Photo Flash: 'Paradise Park' Opens March 2

Signature Theatre Company presents the world premiere of Paradise Park by 2007-2008 Playwright-in-Residence Charles Mee.  Directed by Daniel Fish and with choreography by Peter Pucci, Paradise Park began performances on Tuesday, February 14 at Signature Theatre Company's Peter Norton Space, located at 555 West 42nd Street (between 10th and 11th Avenues).  Opening Night is Sunday, March 2.

"Welcome to Paradise Park, an amusement park that opens up into all of America and beyond. Meet the inhabitants of this bizarre carnival of life, including a ventriloquist, his dummy, and a teenage girl on the run. From Futureworld to Londonland, the Grand Canyon to Fred's Polynesian Dive Shop, step right up to this wild ride of fruit cake tosses, underwater ballets, square dances, and star gazing, too. The third and final play of the Charles Mee Series, Paradise Park is a collage-like journey through all of America," explain press notes.

Paradise Park marks Signature's third production with Mee this season.  Iphegnia 2.0 had its New York premiere in the fall and most recently, Signature presented the world premiere of Mee's Queens Boulevard (the musical).

The cast of Paradise Park includes Vanessa Aspillaga (Anna in the Tropics), Satya Bhabha (Queens Boulevard), Veanne Cox (Caroline, or Change; The Dinner Party), Gian-Murray Gianino (Eurydice), William Jackson Harper (Queens Boulevard), Christopher McCann (True Love), Paul Mullins (The Torch-Bearers),  Alan Semok (The Brothers Karamazov) and Laurie Williams (True Love).

Paradise Park features music direction and arrangements by Bill Schimmel, scenic design by David Zinn, costume design by Kaye Voyce, lighting design by Mark Barton, sound design by Elizabeth Rhodes and video design by Joshua Thorson.

Through The Signature Ticket Initiative, which seeks to make great theatre accessible to the broadest possible audience, all regularly-priced single tickets ($65) are available for $20 during the regular runs of each production for the entire 2007-2008 season through Signature's 20th Anniversary Season (2010-2011).  The Signature Ticket Initiative is made possible by the lead sponsorship of Time Warner Inc.  Generous support for The Signature Ticket Initiative is provided by Margot Adams, in memory of Mason Adams.

The performance schedule for Paradise Park is Tuesday at 7PM, Wednesday through Saturday at 8PM, Saturday and Sunday at 2PM.  Please note that there is no performance on Sunday, February 24.  Tickets are available online at www.signaturetheatre.org and by phone (212) 244-PLAY (7529) and in person at the Box Office (555 West 42nd Street)

Photos by Carol Rosegg