TRUMPERY Plays Olney Theatre Center 6/9-7/4

"If I finish the book, I'm a killer," Charles Darwin says in Trumpery about The Origin of Species. "I murder God." Trumpery, written by Peter Parnell, plays the Mainstage June 9 through July 4. Tickets are $26 to $54, with discounts available to groups, seniors, military, and students. Call the Box Office at 301.924.3400 or visit olneytheatre.org for tickets and information. In addition, Olney offers several special performances that include sign interpretation, audio description, and post-show discussions. 

Receiving its area premiere at Olney Theatre Center this summer, Trumpery explores Darwin's seemingly ethical dilemma over the decision to publish his theory on natural selection. Spurred by the possibility of being beaten to the publishing punch by an unknown explorer who has developed the same theory, Darwin stakes his claim, 20 years after first coming up with the idea. But does he do so at the expense of his faith?

Director Jim Petosa, Olney's artistic director, feels that Charles Darwin "has made an enormous impact on the modern worldview. Using the society of competition that is a feature of the most contemporary scientific process, Peter Parnell creates an epic metaphor for the conflicts of natural selection...what ideas will survive in the realm of science and faith, politics and economics, friendship and marriage. It's all in there. Parnell's Trumpery joins that special class of play epitomized by Michael Frayn's Cophenhagen and Democracy."

Playing Darwin is Ian LeValley, who last performed in Da at Olney. Additional Olney credits include La Tragedie de Carmen, Charlie's Aunt, Holiday, Present Laughter, and To Kill a Mockingbird. He portrayed Obrien in Catalyst Theater's production of 1984, directed by Jim Petosa. Jeffries Thaiss plays Alfred Russel Wallace, who is competing with Darwin to have his own theory of natural selection published first. Jeffries was most recently seen at Olney in The Glass Menagerie. His other credits here include Is He Dead?, The Underpants, The Mousetrap, Democracy, 13 Rue de L'Amour, An Enemy of the People, Hedda Gabler, The Heiress, Saint Joan, Carousel, Piaf (with Potomac Theatre Project), Anna Karenina, Monster, Candida, She Loves Me, and Holiday.

Christine Hamel portrays Darwin's wife Emma, and is making her Olney debut. Recent credits include Laura in The Glass Menagerie (Boston Center for American Performance - Jim Petosa, director), Our Town (Wellesley Summer Theatre), Miracle on 34th Street and A Prayer for Owen Meany (Stoneham Theatre), The Importance of Being Earnest and Spinning into Butter (Village Theatre Project), and The Winter's Tale (Actors' Shakespeare Project).

Rounding out the cast of Trumpery are:

Shelley Bolman (Hooker) Shelley most recently appeared at the New Repertory Theatre, under Jim Petosa's direction, as Alan in Opus. Before that he portrayed Lysander in A Midsummer Night's Dream with Actors' Shakespeare Project.

James Chatham (Georgie) James shares this role with Ari Goldbloom-Helzner. He performed at Olney in Camelot as Thomas of Warwick. Other regional credits include The Heavens Are Hung in Black at Ford's Theatre and Waiting for Godot at Shakespeare Theatre Company.

Nick DePinto (Huxley) Olney audiences last saw Nick in Da; prior to that he performed at Olney in The Millionairess, Democracy, and 13 Rue due L'Amour. Regionally he has performed at Shakespeare Theatre Company, The Kentucky Repertory Theatre, the Michigan Shakespeare Festival, Chamber Theater, and the Hilberry Theater.

Hannah Lane Farrell (Annie/Girl) Hannah portrayed this role at Boston University's School of Theatre, under the direction of Jim Petosa. Other roles include Elise in The Miser, Sonia in Life X 3, Sebastian in The Tempest, and Becky in Scenes and Revelations.

Ari Goldbloom-Helzner (Georgie) Ari shares this role with James Chatham. He recently portrayed an Orphan/Pickpocket in Toby's Dinner Theatre's production of Oliver!. Last year, he performed as Young Charlie in ACE at Signature Theatre.

James Slaughter (Owen/Williams/Vicar/Protestor) recently appeared in Bus Stop at Olney, adding to his more than two dozen productions here (Helen Hayes Award nomination for An Enemy of the People). Other local credits include Solid Gold Cadillac, Moonlight, and The History Boys at Studio Theatre, and A Delicate Balance at Arena Stage.

The creative team for Trumpery, in addition to Jim Petosa, includes are James Kronzer (Scenic Designer), Jeremy W. Foil (Scenic Designer), Daniel MacLean Wagner (Lighting Designer), Nicole V. Moody (Costume Designer), Elisheba Ittoop (Sound Designer), Nan Flanagan (Wig Designer), and Tim Burt (Stage Manager).

PERFORMANCE DATES AND TIMES:
June 9 - July 4 PRESS NIGHT: Saturday, June 12 at 8:00 pm
Wed. - Sat. at 8:00 pm; matinees on Sat. and Sun. at 2:00 pm; Sun. at 7:30 pm; Tues., June 22 at 7:30 pm; matinees on Wed., June 16 and 30 at 2:00 pm

SPECIAL PERFORMANCES:
§ Audio described performance: Wed., June 23 at 8:00 pm
§ Sign Interpretation: Thurs., June 24 at 8:00 pm
§ Post-show discussions: Sat., June 12 at 2:00 pm (with special guests) and Wed., June 23 at 8:00 pm (with cast members)

TICKETS: $26 - $54; discounts available for groups, seniors, military, and students

BOX OFFICE: 301.924.3400; olneytheatre.org

LOCATION: Olney Theatre Center
2001 Olney-Sandy Spring Road, Olney, Maryland 20832
Located just north of Washington, DC, the theater sits 1¼ mile from the intersection of Olney-Sandy Spring Road (Route 108) and Georgia Avenue (Route 97). Parking is free.

ABOUT OLNEY:
Olney Theatre Center is a 72-year-old nonprofit professional Equity theater in Olney, Maryland. Located in arts-rich Montgomery County, Olney Theatre Center is easily accessible from Washington, DC, and Baltimore, MD. Olney Theatre Center's mission is to create professional Theater Productions and other programs that nurture artists, students, technicians, administrators, and audience members; and to develop each individual's creative potential using the skills and imaginative possibilities of theater and the performing arts.