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William Saroyan’s American classic The Time Of Your Life begins the Fall Season at The Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey |
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Madison, NJ – The Shakespeare
Theatre of New Jersey launches the Fall portion of its 2007 season with a
rarely-performed modern American classic by William Saroyan, author of the
novel and screenplay “The Human Comedy.” The Time of Your Life takes the
stage at the Shakespeare Theatre’s Main Stage -- the F.M. Kirby Shakespeare
Theatre in Madison -- on Tuesday, September 4 and continues performances
through Sunday, September 30th. Performances are Tuesdays through Sundays. Regular ticket prices are $28-$52. Discount ticket packages are also
available. For tickets or more
information, call 973-408-5600 or visit www.ShakespeareNJ.org. This production was selected by the New Jersey State Council on the
Arts as part of the American Masterpieces Series in New Jersey. American Masterpieces is a program of the
National Endowment for the Arts.
The author of dozens of plays, novels, stories and screenplays, William Saroyan wrote The Time of Your Life in 1939. It opened on Broadway in October of that year and featured such well-known actors as Gene Kelly and Celeste Holm. The following year, the play was awarded the Pulitzer Prize and in 1948 it was adapted into a feature film starring James Cagney. Set in a San Francisco waterfront saloon, The Time of Your Life features a cast of more than 20 colorful and off-beat characters, representing the universal scope of the common man. “The people in the play are people you are likely to see any day in almost any part of America, certainly at least in certain kinds of American places,” wrote Saroyan. The play’s anti-hero, Joe, has
chosen Nick’s Pacific Street Saloon as the place to spend “the time of his
life.” Joining him in this tapestry of
an America under the threat of impending war are such vibrant and idealistic personalities
as Harry – the hoofer who wants to make people laugh; Tom – Joe’s disciple; and
Kitty Duval – a “wanna-be” burlesque dancer. Hope, optimism, love, and compassion abound – all the way to the
surprising and dramatic ending of this ode to the value of living life to its
absolute fullest. About the Cast Shakespeare Theatre veteran Andrew Weems plays Joe, the mysterious central figure in the play. Weems last appeared at The Shakespeare Theatre in Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead and appeared in prior seasons in Rhinoceros and in the title role in King John. He also appeared recently on Broadway in Inherit the Wind in addition to numerous additional Broadway and off-Broadway credits. Ned Noyes, making his Shakespeare Theatre debut, plays Tom – loyal friend to Joe. Noyes has appeared at several prestigious Chicago regional theatres including Steppenwolf, Chicago Shakespeare Theatre and The Court Theatre. Gregory Derelian plays Nick, the owner of the honky-tonk saloon. Derelian returns to The Shakespeare Theatre for his ninth season, having most recently appeared in Taming of the Shrew on the Outdoor Stage. Derelian recently appeared in The Hairy Ape at the Irish Rep, and Oliver Twist, adapted by Neil Bartlett at Theatre for a New Audience. He has also been seen in Henry V, As You Like It and Othello at the Public Theatre and on Broadway in Metamorphoses. Shakespeare Theatre newcomer Sofia Jean Gomez plays Kitty Duval, who dreams of a life as a burlesque star. Gomez recently appeared at the Manhattan Theatre Club in Regrets Only and Mirror of the Invisible World, adapted and directed by Mary Zimmerman at the Goodman Theatre. Blake Hackler plays Harry – the dancer who simply wants to make people laugh. Making his Shakespeare Theatre debut, Hackler was seen on Broadway in The Adventures of Tom Sawyer. Newcomer Christopher Burns debuts at The Shakespeare Theatre as Blick – a dangerous man who oversteps his authority with devastating consequences. Burns appeared in the London production and U.S. Tour of Stones in His Pockets and on Broadway in the recent revival of Whose Afraid of Virginia Woolf. In his twelfth season with The Shakespeare Theatre, Edmond Genest returns to play Kit Carson – a man with a treasure trove of fascinating stories. Genest most recently appeared at The Shakespeare Theatre in Pride and Prejudice. His many Broadway credits include The Elephant Man with Billy Crudup, A Few Good Men and The Real Thing. Shakespeare Theatre veteran Allison Daugherty returns to play the beautiful Mary L. Daugherty last appeared at The Shakespeare Theatre as Mistress Ford in Merry Wives of Windsor. Paul Meshejian makes his debut at The Shakespeare Theatre in the role of the Arab. Meshejian has been a member of the acting company at People’s Light and Theatre for 16 years and is the founding artistic director of PlayPenn, a new play development conference. Sean Mahan returns to The Shakespeare Theatre to play Krupp, the cop. Mahan appeared last season in Pride and Prejudice and Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead. Rounding out the epic cast of characters are Salvatore Cacciato, Carole Caton, Megan Irene Davis, Jenifer Gawlik, Michael Mungiello, John Nahigian, Barry Smith and Anthony Stokes. The Time of Your Life begins performances on September 4 and continues through September 30th. For tickets or more information, call 973-408-5600 or visit www.ShakespeareNJ.org. About the Director Perhaps one of the most recognizable
faces of The Shakespeare Theatre, Paul Mullins returns for his sixteenth
season to direct The Time of Your Life. Mullins’ Shakespeare Theatre directing
credits include Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead, Richard II, Illyria,
King John, The Illusion, Tartuffe, Rhinoceros, Measure for Measure, All’s Well
That Ends Well and The Threepenny Opera. Other credits include Measure for Measure and Macbeth at
The Old Globe; Fat Pig, This Is How It Goes and The Russian
National Postal Service at The Studio Theatre DC; Lettice and Lovage and True West at
Portland Stage and Twelfth Night at The State Theatre, Austin. Acting credits at The Shakespeare Theatre of
New Jersey include Richard III, Othello, Carnival!, Three Sisters, The
Forest, Blithe Spirit, The Winter’s Tale, The Homecoming and Diary of a
Scoundrel, among many others. Special Performances The first
performance of The Time of Your Life on Tuesday, September 4 at 7:30 p.m.
offers opportunities for reduced-price or free tickets as in incentive to
first-time theatergoers, as well as for those who would otherwise not be able
to afford a night at the theatre. As
always, the first preview performance is Pay
What You Wish night. Visit The Shakespeare Theatre Box Office
between noon and 7:00 p.m. on August 7 and name your own admission price for
that evening’s 7:30 preview performance (regularly $28 to $32, offer subject to
availability). For no more than the cost of a regular ticket, Symposium Series performances include the additional treat of a post-play discussion with the cast and artistic staff, on Tuesday, September 11 at 7:30 p.m. and Saturday, September 15 at 2:00 p.m. On Thursday, September 13, The Shakespeare Theatre presents the popular
education program Know the Show. From 7:00 to 7:30
p.m., a member of the artistic staff of The Theatre will present a pre-performance
talk that provides background General admission to Know the Show is $5 for the general public, $4 for ticket package holders. Tickets to that evening’s 8:00 p.m. performance may be purchased separately for $41 or $45. Featured for all
performances are Student Rush Tickets. Full-time students showing their valid
school ID can come to the box office a half-hour before curtain time and
purchase $10 rush tickets, subject to availability. The Artistic Staff Creating the world of Nick’s Pacific Street Saloon are
set designer James Wolk, lighting designer Michael Giannitti, costume designer
Lora LaVon and sound designer Karin Graybash. The production stage manager is Josianne M. Lemieux. Tickets
& General Information
Preview performances
of The
Time of Your Life are
Tuesday, September 4 at 7:30 p.m. and Wednesday and Thursday, September 5 and 6
at 8:00 p.m. Previews offer the thrill
of seeing a work-in-progress before the show officially opens. Preview tickets
are $28 to $32. Additional
performances are Tuesdays at 7:30 p.m. and Wednesdays through Saturdays at 8:00
p.m. (excluding Opening Night at 7:00 p.m. on Saturday, September 8); Saturdays
and Sundays at 2:00 p.m., beginning September 9; and Sundays, at 7:00 p.m. Regular ticket
prices range from $37 to $52 depending upon seating location and performance
day and time. Groups of 10 or more
save up to 25% off the regular ticket price. Patrons can save by purchasing a discount 3-Play Ticket
Package which provided guaranteed seats to the Fall portion of the Season – The
Time of Your Life, Henry VI: Blood and Roses and A Christmas Carol. 3-Play
Discount Ticket Packages start at $78. Call 973-408-5600 or visit www.ShakespeareNJ.org. The Shakespeare
Theatre of New Jersey’s Main Stage,
the 308-seat F.M. Kirby Shakespeare Theatre, is conveniently located in The F.M. Kirby Shakespeare Theatre is barrier free with
access into the theatre via a ramp and elevator access to all floors. Wheelchair seating and transfer seating is
available. Braille and large print
programs are available. Infrared
listening devices are available free of charge. Some performances are audio described, captioned and sign-language
interpreted. Contact the theatre for
more information. For more #
# # The
acclaimed Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey is an independent, professional
theatre company located on the The Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey’s programs
are made possible, in part, by funding from the New Jersey State Council on the
Arts/Department of State, a Partner Agency of the National Endowment for the
Arts, as well as funds from the National Endowment for the Arts.
Additional major support is received from The Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation,
the F. M. Kirby Foundation, The Edward T. Cone Foundation, The Shubert
Foundation and General Information
ARTISTIC DIRECTOR: Bonnie J. Monte MAIN STAGE: OUTDOOR STAGE: F.M. Kirby Shakespeare Theatre The Greek Theatre (on the campus of TICKETS & INFO: Call 973-408-5600 or visit www.ShakespeareNJ.org The Time of Your Life –
Snapshot Venue: F.M.
Kirby Shakespeare Theatre, Performances: Tuesdays at 7:30 pm; Wednesdays – Saturdays at 8 pm; Sundays at 7 pm; Saturday and Sundays at 2 pm. Call 973-408-5600 or visit www.ShakespeareNJ.org Tickets: $28 to $52 – Call the Box Office at 973-408-5600 or visit www.ShakespeareNJ.org. Previews: Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, September 4, 5 and 6. Opening Night: Saturday, September 8 (7pm) Symposium Performances: Tuesday, September 11 (7:30 pm); Saturday, September 15 (2pm) Know the Show: Thursday, September 13 (7pm) Closing performance: Sunday, September 30 (2pm) Performances: Tuesdays: September 4, 11, 18 and 25 at 7:30 pm Wednesdays: September 5, 12, 19 at 8 pm Thursdays: September 6, 13, 20, 27 at 8 pm Fridays: August September 7, 14, 21, 28 at 8 pm Saturdays: September 8 at 7 pm; September 15, 22, 29 at 8 pm Sundays: September 9, 16, 23 at 7 pm Saturdays: September 15, 22, 29 at 2 pm Sundays: September 9, 16, 23 and 30 at 2 pm |
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