Bernhardt Show I, Sarah to Play Off-Broadway 6/22-6/24

After a series of sold-out regional productions, Mindy Nirenstein will bring Robert W. Cabell's acclaimed one-woman show I, Sarah, to New York for three performances. Written by Cabell and directed by Joe Zingo, the show will be performed at the Where Eagles Dare Theatre, located at 347 West 36th Street, from June 22nd - June 24th.

"Portraying 'The Divine Sarah Bernhardt,' (a title bestowed by Oscar Wilde), Nirenstein presents a warts-and-all look at the woman who was the greatest actress of her generation and, to many, the greatest of all time. From her first major role at the age of 27, until her death more than half a century later, Sarah reigned supreme on stages throughout the world. Her personal life was just as famous, with her extravagant lifestyle, titillating love affairs consisting of the 'who's who' of Europe, and a son born out of wedlock by a Belgian prince. Her taste for the exotic and erotic ran the gamut of pet tigers and pythons to a penchant for sleeping in a coffin," state press notes.

"As the show begins in 1923 Sarah lies dying, covered in wildflowers, as half a million Parisians circle her home in a candlelight vigil. In the throes of a coma, Bernhardt's spirit rises to look back on her life; one which often mirrored the great roles she portrayed. Interspersed with these recollections, Nirenstein brings to life some of the performances Bernhardt was famous for, including works by Victor Hugo (Ruy Blas), Racine (Phaedra), Alexander Dumas (La Dame aux Camilias), and Victorien Sardou (Fedora), among others. Most importantly, Nirenstein brings forth the fiery essence of this indomitable woman, who for over 50 years had the world at her feet."

Nirenstein, who began her acting career at the age of 8, counts among her favorite roles and shows Puck in Midsummer Night's Dream, Scapin in Scapin, as well as As You Like It, The Tempest, The Three Cuckolds and Taming of the Shrew. Other roles include Dorothy Brock in 42nd Street, Mary Tyrone in Long Day's Journey into Night, Harper in Angels in America, Corday in Marat/Sade, The Narrator in The Rocky Horror Show and the West Coast Premiere of New York playwright Doug Stone's Sealed For Freshness.

Cabell's (author/composer/lyricist) previous Off-Broadway productions include the Sarah Bernhardt Trilogies in 2000 and 2001 at the Trilogy Theater, the 1994 musical Two Hearts Over Easy at the Actors Playhouse, and the 1990 critically acclaimed Off-Broadway production of Pretty Faces, directed by Gene Foote at The Actor's Outlet Theater. In 2000, Cabell's Z - The Masked Musical of Zorro received its world premiere production, based on his 1999 Celebrity Concept CD, which featured an all-star cast that included Deborah Gibson, Phyllis Newman, Kaye Ballard, Marc Kudisch, and more. 

Running from June 22nd to June 24th, I, Sarah will be performed at the Where Eagles Dare Theatre, located at 347 West 36th Street (between 8th & 9th Avenues) on the ground floor. Show times are Thursday-Saturday at 8pm. Tickets are $25.00, $20.00 for seniors and $18.00 for students. For reservations, call 212-868-4444 or visit www.smarttix.com. Additional information on the show can be found at www.SarahBernhardtPlays.com.