Photo Coverage: A CONTEMPORARY AMERICAN'S GUIDE TO A SUCCESSFUL MARRIAGE Opening Night

Broadway's Sean Bradford (The Lion King) and Adam Kantor (RENT), in association with The Present Company, are presenting the world-premiere of A Contemporary American's Guide to a Successful Marriage © 1959 written by Robert Bastron and directed by Adam Fitzgerald at the Cherry Lane Theatre, 38 Commerce Street, as part of the 2009 New York International Fringe Festival.

Set against the backdrop of the late 1950's and told in the style of the social guidance films of that era, A Contemporary American's Guide to a Successful Marriage © 1959 follows two young couples, from courtship to matrimony, and ultimately what comes after.

The new comedy stars A.J. Shively (Sound of Music) as child prodigy turned medical student Daniel Henry, Autumn Hurlbert (Legally Blonde, and MTV's "Legally Blonde: The Search for Elle Woods") as teenage bride Abigail Lawrence, Merideth Forlenza (Pal Joey) as trailer trash turned millionaire Ruth Gundley, and Lee Aaron Rosen as All-American football jock Mason Lawrence. Completing the cast is Frances Mercanti-Anthony (Spring Awakening) as Dorothy, Chris Henry Coffey, Colin Israel, Miranda Jackel, Rob Sheridan, Anna Stone, and Monica West.

Playwright Robert Bastron is a graduate of the UCLA Theatre Program and member of the BMI Workshop. He most recently wrote the book for Hey You Know What Movie Would Make a Good Musical? Adam Fitzgerald is currently the Robert Moss Directing Resident at Playwrights Horizons serving as assistant director to Wilson Milam, Bartlett Sher and Kate Whoriskey. Producers Sean Bradford and Adam Kantor are co-founders of the not-for-profit organization Broadway in South Africa.

A Contemporary American's Guide to a Successful Marriage © 1959 opening night performance was on Monday. The final performance is Friday August 21 at 2pm at The Cherry Lane Theatre, 38 Commerce Street (Between Bedford & Barrow). The theatre is accessible via the 1 train at Christopher Street. Tickets are $15 can be purchased online at www.fringenyc.org, by calling 1-866-468-7619, or in person at Fringe Central 54 Crosby Street (between Spring and Broome). 

Visit the play on the web at : www.themarriageplay.com and www.fringenyc.org

Photos by Tsunami Roberts

Colin Israel

Anna Stone, Colin Israel and Autumn Hurlbert

Anna Stone and Colin Israel

Rob Sheridan and A.J. Shively

Autumn Hurlbert, Colin Israel, Anna Stone and AJ Shively

Autumn Hurlbert

Colin Israel, Anna Stone and Rob Sheridan

The cast takes their bows

A Contemporary American's Guide to a Successful Marriage cast

Justin Scribner, Anna Stone and Lee Aaron Rosen

Guest, Colin Israel and Anna Stone

Colin Israel and Anna Stone with friends

Morgan Karr and Frances Mercanti-Anthony

Anna Stone, Frances Mercanti-Anthony, Playwright Robert Bastron, Morgan Karr

Sean Bradford, Adam Kantor and Frankie James Grande

Producer Sean Bradford, Playwright Robert Bastron, Producer Adam Kantor

Sean Bradford, Director Adam Fitzgerald, Adam Kantor

Autumn Hurlbert and AJ Shively

Autumn Hurlbert and Lee Aaron Rosen

Colin Israel, Scott Hamilton and guest

Meredith Forlenza and Morgan Karr

Northwestern ALUMS Anna Eilinsfeld, Adam Kantor, Meredith Forlenza, Morgan Karr and Sean Bradford

Autumn Hurlbert and Scott Hamilton

Adam Kantor, Autumn Hurlbert, Meredith Forlenza, Sean Bradford and Monica West

Christy Coffey, Jennifer Mudge and Chris Henry Coffey

Autumn Hurlbert and Meredith Forlenza

Ian Paget and Courtney Reed

Morgan Karr, Anna Eilinsfeld and guest

Chris Henry Coffey, Autumn Hurlbert, Rob Sheridan and Scott Hamilton

Courtney Reed and Frankie James Grande

Tsunami Roberts and Courtney Reed

Ian Paget, Courtney Reed, Jon-Erik Goldberg, Adam Kantor and Scott Hamilton

Producers Adam Kantor, Sean Bradford and Executive Chefs for Cafeteria Restaurant