Botchan & McNall Lead Pearl Theatre's HARD TIMES, 2/5 - 3/28

The Pearl Theatre has announced casting for its next production, Stephen Jeffreys' adaptation of Charles Dickens' Hard Times.  The show, directed by J.R. Sullivan, runs February 5 - March 28 at New York City Center Stage II. J.R. 

In Hard Times, Louisa and Tom Gradgrind were raised to shun emotion, imagination, passion and rely on rationality and fact in an industrial era. Faced with a loveless marriage and devoid of dreams, Louisa has begun to wonder if something is horribly awry.  With the help of eccentric circus performers, shrewd businessmen, cunning widows, and downtrodden workers Hard Times shows how honesty, loyalty, joy, and love abound.

The cast includes Jolly Abraham (Sissy Jupe, Mrs. Pegler, Mary Stokes), Rachel Botchan (Louisa, Emma, Mrs. Blackpool), Robin Leslie Brown (Mrs. Sparsit, Mrs. Gradgrind, Rachel), Bradford Cover (Mr. Bounderby, Bitzer, Harthouse), TJ Edwards (Gradgrind, Blackpool), and Sean McNall (Tom, Mr. Sleary).

The creative team includes Jo Winiarski (scenic design), Devon Painter (costume design), Stephen Petrilli (lighting design), and Lindsay Jones (sound design).

The Pearl Theatre is currently showing Shaw's Misalliance through January 24 starring Robin Leslie Brown, Bradford Cover, Dominic Cuskern, Dan Daily, Sean McNall, Steven Boyer, Michael Brusasco, Erika Rolfsrud, and Lee Stark.

For more information visit: www.pearltheatre.org.