Dry with a Twist Theatrics and Inferno Entertainment are pleased to announce their production L'illusion Comique, directed by Kevin P. Joyce. L'illusion Comique will play a three night limited engagement at Under St. Mark's (94 Saint Marks PL., New York, NY 10009). Performances in New York begin tonight, October 18 and continue through to Saturday, October 20. Opening Night is tonight, October 18 (8 p.m.)
*New York Press nights: Tonight, October 18th, Friday, October 19th and Saturday October 20th.
L'illusion Comique is a 1636 play in verse by the French playwright Pierre Corneille. While being popular in French speaking countries, it is rarely performed in English speaking ones.
In this fresh adapted translation, Corneille's masquerade of buffoonery, betrayal, magic, masks and murder is set in the mysterious bayous of Louisiana. This production captures all the farcical intrigue of the original play, while adding a dash of Cajun spice to create a rollicking evening of theatre.
L'illusion Comique is the story of Pridamant, a wealthy southern gentleman who has been estranged from his son for ten years. Frustrated and desperate to reconnect with his lost son, Pridamant seeks the counsel of Alcandre, a voodoo priestess living in the bayou. Alcandre then conjures visions of Pridamant's son, who now calls himself "Clindor". What then ensues is a rollercoaster of intrigue, love and comedy involving a beautiful young woman named Isabelle, her jealous suitor Adraste, Lyse the sly maid, Matamore a clownish braggart, love triangles, murder, magic and dead bunnies all climaxing in an amazing twist which leaves us asking "what is illusion and what is reality?". Where is the line between what is real and what is artifice? More information can be found at www.lillusioncomique.info.
The production features scenic designs by Drew Paramore, George Scholes Robson V, Matsy Stintson, Justin West, and Brian McManimon with fight choreography by Brian Walters. The production is produced by Dry With A Twist Theatrics in association with Inferno Entertainment and is adapted and directed by Kevin P. Joyce.
L'illusion Comique plays the following regular schedule through Thursday, October 18th:
Thursdays at 8 p.m.
Friday at 8 p.m.
Saturday at 8 p.m.
Tickets for the October New York run are $18 General Admission $15 Student/Senior and will be on sale October 1st at www.lillusioncomique.info. Tickets may also be purchased in-person at the theater's box office ½ hour prior to the performance.
*90 minutes*
BIOGRAPHIES
Matt Alford: (Clindor) Previous theater credits (Off and Off-off Broadway) include To Whom it May Concern, Departures, Sex Curve, Waiting for Lefty, En Vino Veritas, and 11 (A River Apart) among others. Matt also has worked as a director and actor with Equalogy INC, a theater-for-social-change company dedicated to educating audiences on issues of acquaintance rape and domestic violence. Upcoming film: The Angelheads, as well as a couple commercials. Enormous gratitude to Kevin and the entire L'illusion team for inviting me on this wacky journey. www.matt-alford.com
Chris Fayne: (Pridamant) graduated in May from Pace University with a BFA in Acting, and reprises his role from the original New York production there. His other credits at Pace include These Shining Lives (Tom), Treefall (August), A Christmas Carol (Bob Cratchit), The Bald Soprano (the Fire Chief), and "Love Letters to Stalin" (Josef Stalin). His film credits include lead roles in the independent shorts "Three's A Crowd" and "The Walled Mind Of A Mime". He has studied acting additionally at the HB Studio and RADA. .
Chris Lemieux: (Matamore) is extremely excited to be returning to this wonderful production. He is a senior attending Pace University. Some favorite Pace credits include: Earth and Sky (Detective Kersnowski), The Bakery (Sam), A Christmas Carol (Fezziwig), and Den of Thieves (Paul). Currently, Lemieux is working on the musical Next to Normal as the character of Dan in his hometown.
Andrew K. Meyer: (Dorante/Jailor) made his Off Broadway debut in Songs for a New World. Favorite roles include: Tom Collins in the NJ Premiere of Rent, The Engineer in Miss Saigon and Macbeth in Macbeth the Rock Musical. He was recently seen a regular on the late night comedy talk show The Chris Gethard Show, which runs as a web-series every Wednesday night. Andrew K. Meyer is double-majoring in Psychology and Acting at Pace University and is currently studying comedy at the Upright Citizens Brigade. Andrew would like to thank his family for their consistent and fantastic support, and the incredibly talented CAST AND CREW of L'illusion Comique!
Tommy McKiernan: (Adraste) is thrilled to be apart of this amazing production! Off-Broadway: Family Dinner, Angelina Ballerina, Dear Maudie, and The People Garden. He is currently pursuing a BFA in Musical Theatre at Pace University.
Evan Pearson: (Geronte) is a BFA Acting major in his Senior year at Pace University. NYC:Hall in "The Remarkable Rooming House of Mme LeMonde" (La MaMa ETC). Some Pace credits include: The Last Days of Judas Iscariot (Pontius Pilate), "Gibbins" (Al Gibbins), Woyzeck (The Captain), Earth & Sky (H. E. Weber), Ahh, Wilderness! (Arthur Miller). He is proud to be a member of this wonderful production! Avoir la meilleure gueule debois!
Rebeca Radoszkowicz: (Alcandre) hails from Brazil by ways of Florida & Michigan. Rebeca has been involved in over 50 theatrical productions and in various films, TV, and national commercials; she is also a director, consultant and stylist. New York Theatre: Company at the NY Phil.(Joanne u/s, dir. Lonny Price), Off- Broadway: 167 Tongues at Theatre 167 (Tasleema), Chautauqua! at The Public (featured soloist). Pace: Kiss Me, Kate, The Beggar's Opera, Quanah, Cabaret, All Shook Up. Regional: Summerstock NYC, Little Shop of Horrors, West Side Story. Interlochen: Measure for Measure, Chicago, Cymbeline, The Illusion, The Crucible, FAME, Once on This Island.
Maisie Salinger: (Lyse) is a recent graduate of Pace University with a B.F.A. in Musical Theatre. Pace credits include: Kiss me, Kate (Muriel the Wardrobe Lady, dir. Bob Cline); Elegies ("Passover" dir. Amy Rogers); Cabaret (Schneider u/s); The Who's Tommy (Featured Ensemble); Speech and Debate (Diwata); Bare (Ensemble); Factory Girls (Pace New Works). Off-Broadway: Chautauqua! (Public Theater, dir. John Carrafa). Regional: Tracy Turnblad in Hairspray (Millbrook Playhouse).
Alexandra Scardapane: (Isabelle) is a recent graduate from Pace University with a BFA in acting. Ever since she was 10 years old she found a passion for the theater. Some of her most favorite credits include Belle in Ah! Wilderness, Mrs. Cratchit in a Christmas Carol, Lucie in A Tale of Two cities, Alice in "Goodbye Howard" and Anna in the King and I. Other than performing Alex also enjoys baking, directing and working in non-profit children's theater. Her favorite job was volunteering for Acting Without Boundaries (AWB), a unique year-round theater program working with teenagers and young adults with physical disabilities. Alex is truly blessed to work along side such a talented CAST AND CREW, and wants to thank her director for making her fall in love with theater all over again.
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