McNall, Cuskern, Boyer & More Lead The Pearl Theatre's MISALLIANCE, Opens 12/4

The Pearl Theatre Company has announced the casting for their upcoming production of George Bernard Shaw's MISALLIANCE. The cast will include company members Steven Boyer (Bentley Summerhays), Robin Leslie Brown (Mrs. Tarleton), Michael Brusasco (Joey Percival), Bradford Cover (Johnny Tarleton), Dominic Cuskern (Lord Summerhays), Dan Daily (Mr. Tarleton), Sean McNall (Gunner), Erika Rolfsrud (Lina Szczepanowska), Lee Stark (Hypatia Tarleton). 

The Pearl Theatre Company (J.R. Sullivan, Artistic Director; Shira Beckerman, Managing Director) will present Bernard Shaw's sparkling comedy of parents, children, and unexpected love-MISALLIANCE-beginning December 4 at New York City Center Stage II. The second production in The Pearl's 26th Season, MISALLIANCE, directed by Jeff Steitzer, opens Sunday, December 13th at 7:30pm. Tickets are now on sale now at the New York City Center box office.

Fast and funny, MISALLIANCE is a spirited comedy framed by the behavior-and misbehavior-of an Edwardian family on a lazy summer day at their country estate. Shaw's comedy assembles a cast of characters from a myriad of classes, sexes, ages, and nationalities in the English country house of underwear magnate John Tarleton. At the heart of the play is Tarleton's restless daughter, Hypatia, hopelessly stuck in her predictable upper-class life and waiting, as her father puts it, for "adventure to drop out of the sky." Shaw (literally) shatters the conventions and pretensions of Tarleton's high society with his typically brisk pace, careening, and provocations.

"Bernard Shaw intended to subtitle MISALLIANCE, 'A Debate,'" said Pearl Artistic Director, J.R. Sullivan. "Though he later discarded the subtitle he certainly did not dispense with the energetic talk that is the hallmark of this play. It is Shaw at his best, his wit studded with glorious comic twists and ironic plot turns. The play is replete with all that Shaw is justly renowned for: great characters, smart comedy, and brilliant dialogue."

The prolific and passionate Shaw was born in Dublin, Ireland, in 1856. He is known as a freethinker, a supporter of women's rights, an advocate of equality, and a pioneer in everything from drama to technology. Shaw is the only person to receive both the Nobel Prize (1925) and an Academy Award (1938). He died in 1950 at age 94. Among his plays are ARMS AND THE MAN, CANDIDA, MAN AND SUPERMAN, PYGMALION, HEARTBREAK HOUSE, and SAINT JOAN. MISALLIANCE will be the twelfth presentation of Shaw's work produced by The Pearl, having most recently presented ARMS AND THE MAN in 2006.

MISALLIANCE is Jeff Steitzer's New York directorial debut. The former Artistic Director of Seattle's A Contemporary Theatre, Steitzer has directed over 150 productions at regional theatres across the country including the Goodman Theatre, Seattle Rep, Oregon Shakespeare Festival, Berkeley Rep, and The Cleveland Playhouse. As an actor, he has appeared recently on Broadway in MARY POPPINS and INHERIT THE WIND.

The Cast The cast features five members of the 2009-2010 Resident Acting Company. Robin Leslie Brown (Mrs. Tarleton) is an original member of the Resident Acting Company, last seen at The Pearl as Dorine in TARTUFFE. Bradford Cover (Johnny Tarleton) a Pearl company member since 1996 has performed regionally and on Broadway in the 2001 revival of A THOUSAND CLOWNS. Dominic Cuskern (Lord Summerhays) has been a member of The Pearl's Resident Company since 2000, appearing most recently in THE PLAYBOY OF THE WESTERN WORLD and TWELFTH NIGHT. Dan Daily (Mr. Tarleton) makes his return to The Pearl, and Resident Acting Company, after a year-long sabbatical. In addition he has appeared at The New Group, Keen Company, and Classic Stage Company. Obie Winner Sean McNall (Gunner) has been a Pearl company member since 2003 and is currently starring as Christy Mahon in THE PLAYBOY OF THE WESTERN WORLD. The production's guest artists include Steven Boyer, making his Pearl Theatre debut as the immature Bentley Summerhays, who has appeared on Broadway and at various regional companies, including Berkeley Rep, The Humana Festival, and Hartford Stage. Michael Brusasco, as the dashing Joey Percival, is currently performing in THE PLAYBOY OF THE WESTERN WORLD and has appeared at the Utah Shakespearean Festival, American Conservatory Theatre, and Berkeley Rep. Erika Rolfsrud plays the daring aviatrix Lina Szczepanowska and is making her Pearl Theatre debut. She has been seen on Broadway in RABBIT HOLE, THE COAST OF UTOPIA, and EXIT THE KING. Lee Stark, playing the free-thinking Hypatia Tarleton, is currently making her New York debut as Pegeen Mike in The Pearl's THE PLAYBOY OF THE WESTERN WORLD.

Creative Team The creative team includes: Bill Clarke, scenic design; Liz Covey, costume design; Stephen Petrilli, lighting design; Jane Shaw, sound design; Rod Kinter, fight direction; Dudley Knight, vocal direction. The stage manager is Dale Smallwood and the dramaturg is Kate Farrington.

The Pearl Theatre Company provides a variety of ticketing options for their new performance space at New York City Center, including season subscription packages.

Production Schedule: Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday at 7:30PM; Wednesday, Saturday, and Sunday at 2:30PM. Previews begin December 4, 2009 at 7:30PM. Opening night is Sunday, December 13, 2009 at 7:30PM.

Regular Ticket Prices: $30 for all preview performances; $40 for performances on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday; $50 for performances on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.
Youth and Senior Tickets: $20 weekdays and $25 weekends.

Remaining tickets at each performance can be purchased at a reduced price by individuals 30 and younger or 65 and older on the day of performance, up to one hour prior to curtain, subject to availability. Valid for 1 ticket only per ID in person at the box office.

Remaining tickets for Thursday evening performances are available for $10 on the day of the performance only, up to one hour before curtain, subject to availability at the box office.

Tuesday Talk Post-Performance Discussion: These in-depth discussions give audiences the opportunity to participate in intimate talk-backs led by published scholars and experts within their fields. Tuesday Talks during MISALLIANCE will take place following the performances on December 15, 2009 and December 29, 2009.

The Pearl Theatre Company produces a full-range classical repertory with an established Resident Acting Company, dedicated to bringing timeless stories to new and vivid life. Moving this season out of its 15-year home in the East Village, the company now performs uptown at New York City Center Stage II. J.M. Synge's THE PLAYBOY OF THE WESTERN WORLD is currently playing, directed by J.R. Sullivan. The season also includes a whirlwind adaptation of Charles Dickens' HARD TIMES by Stephen Jeffreys and directed by J.R. Sullivan; and the Pulitzer Prize-winning THE SUBJECT WAS ROSES by Frank D. Gilroy, directed by Sheldon Patinkin.

The Resident Acting Company greets the challenges of classical repertory through season-specific training and craft-building workshops. The versatility and talents of this award-winning group of artists have been instrumental in The Pearl receiving an Obie grant for continued artistic excellence, two Drama League nominations for outstanding play, and an American Theatre Wing grant for consistent commitment to excellence in the professional theatre.

The 2009-2010 Resident Acting Company The 2009-2010 Resident Acting Company consists of veterans of the New York and regional stages including: Jolly Abraham, Rachel Botchan, Robin Leslie Brown, Bradford Cover, Dominic Cuskern, Dan Daily, TJ Edwards, Robert Hock, Sean McNall, Carol Schultz, and Edward Seamon. The 2009-2010 resident stage managers are Lisa Ledwich and Dale Smallwood. 2009-2010 Ticketing and Performance Information The Pearl Theatre Company provides a variety of ticketing options for their new performance space at New York City Center, including season subscription packages.

For subscription tickets and information, contact Audience Services at 212-598-9802 or visit www.pearltheatre.org. Single tickets can be purchased by calling CityTix® at 212-581-1212, online at www.nycitycenter.org or at the City Center Box Office (West 55th Street between 6th and 7th Avenues).

For more information, visit www.pearltheatre.org.