Walsh is Callas for Paper Mill's MASTER CLASS 3/4 Thru 4/5

Paper Mill Playhouse (Mark S. Hoebee-Artistic Director, Mark W. Jones-Executive Director) is proud to announce casting for Terrence McNally's Master Class which will run at the Millburn theatre from March 4 through April 5, 2009.

Barbara Walsh will star as opera diva Maria Callas replacing the previously announced Kate Mulgrew who will not be appearing in the production due to a schedule change.

Press Opening is Sunday, March 8th at 7:30pm

Master Class will play the following performance schedule: Wednesdays at 7:30PM, Thursdays at 2:00PM & 7:30PM, Fridays at 8:00PM, Saturdays at 2:00PM & 8:00PM and Sundays at 2:00PM & 7:30PM. Single tickets are now on sale and range in price from $25 to $92. Student rush tickets are $20 and are available the day of performance in person with current student ID.

Tickets may be purchased by calling 973-376-4343, or at the Paper Mill Box Office at 22 Brookside Drive in Millburn, or online at www.papermill.org. Visa, MasterCard, Discover and American Express accepted. Groups of ten or more can receive up to a 35% discount on tickets and should call 973-379-3636 ext. 2438.

Master Class is the story of renowned opera diva Maria Callas teaching a master class in front of an audience: us. She's glamorous, larger than life, and drop-dead funny. What begins as a class becomes an intimate and revealing look into her life: we learn about Callas' tumultuous affair with Aristotle Onassis, her early days as an ugly duckling; the fierce hatred of her rivals; and the unforgiving press that savaged her at first. Master Class is a tour-de-force lesson underscored by simple truths about life and art. This piece contains mature language and mature content. Piano provided by Steinway and Sons.

Directed by Wendy C. Goldberg, Master Class brings an exhilarating cast to the Paper Mill stage. Barbara Walsh (Maria Callas) is gracing the Paper Mill stage after a critically acclaimed performance in Stephen Sondheim's 2007 revival of Company as ‘Joanne'. Ms. Walsh is a two-time Drama Desk Award nominee for Company and Falsettos and a Tony Award® nominee for Outstanding Featured Actress in a Musical for Falsettos. She has performed on Broadway in Hairspray, Big, Blood Brothers, Rock ‘N Roll! The First 5,000 Years and Nine. Her television credits include: Law and Order, Law and Order: Criminal Intent, and a recurring role as ‘Judy Schulman-Brown' on One Life to Live. Sarah Uriarte Berry (Sharon) is making her Paper Mill debut. Ms. Berry's Broadway credits include: The Light in the Piazza, Taboo, Beauty and the Beast, and Les Miserables. She performed in the New York City Opera's Cinderella and City Center Encores! The Boys from Syracuse. Berry has toured nationally in Carousel, Sunset Boulevard, and Les Miserables. In 2005 Ms. Berry received the Featured Actress in a Musical nomination for The Light in the Piazza by the Drama Desk and Outer Critics Awards. Andrew Gerle (Manny) wrote the book and music for the critically acclaimed Meet John Doe which had runs at both Goodspeed in Connecticut and Ford's Theatre in Washington DC. Mr. Gerle is a three-time recipient of the Richard Rodgers Award for The Tutor (book and lyrics by Maryrose Wood) and with Ms. Wood he wrote the holiday musical The Gift. Mike McGowan (Tony) is returning to the Paper Mill stage after appearing as ‘Fred/Petruchio' in last season's in Kiss Me, Kate. Mr. McGowan's Broadway credits include: Grease, The Apple Tree, and The Producers. His television credits include: The New Electric Company, Delocated, and Curb Your Enthusiasm. Lauren Worsham (Sophie) has performed on Broadway and in the First National Tour of The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee as ‘Olive'. Ms. Worsham has appeared as ‘Cunegonde' in the New York City Opera's Candide and at Carnegie Hall in Jerry Springer the Opera. Ryan King (Stagehand) was in the Off-Broadway productions of Deathbed, Eurydice, The Intelligent Design of Jenny Chow, Come to Take the Children Home, Mountains in the Bering, and Defiance.

Director Wendy C. Goldberg is the Artistic Director of the National Playwrights Conference at the Eugene O'Neill Theater Center. Recent directing credits include: Doubt (Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park/Actors Theater of Louisville), Durango (Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park), Living Out (Denver Center, Roundhouse Theatre), The Chosen (Actors Theatre of Louisville), The Clean House (Denver Center), A Marriage Minuet, World Premiere (Florida 3 Stage), The Goat, Proof, On the Jump, Book of Days and K2 (Arena Stage). Wendy served as Artistic Associate at Arena Stage in Washington, D.C., for five seasons where she led the new play development program since its inception. Wendy has directed in every major new play program in the United States and has guest lectured in directing and playwriting at Brown University, UC-San Diego, The Iowa Writers Workshop and the Yale School of Drama. Alexander Dodge will serve as the Scenic Designer. Costume design is by Anne Kennedy. Lighting design is by Josh Epstein. Sound design is by Randy Hansen. Hair and wig design is by Chuck LaPointe. The Production Stage Manager is Barbara Reo.

PAPER MILL PLAYHOUSE, a not-for-profit arts organization, is one of the country's leading regional theatres. Paper Mill Playhouse programs are made possible, in part, by funds from the New Jersey State Council on the Arts/Department of State, A Partner Agency of the National Endowment for the Arts, and by funds from the National Endowment for the Arts. Additional major support is provided by generous contributions from numerous corporations, foundations, and individuals. Paper Mill Playhouse is a member of Theatre Communications Group, the National Alliance for Musical Theatre, the Council of Stock Theatres, and the New Jersey Theatre Alliance.

Free Audience Enrichment Activities for Master Class
Wed. March 4 6:30pm Art Gallery Directors Notes & Coffee Series
Enjoy coffee on us as Director Wendy C. Goldberg discusses Master Class.

Thurs. March 5 6:30pm Mezzanine Conversation Series
Thurs. March 12 Learn more about the show you are about to
Thurs. March 19 see, led by members of Paper Mill's Artistic and
Thurs. March 26 Education Departments.
Thurs. April 2

Sat. April 4 Post Show Orchestra Cast Talk-Back Series
Meet the cast and ask actors questions about the show or the role they are portraying.

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