Judd Hirsch Will Act and Star In 'Art' In Ellenville 5/30

Emmy- and Tony Award-winning actor Judd Hirsch, currently appearing in the CBS TV network series NUMB3RS, will recreate his role as well as direct "Art," the 1998 Tony Award for Best Play, at Shadowland Theatre, known for its powerful productions of classics, contemporary and new plays. "Art" launches Shadowland's 24th summer season on May 30 in downtown Ellenville, NY in the Hudson Valley/Catskill region, only 90 miles from midtown Manhattan.

Hirsch opens in "Art," written by Yazmina Reza (with translation by Christopher Hampton)" on May 30. Its three-week engagement will run through Sunday, June 15. "Art" revolves around the friendship of three men that is fatally disrupted when one of them buys an expensive modern work of art that resembles nothing so much as a blank white canvas.

According to Brendan Burke, producing artistic director at Shadowland, "We are offering additional Saturday performances at 2:00 pm, added especially for 'Art' in order for Shadowland to meet the expected box office demand."

"Sedition," running from June 20 to July 13, is by David Wiltse, who wrote "The Good German," a successful 2006 production at Shadowland. It is being co-produced with Playwright's Theatre of New Jersey, with the same New York and New Jersey creative team returning to stage this new historical, yet timely drama about war, patriotism and the courage to speak out. This will be the New York premiere for "Sedition."

The season's third offering, Peter Shaffer's "Black Comedy," recognized as one of the funniest British farces of all time, was nominated for a Tony for Best Play. "Black Comedy" opens July 18. Regular performances will continue Thursdays to Sundays to August 10.

"Glorious! The true story of Florence Foster Jenkins, the worst singer in the world," by Peter Quilter, runs from August 15 to September 7. Known as the "first lady of the sliding scale," Jenkins was a socialite after the turn of the 20th century and a must-see performer in the 1940s. The appalling becomes appealing in the Olivier-nominated musical comedy chronicling her rise to the pinnacle of a sold-out performance in Carnegie Hall. The Sunday Times called "Glorious!", "a lunatically funny comedy."

Rounding out the 2008 season is the New York premiere of John Biguenet's "Rising Water." It will be performed from September 12 to September 28. This searing, touching, timely, funny yet poignant drama, which had been nominated for a 2008 Pulitzer Prize, follows an older couple's long, harrowing day during Hurricane Katrina. It will move on to a Playwrights' Theatre of New Jersey fall 2008 engagement.

Season subscriptions, single-performance seats and group tickets are available at the box office at 157 Canal Street, Ellenville, NY, by phone at 845-647-5511 and online at http://www.shadowlandtheatre.org.

About Shadowland Theatre

Shadowland Theatre is the leading professional nonprofit Actors' Equity company in the Lower Hudson Valley/Catskill Mountain region. Located only 90 miles from New York City in Ellenville, NY, Shadowland was named "Best of the Valley" by Hudson Valley magazine in 2004, 2005 and 2007; "2006 Cultural Business of the Year" by Ulster Development Corporation and Ulster County Chamber of Commerce; "Best Theatre 2006" by the Times Herald Record; and "Best Drama of the Year" by The Daily Record in NJ for The Good German. Founded in 1984, Shadowland performs in a restored 1920's Art Deco vaudeville/movie house converted to a 148-seat theatre. For more information, visit http://www.shadowlandtheatre.org

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