NHTP Presents CONSTELLATIONS

Marianne and Roland meet and fall in love. Or perhaps they don't.

Seacoast favorites CJ Lewis and Colleen Madden star in this witty comedy about the significance of falling in love within the vastness of our complex human existence. Nick Payne's brilliant new script takes us on a journey through parallel universes and the multiple nuances of loving relationships.

Constellations is all at once endearing and intriguing - a modern love story of missed connections, misunderstandings, and moments lost in time. "What's so captivating about this play," says director Catherine Stewart, "is that the ideas within it are so vast and universal. It's thought-provoking but it's also hilarious. On every single page the dialogue unfolds, subtly explaining where, who, why, and what, in a way that affords the actors an opportunity to improvise, and live each scene as if it's the first time they've met. We capture a snapshot for a moment, and then it's gone. To watch two skilled performers interact, and surprise one another is beauty. No two performances are likely to be the same."

When it premiered in London in 2012, and then in New York, Constellations created an enormous "buzz" because it was immediately beloved by audiences. Actor Colleen Madden says, "Personally, when I go to see a play, I hope for something that will make me laugh, make me cry, make me think - Constellations is all of that! The writing is brilliant - hilarious one moment, and then incredibly moving scenes a beat or two later. Constellations is smart, funny, charming, cosmic, moving, and brilliantly original. As my favorite astrophysicist Neil Degrasse Tyson says, Everyone should have their mind blown at least once a day."

The design team for Constellations includes lighting design by Meghann Beauchamp, and stage management by Mary Langley. A reading of the play will also be featured on May 3, as part of New Hampshire Theatre Project's Elephant-in-the-Room Series.

Based at West End Studio Theatre in Portsmouth, New Hampshire Theatre Project is dedicated to creating innovative theatre for personal and community transformation.

nhtheatreproject.org