Artist's Rep Presents a New Adaptation of Chekhov’s THE CHERRY ORCHARD, Closes 5/22

Artists Rep is pleased to present the World Premiere of Richard Kramer's striking new adaptation of one of literature's most-read and referenced plays, The Cherry Orchard. Peer into an avant-garde interpretation of this classic Chekhov story that takes on a magical quality as a family grapples with the impending foreclosure of their estate. The production will close on May 22, 2011. 

The story's themes of the rising bourgeois and the fall of aristocracy are explored but Kramer has taken much liberty with the play's dialogue and character development, including adding the ghost of Chekhov as a character. Kramer's ethereal adaptation centers on these timeless characters and choices they make. Renown for his TV and stage writing, Kramer takes this well-traveled story into striking new territory.

Director Jon Kretzu, who has been working with Kramer for years on this project, describes this adaptation as "dreamlike, vicious, funny and tender" and not a traditional treatment of this play.
"Chekhov's plays have inspired every single writer since they were put on paper," said Kretzu. "They are simply life put on stage, and this version is a brilliant adaptation that speaks directly through him."

This production completes Artists Rep's "Chekhov Project." The company commissioned new adaptations of each of the playwright's four major plays. Adapters include Joseph Fisher (The Seagull), Tom Wood (Vanya), and Tracy Letts (Three Sisters). Richard Kramer is a writer for both television and the stage. He has been a writer and producer for the television series thirtysomething, My So-Called Life, and Judging Amy. His play Theater District was produced by Artists Rep in 2006.

The Cherry Orchard
Written by: Anton Chekhov
Adapted by: Richard Kramer
Directed by: Jon Kretzu
Featuring: Linda Alper, Todd Van Voris, Michael Mendelson, Val Landrum, Tobias Andersen, Tim Blough, Blake Lowell, Victoria Blake, Andy Lee Hillstrom, Amy Newman, Vana O'Brien, Jeffrey Gilpin, Siobhan Caverly, Colton Roscheinsky
Performance Dates: April 17 through May 22
Wednesday through Sunday at 7:30pm, Sunday at 2:00pm
Wednesday matinee at 11:00am on May 11
Opening Night is Friday, April 22
Venue: Artists Repertory Theatre - Alder Stage (16th and Alder St.)
Tickets: Advance tickets $20-$42; Students $20. 503.241.1278 or www.artistsrep.org.

CAST LIST

"These characters have lived in my head and heart for so long...I was looking for the embodiment of these friends of mine," says Kretzu.

Ruby Ranevskaya Linda Alper
Simeon Pischak Todd Van Voris
Leo Gayev Michael Mendelson
Varya Val Landrum
Firs Tobias Andersen
Yermolay Lopakhin Tim Blough
Trofimov Blake Lowell
Dunyasha Victoria Blake
Simon Yepidikoff Andy Lee Hillstrom
Anya Amy Newman
Charlotta Vana O'Brien
Chekhov Jeffrey Gilpin
The Mother Siobhan Caverly
Yasha Colton Ruscheinsky
Charlotta's dog Fannie

PRODUCTION DESIGNERS AND CREW

"I wanted a dreamscape playground for the actors to explore..."says Kretzu.

Scenic Designer Daniel Meeker
Lighting Designer Kristeen Crosser
Sound Designer Rodolfo Ortega
Costume Designer Darrin Pufall
Props Designer kollodi
Scenic Artists Jason Sipe, Carl Hamilton
Stage Manager Carol Ann Wohlmut
Asst. Stage Manager Tozzi McDowell
BIOGRAPHIES

Richard Kramer, Playwright, grew up in New York. He attended Yale University and began his writing career at The New Yorker. While working as a singles host on a cruise ship he wrote a script for the TV series, Family, sent it to the producers, and a year later learned they wanted to buy it and bring him to California. He is best known for his work creating several hit television shows such as thirtysomething, My So-Called Life, and Once and Again. Other TV credits include work on Judging Amy, Queer as Folk, Armistead Maupin's Tales of the City, and The Paper Chase. His first play, Theater District, had its world premiere in 2002 at Steppenwolf Studio Theatre in Chicago and won Chicago's 2002-2003 Joseph Jefferson Award for New Work. It had a successful run at the Speakeasy Stage Company in Boston with NYPD Blue's Bill Brochtrup as George. Theater District was nominated for the 2004 Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle Award for production, direction and writing when it played at the Black Dahlia Theatre. It was produced at Artists Rep in 2006. Kramer has been nominated for five Primetime Emmys for his work on thirtysomething and Tales of the City. He currently lives in Los Angeles.

Jon Kretzu, Director, is in his 18th season as Associate Artistic Director at Artists Repertory Theatre, where he has directed over 40 productions for the company including the world premieres of Tracy Letts' Three Sisters, Marc Acito and C.S Whitcomb's Holidazed, Joseph Fisher's The Seagull and The New House as well as A Streetcar Named Desire, The History Boys, Othello, Design For Living, All My Sons, Speech and Debate, Orson's Shadow, The Retreat from Moscow, Mr. Marmalade, Assassins, Humble Boy, Death of a Salesman, Mrs. Bob Cratchit's Wild Christmas Binge, The Goat, or Who is Sylvia?, The Laramie Project, Dinner with Friends, Master Class, Present Laughter, A Question of Mercy, Indiscretions, Keely and Du, Love! Valour! Compassion!, Breaking the Code, Chaps!, The Sea, The Normal Heart, The Destiny of Me, Buried Child, The Artificial Jungle, Three Tall Women (USIA International Tour) and co-directed House and Garden with Allen Nause. Other Portland directing credits include Dracula for Northwest Classical Theatre Company; The Carpetbagger's Children for Profile Theatre; Guys and Dolls for The Musical Theatre Company; Romeo and Juliet, A Winter's Tale, Much Ado About Nothing and As You Like It for Tygres Heart Shakespeare Company; Waiting for Vern, Jeffrey, Bent and The Sum of Us for triangle! productions; Broadway Bound and Hay Fever for Portland Repertory Theater; The Importance of Being Earnest for New Rose Theatre; The Mystery of Irma Vep for Storefront Theatre; and Down the Road for the Oregon One-Act Festival. Jon has also directed numerous productions in Seattle, Milwaukee, San Francisco, Chicago and Los Angeles, including Abduction from the Seraglio, Lips Together, Teeth Apart; Sweeney Todd, Wonderful Town, Inventing Van Gogh, The Taming of the Shrew; A Doll's House; Cloud 9; The Outsiders; Terra Nova; Reckless; Streamers; Private Lives; Arms and The Man; 84 Charing Cross Road, and Frankenstein. Jon was the dramaturg for Portland Repertory Theatre, has served as a guest director and professor at a number of West Coast and Midwest universities, and has worked as an acting coach in Los Angeles, Seattle and Portland. He has also served as the London and New York theater and classical music correspondent for a variety of Northwest newspapers and magazines.

Artists Repertory Theatre
The 2010/11 Artists Repertory Theatre season is presented by U.S. Bank. The 2010 print media sponsor is The Oregonian, the season radio sponsor is KINK.FM. Season Hotel Sponsors are Mark Spencer Hotel and Hotel deLuxe. The Cherry Orchard is supported by Columbia Sportswear, PGE Foundation, All Classical, Maletis Beverage, Rosalie and Ed Tank and Carol Wallace. Founded in 1982, Artists Repertory Theatre is the longest-running professional theater company in Portland. Artists Rep strives to challenge artists and audiences with plays of depth and vibrancy in an intimate setting. Artists Rep explores the strengths, frailties, and diversity of the human condition primarily through regional premieres, commissioned works and selected classics appropriate to contemporary issues.

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