Florida Rep Opens Season with the 'Funniest Farce Ever Written'

Florida Rep Opens Season with the 'Funniest Farce Ever Written'

Florida Repertory Theatre announced the opening of its 2010-2011 Lucky 13th Season with "Noises Off," a play the New York Post called the funniest farce ever written.

Opening Oct. 29, with discounted previews Oct. 26, 27 and 28, "Noises Off" by Michael Frayn, is a world-famous and Tony-winning comedy that will have audiences laughing from beginning to end.

"Noises Off" is actually two plays for the price of one, as audiences follow a hapless fifth-rate theatre troupe trying to mount a silly sex farce called "Nothing On." As the cast stumbles through the play onstage, a real-life farce is unfolding behind the curtain. From the ill-fated dress rehearsal to the last chaotic performance, the delirium literally never ends.

"The New York Post was right," said Producing Artistic Director Robert Cacioppo, "this really is the most brilliant and most well constructed farce ever written. This play was Florida Rep's inaugural production in 1998 for a reason. Because it truly is a love letter to the theatre, and because our audiences love to laugh."

The production features an ensemble cast that includes Florida Rep regulars Carrie Lund and Jason Parrish with Rachel Lomax, Rachael Endrizzi, and a number of newcomers to the Historic Arcade Theatre.

Lund, the company's co-founder and associate producer, is reprising her role from the 1998 production, and was seen most recently in "Relatively Speaking," "Boeing-Boeing" and Florida Rep's nationally acclaimed production of "You Can't Take It with You." Parrish, now in his sixth season with Florida Rep, was seen most recently in "The Big Bang," "Relatively Speaking," "The Santaland Diaries," and in May received the 2010 Angel of the Arts Award for Performance Artist of the Year.

Ms. Lomax is making her third Florida Rep appearance in "Noises Off", and was seen in last season's kick-off production of "Boeing-Boeing," 2008's "A Funny Thing...Forum," and with a number of other theatres across the country. Rachael Endrizzi, the company's education director, is no stranger to the Southwest Florida theatre scene, and in addition to appearances with Florida Rep, works extensively with Theatre Conspiracy and the Broadway Palm.

New To Florida Rep are Viki Boyle, Kenneth Kay, Tony Cormier, Herman Petras and Matthew Natale Rush. Both Boyle and Kay are familiar faces on Florida's east coast, and have worked extensively with the Caldwell Theatre Company in Boca Raton - among others. Boyle, a New York based actor, is also a two-time Carbonell Award-winning actress, and Kay, a four-time Carbonell Award-winning director (the Florida Tony). Also from New York, Cormier and Petras have both enjoyed long careers in New York, on national and international tours and regionally. Mr. Rush is a recent graduate of Write State University, and makes his first appearance in "Noises Off" as one of Florida Rep's performance interns.

Florida Rep Producing Artistic Director, Robert Cacioppo ("You Can't Take It With You, "Boeing Boeing"), directs the production, and is joined by en expert team of Florida Rep designers. The creative team includes set designer Jim Hunter ("The Big Bang," "Boeing-Boeing"), lighting designer Aaron Meadow ("Trying," "Dial M for Murder"), resident costume designer Roberta Malcolm ("Relatively Speaking," "You Can't Take It With You"), Florida Rep resident sound designer Kate Smith and production stage manager Amy Massari ("Relatively Speaking").

"Noises Off" by Michael Frayn plays at Florida Rep Oct. 26-Nov 20, with discounted previews on Oct. 26 at 8pm, Oct. 27 at 2pm and Oct. 28at 8pm. Performances are Tues. - Sat. at 8pm, with 2pm matinees on Wed., Sun. and selected Saturdays with a special Twilight Performance at 7pm on Oct. 31.

"Noises Off" is sponsored by Dr. Alexander M. Eaton and Dr. Hussein Wafapoor of the Retina Health Center and Florida Weekly.

Subscriptions and single tickets are now on sale through the box office at 239-332-4488. Single tickets are priced at $44 and $39, and $25 & $20 for discounted previews. Subscriptions range from $117 to $288, and offer up to 40% savings. The NEW 7 Show Rush Pass is on sale now for only $139.

Florida Repertory Theatre performs in the Historic Arcade Theatre on Bay St. between Jackson & Hendry with free parking in the Fort Myers River District. Visit Florida Rep online at www.floridarep.org.

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