The Wilton Playshop Closes THE SHADOW BOX 1/29

The Wilton Playshop presents The Shadow Box, a Pulitzer Prize-winning drama and Tony Award-winning play written by Michael Cristofer and directed by New York director, actor and playwright Jackob G. Hofmann.

In a review of Engaging Shaw, an off-Broadway production Hofmann directed last April at the Abingdon Theater, The New York Times noted that "actors excel under Jackob G. Hofmann's direction." Engaging Shaw won widespread praise from theatergoers and critics and was named by L Magazine, New York's culture guide, as the "number 3 top things to do in New York in 2010."

"Attracting directors like Jackob to The Playshop is a huge coup for us and our audience. He is a remarkable director and is a magnet for equally great actors," explained Playshop president Zelie Pforzheimer. "He delivered a terrific production last year for us with The Effect of Gamma Rays on Man in the Moon Marigolds, and we jumped at the chance to have him return to direct this season."

Hofmann suggested The Shadow Box to The Playshop's selection committee last spring, explaining, "It's so beautifully written and well-crafted. It's not only unconventional in form, but it also has memorable characters and overlapping narratives that address complex themes. It speaks to me as
a director because of its challenges and its power to unite us all."

With The Shadow Box, the audience is introduced to characters that are in hospice care right at the start, so we know their fate. With this in place the audience witnesses their struggles with relationships and finding peace with dying. While it is built around how three different characters face cancer and death, the themes are about living and the joys of life. In Hofmann's hands, the actors bring forth spontaneous humor, making it a play that is a celebration of life and love.

Woodbridge resident Kim McGrath, who plays Maggie, a wife who cannot face the reality of her husband Joe's pending death said "This is a special play and a special theater. It's a privilege to work with Jackob, and that's why I am willing to travel this far to be part of this production."

Hofmann recently received his BFA from the New School, but has been a prolific part of New York City's theater scene as an actor, director and playwright since graduating from the American Musical & Dramatic Academy in 1990. In 2004, he launched the Aurora Theatre Ensemble where he has served as artistic director and focused on developing and work-shopping new plays.

Last month, Hofmann appeared on the stage at The Wilton Playshop in a benefit performance of David Sedaris' one act play Santa Land Diaries, a humorous account of Sedaris' experience as an elf in Macy's annual Santa Land. He has worked with a number of notable theater companies including Red Light District, Abingdon Theatre Co., Rattlestick Productions, The Workshop Theatre Co., TheatreWorks USA, Core, Westport Country Playhouse, Downtown Cabaret Theatre, TheatreWorks New Milford, Tri Arts @ Sharon Playhouse, and Theatre Artists Workshop.

Make Reservations for The Shadow Box

The Shadow Box will have performances Friday and Saturday, January 21 and 22 at 8 PM, Sunday, January 23rd at 2 PM, and Thursday, January 27th through Saturday, January 29th at 8 PM.

Reservations can be made online at http://www.wiltonplayshop.org/sbox.htm.

 

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