Private Lives, one of Noël Coward's most famous and successful comedies, takes the stage at The Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey beginning August 6 and continuing through August 31. Performances are Tuesdays through Sundays at The Shakespeare Theatre's Main Stage, the F. M. Kirby Shakespeare Theatre, 36 Madison Avenue in Madison. Tickets range from $29 to $33 for Previews and $38 to $53 for regular performances, depending on performance day and time and seat location. For tickets or more information, call 973-408-5600 or visit www.ShakespeareNJ.org. Patrons may also purchase Ticket Packages for additional discounts. Groups of 10 or more are eligible for group discounts.
Written and first produced in 1930, Private Lives is a fast-paced, sophisticated comedy from one of the most famous playwrights of the era and the author of more than 50 plays, musicals operettas and films. Private Lives premiered on Broadway in 1931 and starred
Gertrude Lawrence, Laurence Olivier and Noël Coward himself.
Elyot Chase is happily enjoying his honeymoon on the French Riviera when he discovers his ex-wife settling into her honeymoon suite right next door! This deliciously witty expose of "private lives" follows these two couples from the shores of the Riviera to a chic Parisian pied-à-terre where the marital fireworks explode in a riotous display of verbal and physical comedy.
Playing the formerly married couple who realize they might still have feelings for each other are Scott Barrow as Elyot and
Caralyn Kozlowski as Amanda. Barrow, making his Shakespeare Theatre debut, has been seen at Arkansas Repertory, the Wilma Theatre and off-Broadway's New York Theatre Workshop. His television credits include All My Children.
Kozlowski was most recently seen at The Shakespeare Theatre in The Play's The Thing and also appeared in The Importance of Being Earnest, Macbeth and Othello among others. Other recent theatre credits include Restoration Comedy at The Old Globe, Seattle Repertory, and Cal-Shakes. Television viewers will recognize her from roles on Numbers, Law & Order: SVU, Guiding Light and All My Children.
Robert Gomes and
Charlotte Parry play the unsuspecting newly married spouses. Gomes has been seen at The Shakespeare Theatre in The Play's the Thing and Cymbeline. His Broadway credits include The Last Night of Ballyhoo and Racing Demon. He has also appeared at theatres across the nation including Florida Studio Theater, Dallas Theater Center and Long Wharf Theatre. On television, Gomes played Richard's personal shopper on Sex and the City. He is a member of Bruised Fruits, a comedy improvisation group.
Parry returns to The Shakespeare Theatre where she played Imogen in Cymbeline. On Broadway, Parry has been seen in Coram Boy and The Real Thing. She will soon appear on Broadway in
Edward Albee's Me, Myself and I with
Kathleen Turner. She has also appeared with the Peter Hall Company in The Importance of Being Earnest and As You Like It.
Mary Dierson completes the cast as Louise, the maid. Mary Dierson returns for her fourth season to The Shakespeare Theatre where she appeared in The Comedy of Errors, Pygmalion and Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead, among others. On Broadway, she appeared in Amadeus, The Elephant Man and Dracula. Dierson also studied with the artist Salvador Dalí while living in Spain.
Performances of Private Lives begin August 6 and continue through August 31. Performances are Tuesdays through Sundays at The Shakespeare Theatre's Main Stage, the F. M. Kirby Shakespeare Theatre, 36 Madison Avenue in Madison. Tickets range from $29 to $53 depending on performance day and time and seat location. Single ticket prices include a $1 facility fee, not subject to discount. For tickets or more information, call 973-408-5600 or visit www.ShakespeareNJ.org.
Paul Mullins returns to The Shakespeare Theatre for his 17th season to direct Private Lives. Previously, Mullins directed the Shakespeare Theatre productions of The Time of Your Life, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead, Richard II, Illyria, King John, The Illusion, Tartuffe, Rhinoceros, Measure for Measure, All's Well That Ends Well and The Threepenny Opera.. As an actor at The Shakespeare Theatre he appeared in Richard III, Othello, Carnival!, Three Sisters, The Forest,
Blithe Spirit, The Winter's Tale, The Homecoming and Diary of a Scoundrel, among others. Other directing credits include Measure for Measure and Macbeth at The Old Globe; Fat Pig, This Is How It Goes and The Russian National Postal Service at The Studio Theatre DC; Lettice and Lovage and True West at Portland Stage; Twelfth Night at The State Theatre, Austin; Summerfolk at Yale School of Drama; As You Like It at The Juilliard School; and The Swan, Much Ado About Nothing, Reckless, Two Gents and The Merry Wives of Windsor at American Stage.
The first preview performance of Private Lives, on Wednesday, August 6 at 7:30 p.m., offers opportunities for reduced-price tickets as an incentive to first-time theatergoers as well as those who would otherwise not be able to afford a night at the theatre. As always, the first preview performance is Pay What You Wish night -- name your own admission price for that evening's 7:30 p.m. preview performance. Offer is subject to availability. Call the box office at 973-408-5600 for details.
For no more than the cost of a regular ticket, Symposium Series performances include the additional treat of a post-play discussion with the cast and artistic staff, on Tuesday, August 12 at 7:30 p.m. and Saturday, August 16 at 2 p.m.
On Thursday, August 14, The Shakespeare Theatre presents the popular education program Know the Show. From 7:00 to 7:30 p.m., a member of the Theatre's artistic staff will present a pre-performance talk that provides background information and an insider's perspective on Noël Coward's Private Lives.
General admission to Know the Show is $5 for the general public, $4 for subscribers and ticket package holders. Tickets to that evening's 8 p.m. performance may be purchased separately for $42-$46. Single ticket prices include a $1.00 Facility fee not subject to discount.
The 2008 season also includes Tennessee William's tour de force A Streetcar Named Desire running September 10 through October 5. Williams' magnificent play of sensuality and fragility, cruelty and broken souls, has given the world the immortal Blanche du Bois, played in this production by the dazzling star of Broadway and film,
Laila Robins. This event was selected by the New Jersey State Council on the Arts as part of the American Masterpieces Series in New Jersey. American Masterpieces is a program of the National Endowment for the Arts.
For ticket information please visit www.ShakespeareNJ.org
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