Alison Fraser Joins Cast of CSC's SCHOOL FOR LIES

Two-time Tony Award-nominated Alison Fraser has joined the cast of David Ives' new comedy, THE SCHOOL FOR LIES, from the Molière classic The Misanthrope, directed by Tony Award winner Walter Bobbie, beginning performances Wednesday, April 13 at Classic Stage Company (136 East 13th Street) for a limited engagement through Sunday, May 22. The official press opening is Sunday, May 1 at 2 pm. The cast of THE SCHOOL FOR LIES also feature Mamie Gummer, Jenn Gambatese and Hamish Linklater, as well as Steven Boyer, Frank Harts, Rick Holmes, Hoon Lee and Matthew Maher.

Alison Fraser (Arsinoe) recently appeared on Broadway as Tessie Tura in the revival of Gypsy starring Patti LuPone. She also originated the role of Sarah in the world premiere of Mr. Laurent's Come Back, Come Back, Wherever You Are co-starring Shirley Knight at The George Street Playhouse. She originated the role of Sister Walburga in Charles Busch's critically acclaimed Off Broadway play The Divine Sister. She is a two time Tony Award nominee for The Secret Garden and Romance/Romance, a Drama Desk Award nominee for The Secret Garden, and a Carbonell Award winner for Romance/Romance. On Broadway she originated such roles as Martha in The Secret Garden, Josefine/Monica in Romance/Romance, and Dorine in Tartuffe: Born Again, and she was Helena Landless in The Mystery of Edwin Drood. Off Broadway, she originated the role of Jessie opposite Nathan Lane and Marion Seldes in Terrence McNally's Dedication or The Stuff of Dreams (Primary Stages), and was the guest star in an oak tree at the Barrow Street Theatre. She was the original Trina in William Finn's March of the Falsettos and In Trousers (Playwrights Horizons) for which she also provided vocal orchestrations, Miss Drumgoole in Todd Rundgren and Joe Orton's Up Against It (New York Shakespeare Festival), Uta in Charles Busch and Rusty Magee's The Green Heart (Manhattan Theatre Club), Connie/Petula/Brenda in Beehive at the historic Village Gate, and Marion Ames in Swingtime Canteen. She was in the American premiere of the Olivier Award winning Honk! playing Ida, and was seen in the American premiere of the Australian musical Prodigal playing Celia at the York Theater.

THE SCHOOL FOR LIES reunites long-time collaborators Ives and Bobbie, who worked together last season at CSC on the acclaimed sold-out production of Venus in Fur and in 2008 on the acclaimed New Jerusalem. The two men have collaborated for more than 15 years on numerous productions as writer/producer, writer/director, co-authors, writer/actor, and writer/dramaturg. Their productions together range from Broadway, Off-Broadway, City Center Encores, Carnegie Hall and Public Television.

The design team for THE SCHOOL FOR LIES will include scenery by Tony Award winner John Lee Beatty, costumes by Tony Award winner William Ivey Long, lighting by Tony Award winner Peter Kaczorowski, hair design by special Tony Award winner Paul Huntley and sound by Tony nominated ACME Sound Partners.

THE SCHOOL FOR LIES will perform Tuesdays through Fridays at 8pm; Saturdays at 2pm and 8pm and Sundays at 2pm. Tickets are $70 for weekday performances and $75 for weekends. For tickets and information, visit www.classicstage.org or call (866) 811-4111, or (212) 352-3101, or visit the CSC box office at 136 East 13th Street, Monday through Friday 12 pm to 6 pm.

Now in its 44th year as one of New York's most exciting theatres, Classic Stage Company is the award-winning Off-Broadway theatre committed to re-imagining the classical repertory for a contemporary American audience. Led by Artistic Director Brian Kulick and Executive Director Jessica R. Jenen, the company this season presented the sold-out, highly-acclaimed production of Chekhov's Three Sisters, featuring Maggie Gyllenhaal, Josh Hamilton, Jessica Hecht, Juliet Rylance and Peter Sarsgaard, directed by Austin Pendleton. The company recently presented David Ives' highly acclaimed Venus In Fur, directed by Walter Bobbie as well as Ostrovsky's The Forest, adapted by Kathleen Tolan, starring Dianne Wiest and John Douglas Thompson, and directed by Brian Kulick. In the previous season they presented three sold- out acclaimed productions: Shakespeare's The Tempest, starring Mandy Patinkin; Chekhov's Uncle Vanya, starring Denis O'Hare, Maggie Gyllenhaal and Peter Sarsgaard; and Anne Carson's An Oresteia. Recent productions: critically acclaimed sold-out runs of Anton Chekhov's The Seagull, starring Dianne Wiest and Alan Cumming; the world premiere of David Ives' New Jerusalem, directed by Walter Bobbie; Hamlet, Richard II, and Richard III starring Michael Cumpsty and directed by Brian Kulick; and Zoe Caldwell in Yasmina Reza's A Spanish Play, directed by John Turturro.

CSC presents plays from the past that speak directly to the issues of today. As we return to works of the past, we endeavor to keep a clear eye on the future, particularly in terms of the next generation of artists and audiences. Founded in 1967, CSC has received wide recognition for its significant contributions to theatre as an art form through productions of classic plays, translations and adaptations and a long-standing commitment to the identification and nurturing of leading and emerging artists. Classic Stage's artists are the finest established and emerging theater practitioners working in this country. Highly respected and widely regarded as a major force in New York and American theatre, Classic Stage has been cited repeatedly by all the major Off-Broadway theater awards: Obies, Drama Desk, Outer Critics Circle, Drama League and the 1999 Lucille Lortel Award for Outstanding Body of Work. Memberships to Classic Stage Company productions are available at various price levels, including the flexible MasterPass membership, which in addition to prime seats entitles members to participate in CSC special series, including their sold-out Open Rehearsal events. The company is currently presenting William Shakespeare and John Fletcher's DOUBLE FALSEHOOD, directed by Brian Kulick. For more information on Classic Stage Company visit the theatre's website at www.classicstage.org.

 

Photo Credit: Genevieve Rafter-Keddy

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