppenghul.

Gary Littman has been seen on New York stages in Bonnie & Clyde at the Chernuchin Theatre, A Fine and Private Place at The York Theatre, and Minnie's Boys at The Jewish Repertory Theatre. Regional credits include Santaland Diaries at New Repertory Theatre, Duck Crossing at Premiere Stages, Schmucks at The Wilma, Oklahoma at Atlanta TOTS, Dracula at Premiere Stages, Cabaret at Redondo Music Theatre, Metamorphoses at Florida Studio Theatre, Sight Unseen at Centenary Stage, Chapter Two the Bickford Theatre, The Odd Couple at Carousel Dinner Theatre, Annie Get Your Gun and The Man Who Came To Dinner both at the Art Center of Coastal Carolina, City of Angels at AMT of San Jose and The Tempest at Actors Shakespeare Company. Gary has been cast as a Radio Announcer for an upcoming episode of HBO's Boardwalk Empire and is also a voice-over artist recording everything from cartoons to commercials to audio books.

Jarel Davidow is proud to be making his Bickford Theatre debut with Moonlight and Magnolias. Favorite NYC roles include Bill in The Love List, George in Of Mice and Men, Lucentio in Taming of the Shrew, Lucio in Measure for Measure, Pastor Manders in Ibsen's Ghosts, Dr. Glass in Room Service and Machal in Vaclav Havel's The Increased Difficulty of Concentration directed by Arthur Storch. Other favorite roles include Rick Steadman in The Nerd at Know Theatre (Binghamton, NY), Malvolio in Twelfth Night and Touchstone in As You Like It at The New England Shakespeare Festival, and Bottom in Midsummer Night's Dream at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. Film credits include the independent features New Detroit; Fighting Irish and The Sunshine Deli and Grocery. Jarel's TV credits include Ed, Law & Order, One Life to Live, plus numerous voiceovers and commercials.

Duncan M. Rogers is happy to return to the Bickford Stage for his 11th production. Previous favorites include roles in First Night, A Thousand Clowns, Fiction, and With and Without. He is a founding company member of NJ Rep and originated the role of Tim Grant in Naked by the River there. Other NJ roles include Sidney Brustein in The Sign in Sidney Brustein's Window, Mark in Still Life and Sterling in Mauritius, all with The Women's Theater Company. Off Broadway credits include The Wild Duck and Little Eyolf at The Century Center for the Performing Arts, and productions at The Connolly Theater, The Sanford Meisner Theater, Theater for The New City, and many others. Television credits include NY Undercover, Dellaventura, and 30 Rock.

Barbara Krajkowski directs with Scenic Design by Jonathan Wentz, Lighting Design by Roman Klima, Costume Design by Fran Harrison, Props by Heather Sehrt, and Fight Choreography by Joe Travers. Yumi Matsuura serves as Stage Manager.

Main Stage Series performances for Moonlight and Magnolias are Thursdays at 7:30 p.m. Nov. 11 and 18, Thursdays at 2 p.m. Nov. 18 and Dec. 2, Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m., and Sundays at 2 p.m. Please note there are no performances on November 25 and December 4.

To purchase tickets or for further information, please contact the Box Office at 973.971.3706 or visit us 24/7 at www.bickfordtheatre.org.

About The Bickford...

The Bickford Theatre (Eric Hafen, Artistic Director; Stephen Kantrowitz, Asst. Artistic Director) is a professional theatre that produces and presents year-round entertainment, including a Main Stage Series, two Children's Theatre series, and a Jazz Showcase. The theatre is a Senior Member of the New Jersey Theatre Alliance, a not-for-profit organization of 30 professional theatres throughout the state, and works in conjunction with Actors' Equity Association (AEA) and the Stage Directors and Choreographers Society (SDC). From its beginnings in 1994 to the present, tens of thousands of theater-goers from across the tri-state area have enjoyed the Bickford Theatre's many entertaining and diversified offerings in theatre, music and dance.

The Bickford Theatre is conveniently located within the Morris Museum and offers free parking and full accessibility. Box Office hours for phone sales are Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Walk-up hours are Wednesday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

 

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