New Light Theater Project's Adaptation of MONTE CRISTO Begins Next Week at Urban Stages

New Light Theater Project (recently represented in New York with their acclaimed production of In The Soundless Awe) will present the New York City Premiere of Jared Reinmuth's MONTE CRISTO, an adaptation of Alexandre Dumas' 1844 classic adventure novel The Count of Monte Cristo. The production will be directed by award-winner Cailin Heffernan. Previews begin January 22 at Urban Stages with opening slated for January 28.

In MONTE CRISTO, sailor Dantes is falsely accused of treason by a friend who wants Dantes' girlfriend for himself. After 13 years in jail, Dantes escapes with the help of another prisoner and transforms himself into the wealthy Count of Monte Cristo as part of an elaborate plan to exact revenge.

Rather than focusing solely on the revenge motif, this adaptation further explores the themes of memory and madness. Cailin Heffernan's production tells this timeless tale through the use of projections, mime, and movement as well as with an original score by Henry Aronson inspired by the music of Les Six and musique concrète, It is performed by a cast of thirteen who never leave the stage, becoming pieces in Monte Cristo's game.

MONTE CRISTO stars Alana Barrett-Adkins, Brett Benowitz, Amanda Berry, Ian Eaton*, Tom Frank*, Bethany Geraghty, Kate Kenney, Lilian Klein*, Roger Lipson*, Jamie Parton, Margherita Peluso, Vinnie Penna*, Michael Russinik, Paul Sheehan, and Carsey Walker, Jr*. The production team includes Henry Aronson (original music), Dedalus 7 (film design), Sarah Lambert (scenic design), Michael O'Connor (lighting design), Cheryl McCarron (costume design), Jacob Subotnick (sound design), Dan Renkin (fight direction), Theresa McElwee (dialect coaching), Erikka Anderson (production stage manager), Danielle Demisay (associate producer), Doug Mills (technical director) and Courtney Knysch (casting director).

CAILIN HEFFERNAN is an Associate Artistic Director with Boomerang Theatre Company where she directed eleven productions including The Real Thing, which was nominated for Outstanding Remount at the 2012 NYIT Awards. She is former Resident Director of Texas Family Musicals (2007-11), Founder/Artistic Director of Manhattan Dance/Theater (1984-2002), and Producing Artistic Director of School of Performing Arts at YWCA of NYC (1994-1997). She has directed and/or choreographed Off-Broadway, LORT Regional Theatres, Off-Off Broadway and at Universities including NYU and Pace. Her work has been seen at theaters including Bay Street, Capital Repertory, Folksbiene, Jewish Repertory, Lucille Lortel, Miller Outdoor Theatre, Naked Angels, New Amsterdam, New Jersey Repertory, Penguin Repertory, St. Lukes and the Walnut Street. She is the author of two plays - Rebel Hearts and Blooddrinker; two musicals - Vanity Fells with composer/lyricist Steven Jamail and Loveless Texas with composer/lyricist Henry Aronson; and a novel entitled The House of Atreus. In summer 2016 she will direct Hello Dolly with Judy Norton ("The Waltons") and Don Most ("Happy Days") at Texas Family Musicals.

As an actor, JARED REINMUTH played Jesus Christ in Les Freres Corbusier's Drama Desk Award nominated production of Hell House, among other New York and regional productions. He has previously collaborated with Cailin Heffernan on Boomerang Theatre's To Fool the Eye, Love's Labours Lost, and Cymbeline. Jared made his directorial debut with Andrea Fulton's Roof-Top Joy. BA Columbia College, William Esper Studio, Actors Movement Studio. He is on the faculty of Actors Movement Studio and the Mason Gross School of the Arts at Rutgers University. MONTE CRISTO is his first produced play.

Under Artistic Director Sarah Norris, NEW LIGHT THEATER PROJECT is an ensemble-based theater company in New York City. They place writers at the center of the process of developing new works and reinterpreting classic stories. They create an environment-for both artist and audience-that is open, engaging, and affordable. Their production of In The Soundless Awe is currently garnering rave reviews at Access Theatre. For more info, visit NewLightTheaterProject.com.

MONTE CRISTO runs January 22 thru February 13, Thursday - Saturday at 8pm. Urban Stages is located at 259 West 30th Street between 7th and 8th Avenues -- accessible from the A/C/E/2/3 trains at 34th Street or the 1 at 28th Street. Tickets are $10-$15 at MonteCristo.BrownPaperTickets.com or 630-632-1459.

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