Lynn Redgrave to Star in Paper Mill's 'The Importance of Being Earnest'

Paper Mill Playhouse (Mark S. Hoebee-Artistic Director, Mark W. Jones-Executive Director) announced that Lynn Redgrave will star as "Lady Bracknell" in Paper Mill's upcoming production of The Importance of Being Earnest. Oscar Wilde's masterpiece of modern comedy will be directed by David Schweizer and will run at the Millburn theatre from January 14 through February 15, 2009.

Lynn Redgrave is the Golden Globe® winner and Academy Award® nominee for Gods and Monsters (1998) and Georgy Girl (1966). Ms. Redgrave won the 2003 Drama Desk Award for Talking Heads as Outstanding Featured Actress in a Play. In 2006, she was nominated for a Tony Award® for Best Actress in a Play for The Constant Wife. She was also nominated for a Grammy® Award for The Witches in the category of Best Spoken Word Album for Children. Ms. Redgrave was a founding member of Britain's National Theatre, now the Royal National Theatre, under the direction of Sir Laurence Olivier. She has also written the text for Journal, A Mother and Daughter's Recovery From Breast Cancer, featuring photographs by her daughter, Annabel Clark, currently in its third printing from Umbrage Editions.

The Importance of Being Earnest is about maintaining fictitious identities to avoid unwelcome social obligations. Jack Worthing's brother, Earnest, provides Jack with the excuse to escape from his dull home in the country to frolic in town. The home of Algernon Moncreiff's friend Bunbury provides a convenient locale for taking adventures in the country. The problem? Earnest and Bunbury are imaginary, created by Jack and Algernon to add a dash of excitement to their lives. Their deceptions eventually cross paths, resulting in a series of hilarious crises that threaten to spoil their romantic pursuits.

The Importance of Being Earnest will play the following performance schedule: Wednesdays at 7:30PM, Thursdays at 2:00PM & 7:30PM, Fridays at 8:00PM, Saturdays at 2:00PM & 8:00PM and Sundays at 2:00PM & 7:30PM. Single tickets are now on sale and range in price from $25 to $92. Student rush tickets are $20 and are available the day of performance in person with current student ID. Tickets may be purchased by calling 973-376-4343, or at the Paper Mill Box Office at 22 Brookside Drive in Millburn, or online at www.papermill.org. Visa, MasterCard, Discover and American Express accepted. Groups of ten or more can receive up to a 35% discount on tickets and should call 973-379-3636 ext. 2438.

Paper Mill Playhouse, a not-for-profit arts organization, is one of the country's leading regional theatres. Paper Mill's programs are made possible, in part, by funds from the New Jersey State Council on the Arts/Department of State, A Partner Agency of the National Endowment for the Arts. Additional major support is provided by funding through a grant from the New Jersey Department of State, the National Endowment for the Arts, and generous contributions from many corporations, foundations, and individuals. Paper Mill Playhouse is a member of Theatre Communications Group, the National Alliance for Musical Theatre, the Council of Stock Theatres, and the New Jersey Theatre Alliance.

Photo By: Annabel Clark