THE CHERRY ORCHARD Begins Previews at The T. Schreiber Studio

T. Schreiber Studio (Terry Schreiber, Artistic Director) will present Julie Garfield in Carol Rocamora's adaptation of The Cherry Orchard by Anton Chekhov. Directed by Terry Schreiber, The Cherry Orchard begins previews February 25, 2010 prior to an official press opening of March 5, 2010 at The Gloria Maddox Theater at T. Schreiber Studio (151 West 26th Street).

Written in 1904, The Cherry Orchard presaged the waning influence of the Russian aristocracy and the social upheaval that reverberated throughout the country a decade later. Chekhov's elegy chronicles Madame Ranevskaya's futile attempt to save her ancestral estate and its beloved cherry orchard. After five years abroad, she returns to the Russian countryside, and finds a tidal wave of change enveloping her homeland. Carol Rocamora's new adaptation mines the heartbreaking humor and sensitive humanity of Chekhov's most beloved play.

Julie Garfield will star as Madame Ranevskaya. During her 40-year career, she has appeared alongside Tony Award-winner George C. Scott and Harvey Keitel in The Death of a Salesman, and been featured in the films Love Story and Goodfellas. Garfield received the Theatre World Award for her performance as Sonya in the Roundabout Theater production of Uncle Vanya. She is the daughter of Academy Award-nominated and Broadway actor John Garfield.
Rounding out the cast are Laine Bonstein (Anya), Rivka Borek (Ensemble) Parker Dixon (Yasha), David Donahoe (Ensemble) Rick Forstmann (Gaev), Kelly Haran (Ensemble), Alec A. Head (Yepikhodov), Peter Judd (Firs), Jamie Kirmser (Lopakhin), Marcus Lorenzo (Trofimov), Robert Pusilo (Simeonov-Pischik), Marija Stajic-Salvetti (Ensemble), Ina Marie Smith (Dunyasha), Aleksandra Stattin (Varya), Adam Swartz (Ensemble) and Julie Szabo (Charlotta Ivanovna). The production team includes Hal Tine (set design), Dawn Testa (costume design), Dennis Parichy (lighting design), Chris Rummel (sound design), Bronwen Carson (choreographer), Thomas Solomon (magical effects), Jason Pickens (technical director), Barbara Kielhofer (producing coordinator), Laura Sisskin-Fernandez (assistant director) and Liz Elise Richards (stage manager).

Scheduled February 25 through April 4, 2010, The Cherry Orchard performs Thursday through Saturday at 8:00 pm and Sunday at 3:00 pm at The Gloria Maddox Theater at T. Schreiber Studio (151 West 26th Street, between 6th and 7th Ave., Subway: 1 to 28th, F/V to 23rd). Tickets are $25 and can be purchased online at www.tschreiber.org.

T. Schreiber Studio (TSS) has been a creative community for actors since 1969. TSS is acknowledged as one of the foremost professional theatre studios in New York City. For four decades, TSS has been the training ground for more than 300 actors each year, many of whom have gone on to successful careers in theatre, film, and television. TSS received five awards from the Back Stage Readers Poll in 2009, including Favorite Off-Off Broadway Theatre. The studio's high quality productions continue to reinforce a reputation for excellence among audiences and the theatrical community. Martin Denton of NYTheatre.com raves that TSS "has become one of indie theater's treasures, featuring first-class productions of classic and new plays with incomparable (and award-winning) production values." For more information, visit www.tschreiber.org.