Treasure House Theatre Stages THE CHERRY ORCHARD at ArcLight, Now thru 6/23

Treasure House Theatre Company invites you to Chekhov's 1904 tragicomedy THE CHERRY ORCHARD. Daniel Paul directs Jean-Claude van Itallie's acclaimed 1977 translation (commissioned by the New York Shakespeare Festival and presented at Lincoln Center starring Meryl Streep and Raul Julia). Performances run tonight, June 6 - 23 at ArcLight Theatre, 152 West 71st Street between Broadway & Columbus Avenue.

THE CHERRY ORCHARD captures a poignant moment in Russia's history as the country rolls inexorably toward the Russian Revolution. Madame Ranevskaya returns to her once opulent Russian estate after a long stay in Paris to find her finances in ruins. The sale of her beloved estate and its cherry orchard are immanent, unless she and her family follow the advice of a wealthy merchant and chop down the orchard to make way for summer cottages.

"In 2008, a banking crisis that had been years in the making threatened the social fabric of our contemporary society. Old forms are quickly dying, while a power class closes their eyes to oncoming financial crisis. This conundrum is where we find ourselves in THE CHERRY ORCHARD," explains director Daniel Paul. "Though set in Russia just before a revolution, the play speaks clearly to a modern day audience through the humor of self recognition and the individual's struggle to guide the winds of change."

The production stars Tim Barber, Allyson Boate, Corrin Carlson, Eric Cotti, Justin Dobies, Josh Frank, Caroline Franklin, Sarai Heria and Nancy Rich. The design team includes Ellen Dudley (production design and costumes), Hannah No (set) and Philip Waller (lighting).

THE CHERRY ORCHARD marks the debut of the Treasure House Theater, a dynamic new company dedicated to producing classical plays for a contemporary audience.

Daniel Paul has been directing, acting and teaching in New York City for over twenty-five years. He began his career at with JR Sullivan at The New American Theater and continued on with Shakespeare and Company's winter home, The American Stage Company in St. Petersburg Florida. From there he came to New York City where he worked Off-Broadway as Sir Toby Belch in Twelfth Night, King Creon in Medea, Spiros Antonapoulos in The Heart is a Lonely Hunter and others. He has directed a festival of Vaclav Havel plays for the ambassadors of Czech Republic, Our Town, Skin Of Our Teeth, King Lear and many more.

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