Michael Urie, Richard Kind & More Set for The Pearl's Inaugural MODERN/CLASSICS Readings

New York's home for the Classics announces its inaugural exploration of what modern language brings to timeless stories. With 12 days of readings and discussions, The Pearl's Resident Acting Company and three contemporary playwrights will investigate the power of language, the fortitude of classic stories, and the tricky role of the adapter in tackling these often-told tales.

"The Pearl isn't a museum," says Artistic Director Hal Brooks. "The Pearl was founded with an eye to producing contemporary plays in conversation with the classics. Not just the classics. Our theatre is an ongoing conversation between classic and modern-honoring the spirit of the play and guiding its evolution. It's only natural that we should also have a creative incubator for new works influenced by history. Modern/Classics gives us a chance to explore how classic stories are being told now, giving our audience insight into the creative process."

Brooks, who recently directed By The Water at Manhattan Theatre Club to strong reviews, is also the acclaimed director of both The Pearl's Bald Soprano and Figaro (an original adaptation by Charles Morey),. "My background developing new plays and my desire to see The Pearl expand its audience led me to this exceptional group of plays, playwrights and directors. I'm excited to bring together three exciting and bold new adaptations and translations of classic plays to be developed alongside and in concert with our extraordinary season at New York's home for the classics. Really, I'm excited to bring The Pearl back to its roots."

Tickets are $25 (Non-members), $20 (Members), with All Workshop Passes. Rush Tickets will be available 2 hours prior to all performances for $20 cash. All workshop readings will be followed by discussions with the creative team. To purchase tickets call (212) 563-9261, or visit pearltheatre.org. The Pearl Theatre is located at 555 West 42nd Street, New York.

Press are encouraged to attend, however, reviews of this developmental series are prohibited.

Performance Schedule

JAN. 23-25
SALOME OF THE MOON
by NICK JONES
adapted from Salome by OSCAR WILDE
directed by KNUD ADAMS
January 23, 24 at 7pm and January 24 & 25 at 2pm

Featuring Richard Kind (Mad About You, Spin City), Madeline Brewer (Orange is the New Black), and Michael Urie (Buyer & Cellar)

With Heidi Armbruster, Ephraim Birney, Molly Carden, Emily Davis, Will Dagger, Noah Galvin, Grace Gardner, Anne Gridley, Britt Lower, Ryan Spahn, and Paul Thureen

Oscar Wilde's opulent Salome opened a surreal door into the life of a young girl who discovers power, beauty, and bloodshed all in one night. Nick Jones' comic redux introduces us to a playful mash-up of biblical Palestine and modern teen angst in which our heroine realizes the world is more messed up-and more lovely-that she ever knew.

JAN. 26-29
THE GOVERNMENT INSPECTOR
by ODED GROSS
adapted from The Government Inspector by NIKOLAI GOGOL
directed by LUCIE TIBERGHIEN
January 26, 27, 29 at 7pm and January 28 at 2pm

Featuring Company Member Brad Heberlee, Patricia Buckley, Al Foote III, Gibson Frazier, Mandie Jenson, Christopher Livingston, Eddie Lopez, Daniel Passer, Danielle Skraastad, Haley Sullivan, and Zoe Winters

Nikolai Gogol's masterful satire of small town corruption, political machinations, self-importance run amok, and the joyful chaos of mistaken identity quickly became a cornerstone of Russian theatre. Oded Gross revisits this tale in a boisterous adaptation of words and music that offers one reckless fop the keys to a kingdom of yes-men-if he can manage to hold onto them.

JAN 30 - FEB 1
STUPID FU**ING BIRD
sort of adapted by AARON POSNER
from The Seagull by ANTON CHEKHOV
directed by HOWARD SHALWITZ
January 30, 31 at 7pm; January 31 and February 1 at 2pm

Featuring Company Members Dan Daily, Sean McNall, and Joey Parsons with Andrew Hovelson and Brad Koed

In this bold adaptation of Chekov's The Seagull, award-winning playwright Aaron Posner offers a modern spin on this tale of the frustrations of love, the illusive nature of true art, and the comical pathos of people caught in their own illusions. As The New York Times's Charles Isherwood put it, "Mr. Posner's bitingly funny, bruisingly sad "sort of" adaptation of "The Seagull" comes closer than many productions of the original to capturing the full complexity of feeling in the play."

Photo by Walter McBride