The Shakespeare Theatre Presents Shaw's THE DEVIL'S DISCIPLE

The Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey presents George Bernard Shaw's Revolutionary War dramaThe Devil's Disciple. Just in time for the Fourth of July and the 350th anniversary of New Jersey's charter, The Devil's Disciple celebrates the spirit and honor of the everyday people who fought for our nation's independence.

Performances begin July 2nd at the F.M. Kirby Shakespeare Theatre, 36 Madison Ave. (at Lancaster Road) in Madison. Individual tickets are now on sale and can be purchased by calling the Box Office at 973-408-5600 or by visiting www.ShakespeareNJ.org.

Performances are Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Sundays at 7:30 p.m.; Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m.; and Saturdays and Sundays at 2 p.m. Individual tickets range from $15 to $75.

The Devil's Disciple was Shaw's first commercial success and established the signature Shavian balance of comedy, drama, and his astute exploration of human nature. As Shaw's only play set in America, The Devil's Disciple stands out both as a testament to Shaw's mastery of impactful melodrama and, more importantly, as a skillful and moving examination of what is truly means to be an American. The play is set in 1777, amid the tumult of the American Revolution. Nearby insurgencies send shockwaves through the small town of Westerbridge, New Hampshire, particularly into the lives of the Dudgeon family.

The "devil's disciple" is Richard "Dick" Dudgeon, a foil of "flaunting Vice" to the rest of his family's puritanical "Virtue," to quote Shaw's stage directions. When Richard returns home for the reading of his father's will, his life becomes entangled with the trusted local minister Anthony Anderson, causing both men to question the true meaning of honor.

The Shakespeare Theatre is thrilled to announce a unique partnership with the Museum of Early Trades and Crafts in Madison. In conjunction with the Museum's ongoing exhibit The American Revolution: Where the Battlefront Meets the Homefront, a special "pop-up" exhibit will be on display in the Theatre's lobby. The exhibit will feature Revolutionary War artifacts from the Museum's exhibit. "The Museum of Early Trades & Crafts is happy to partner with The Shakespeare Theatre to create our own 'Crossroads of the Revolution' this summer. Visitors can enjoy quality theatre and visual arts while they learn local history," said Meg Wastie, the Museum's Curator of Education. Patrons can enhance their theatre-going experience by visiting the full exhibit at the museum, located at 9 Main Street in Madison. The Museum is open Tuesdays through Saturdays, 10 a.m.-4p.m., Sundays 1p.m.-5p.m. For more information, visit www.metc.org.

Joining in the celebration of America's history and great local culture is Poor Herbie's, Madison's landmark tavern restaurant located on historic Waverly Place. Patrons who present their Devil's Disciple ticket stub receive 10% off their entire bill. Also, be sure to ask about the exclusive cocktail the "Devil's Disciple," created especially for this production by proprietor Dennis Mullins, Jr. "We love working with The Shakespeare Theatre and this specially-designed summer cocktail is a great pairing for this production!"

The Cast

As Richard "Dick" Dudgeon, the black sheep "devil's disciple," James Knight appears in his third season with the Theatre. Knight recently toured the one-man show I am the Machine Gunner across the country to critical acclaim. He has worked with Theatre for a New Audience, New York Classical Theatre Company, Hartford Stage Company, Portland Center Stage, The Old Globe, Utah Shakespearean Festival, Alabama Shakespeare Festival, Two River Theatre Company, and others.

As the respected local minister Anthony Anderson, Paul Niebanck returns for his ninth season with the Theatre where he appeared in Richard III, The Cherry Orchard, Of Mice and Men, Pygmalion, Much Ado About Nothing, The Illusion, The Crucible, Rhinoceros, and Romeo and Juliet. His New York credits include productions with the Mint, Primary Stages, Lincoln Center Theater, Theatre for a New Audience, Signature Theatre Company, among others.

Tony Award-nominated actress Elizabeth A. Davis plays the minister's wife Judith Anderson. Her credits include the Broadway's Once (Tony nomination, cast Grammy Award) as well as the original production at New York Theatre Workshop, Caucasian Chalk Circle with Duncan Sheik and Christopher Lloyd at Classic Stage Company, and productions with American Repertory Theatre, New World Stages, 59E59, The Public Theatre, Joe's Pub, Highline Ballroom, 54 Below, The Cleveland Play House, and Great Lakes Theatre Festival. Davis' play, INDIAN JOE, is a 2013 Cherry Lane Mentor Project play, a 2014 Goodspeed Opera House Johnny Mercer play, and a 2014 Rhinebeck Writer's Retreat finalist.

Cynthia Mace portrays the Dudgeon matriarch Anne. Mace previously appeared at the Theatre as the Duchess of York inRichard II. Most recently, she portrayed Phyllis in the world premiere of Sideways at La Jolla Playhouse, directed by Des McAnuff. She worked extensively with the Mark Taper Forum, winning a Garland Award for Best Actress as Stevie in The Goat or Who is Sylvia? and appearing in Tony Kushner's Angels in America: Millennium Approaches and the world-premiere of Perestroika directed by Oskar Eustis with Tony Taccone. She portrayed Miss Prism in The Importance of Being Earnest opposite Lynn Redgrave for the Paper Mill Playhouse. Her film and television credits include Michael Clayton, The Alphabet Killer, When A Man Loves a Woman, Fearless, Onion News Network, Weapons of Mass Distraction, Chicago Hope, The Practice, and Murphy Brown.

As "Christy" Dudgeon, the obedient son, Connor Carew returns for his fifth season at the Theatre where he has appeared in productions on the Main Stage, with Shakespeare LIVE!, and the Next Stage Ensemble. His regional credits include Two River Theater Company and Hudson Valley Shakespeare Festival. Carew is a graduate of Temple University and the New School.

Michael Daly returns to The Shakespeare Theatre as Uncle William Dudgeon. He has appeared on the Main Stage in The Playboy of the Western World, The Grapes of Wrath, and Of Mice and Men among others. Regionally, he appeared inGreater Tuna at Utah Shakespeare Festival, and Pride and Prejudice and Twelfth Night at Orlando Shakespeare Festival.

Edmond Genest returns to The Shakespeare Theatre for his 19th season to play British General Burgoyne. Genest's copious Shakespeare Theatre credits include The Playboy of the Western World, Trelawny of the Wells, Accidental Death of an Anarchist, No Man's Land, Noises Off, King Lear and many more. He has appeared on Broadway in The Elephant Man, A Few Good Men, The Real Thing and Whose Life is it Anyway?

Company member John Little portrays Lawyer Hawkins. Little has appeared in Shakespeare Theatre productions of A Most Dangerous Woman, Charles Dickens' Oliver Twist, Henry IV, Part One, The Grapes of Wrath and Amadeusamong others. He recently appeared in Poetic License at 59E59 Theatre. He has also appeared off-Broadway at New Federal Theatre and Harold Clurman Theatre.

Shakespeare Theatre veteran Matt Sullivan plays Uncle Titus Dudgeon. Sullivan has appeared in Shakespeare Theatre productions of Tovarich, The Playboy of the Western World, Trelawny of the Wells, The Comedy of Errors, I Capture The Castle, among others. His numerous credits include The Minetta Lane off-Broadway, the Guthrie Theatre, Baltimore Center Stage, The New York Shakespeare Festival, Shakespeare Theatre Company in D.C., Hartford Stage, and Dallas Theater Center.

Sheffield Chastain plays a British Sergeant. Chastain appeared on Broadway in White Christmas, Is He Dead and in the national tour of The 39 Steps. He has appeared off-Broadway at the Perry Street Theatre and Atlantic Theatre and at Florida Studio Theatre, La Jolla Playhouse, Seattle Rep and Los Angeles Theatre Center among many others.

Katie Willmorth, Nancy Rich, Rosemary Wall, Samuel Cheeseman, Samuel Hardy, Stark Kirby, Chris Rothbauer, Jeffrey Allen Sneed round out the cast.

The Director

Paul Mullins is in his twenty-third season with The Shakespeare Theatre as both a director (The Playboy of the Western World, The Liar, Accidental Death of an Anarchist, The Lion in Winter, Noises Off, Private Lives, The Time of Your Life, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead, Richard II, Illyria, King John, among others) and actor (No Man's Land, Richard III, Othello, Carnival!, Three Sisters, The Forest, Blithe Spirit, The Winter's Tale, and more). He has worked with The Old Globe. The Studio Theatre in D. C., Chautauqua Theatre Company, Portland Stage, Dorset Theatre Festival, Connecticut Repertory Theatre, New York University, Yale School of Drama, and The Juilliard School.

The Artistic Staff

Creating the world of The Devil's Disciple is set designer Brittany Vasta, costume designer Candida Nichols, sound designer Karin Graybash, and lighting designer Andrew Hungerford. Alison Cote serves as production stage manager.

Tickets

Single tickets for The Devil's Disciple are now on sale and range from $15 to $75. Student Rush tickets are available a half-hour before curtain for $15 with a valid student ID. For tickets, call the Box Office at 973-408-5600, visitwww.ShakespeareNJ.org or email boxoffice@shakespearenj.org.

Special Performances

Discount preview performances for The Devil's Disciple are Wednesday, July 2 at 7:30 p.m., Thursday, July 3 and Friday, July 4 at 8 p.m., and Saturday, July 5 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 Can night. Visit The Shakespeare Theatre Box Office between noon and curtain on July 2 and purchase a ticket for that evening's 7:30 p.m. preview performance for what you are able to pay (offer subject to availability).

For no more than the cost of a regular ticket, three Symposium Series performances are offered for each show and include a post-play discussion with the cast and artistic staff. Symposium performances for The Devil's Disciple will be Tuesday, July 8 at 7:30 p.m., Saturday, July 12 and Saturday, July 19 at 2 p.m.

For each production, The Shakespeare Theatre presents the popular education program Know the Show. From 7:00 to 7:30 p.m., an artist from The Shakespeare Theatre will present a pre-performance talk that provides background information and an insider's perspective on the production. The Know the Show performance will be held on Thursday, July 10 at 7:00 p.m.General admission is $5 for the general public, $4 for ticket package holders and subscribers. Tickets to that evening's 8:00 p.m. performance may be purchased separately.

The 2:00 p.m. performance on Saturday, July 19 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.

One of the leading Shakespeare theatres in the nation, serving 100,000 adults and children annually, The Shakespeare Theatre is New Jersey's largest 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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