Bergen County Players to Present CLYBOURNE PARK

There is no doubt that race is a sensitive issue, as borne out by numerous events across the nation over the past six months. It can be difficult to explore, and while many politicians and social scientists call for a national conversation, it is often the arts world that leads the way in holding up a mirror to American society about this topic. While most take a serious approach, the Bergen County Players, one of the region's most acclaimed theatre companies, has decided it is also possible to face the subject head on by presenting the wickedly funny and provocative Tony and Pulitzer Prize award-winning play Clybourne Park.

Playwright Bruce Norris picks up quite literally where the well-known Raisin in the Sun left off, in Chicago in 1959. In fact, the show is set in the very home into which playwright Lorraine Hansberry's Younger family was ready to move. The plot even features one of her characters, Karl Lindner, who wants to stop the sale of the home to an African-American family. Fifty years later, in Act 2, the situation is reversed but the strife is surprisingly similar, except this time the objections are to the plans of a white family ready to buy the same house as the neighborhood gentrifies.

The Bergen County Players will present Clybourne Park, a must-see night of sharp-witted theater, over four weekends beginning Saturday, January 10th and concluding Saturday, January 31st with Friday and Saturday performances at 8pm and Sunday performances at 2pm.

Clybourne Park is truly an ensemble piece with seven actors each portraying multiple characters. Janet Donofrio of Montclair and Andrew Lionetti of Westwood play Bev and Russ, who in Act 1 are anxious to sell their home but in Act 2 play the lawyer Kathy and the contractor Dan. Andrew Beadle of Highland Mills, NY plays Jim, the local minister who stops by for a chat in Act 1 and also appears in dual roles (as Tom and Kenneth, a lawyer) in Act 2. Francine and Albert, Bev's maid and her husband, are played by Nadiya A. Braham of Hackensack, who later plays Lena, and Sheldon Roberts of Nyack, NY, who also is Lena's husband Kevin. Tom Olori of Pearl River, NY is Karl and also plays Steve, while his deaf wife, Betsy, is portrayed by Tiffany M. Card who later plays Steve's pregnant wife, Lindsey.

In addition to director Alan Demovsky, the Bergen County Players production team includes Paul Reitnauer III (Producer), Andrea Pieper (Assistant to the Director), Michele Roth (Stage Manager), Ron Drobes (Set Designer/ Technical Director), Steven Anderson (Fight Director), Jeff Pieper (Set Décor), Ruth Morley (Costumes), Christopher R. Hughes (Sound Design), Allan Seward (Lighting Design), Teri Noel (Props), Craig Woodward (Sound Operation), Joann Lamneck (Makeup), Jenny Imor (Hair/Wigs), Michael Smith (Photography), Ed Gross (Publicity), Margie McDonough (Programs Notes), and Paul Aiello, Dan Giordano, Brian Eller and David Luke (Crew Members).

TICKET AND SCHEDULE INFORMATION
• All performances for Clybourne Park take place at The Little Firehouse Theatre at 298 Kinderkamack Road in Oradell, home to the Bergen County Players since 1949. Performance times are Fridays and Saturdays at 8pm, and Sundays at 2pm.
• Tickets for Clybourne Park are $21 for Friday/Saturday performances and $17 for Sunday matinees, and can be purchased online at www.bcplayers.org, by calling 201-261-4200 or by visiting the box office at 298 Kinderkamack Road in Oradell during regular box office hours. Visa, Master Card, and American Express are accepted.
• Those interested in Group Sales of 20 or more tickets can email groups@bcplayers.org or call the main number and press #6.
• As it has for the past few seasons, BCP continues to offer a "Questions & Artists" (Q&A) discussion following select performances.