Photo Flash: MAPLE & VINE Opens Tonight at Cygnet Theatre

Cygnet Theatre kicks off 2014 by presenting the San Diego premiere of a new comedy that stirs up powerful questions about what people are willing to sacrifice for happiness. Cygnet has snagged the rights to present the Southern California premiere of Jordan Harrison's Maple and Vine, a sensation last season Off-Broadway at New York's Playwrights Horizons. Maple and Vine is a comedy about a couple who have become allergic to their 21st century lives and decide to move into a closed-community of 1950s re-enactors who forsake their cell phones and sushi for poodle-skirts, milkmen and Tupperware parties. Performances for Maple and Vine run now through February 16th. Opening Night is tonight, January 25th. BroadwayWorld has a first look at the cast in action below!

The clever, sharply drawn script follows the challenges of this modern day couple who forsake all modern conveniences and must live with the consequences. The comedy, which looks at attitudes about gender, race and sexuality, will be directed by New York-based Igor Goldin. "The play asks what these characters are going back to find and what do we all really need to survive happily," explained Goldin who is making his Cygnet Theatre directing debut. A long time Cygnet fan, he is thrilled with the opportunity to take on this black comedy.

Previously in San Diego, Goldin directed the original one-man musical ...And Then I Wrote a Song About It and Paul Rudnick's The New Century, both for the Diversionary Theatre. He also directed the Diversionary, New York Musical Theatre Festival (NYMF) and Off-Broadway productions of YANK! for which he received a Drama Desk Award nomination for Outstanding Direction of a Musical.

The talented cast features Cygnet Resident Artists Amanda Sitton (It's A Wonderful Life, The Glass Menagerie) as Ellen/Jenna and Jo Anne Glover (Our Town, The Receptionist) as Katha. JorDan Miller (Travesties, The Importance of Being Earnest) returns to Cygnet as Dean. The show also features the Cygnet debuts of Greg Watanabe as Ryu and Mike Nardelli as Roger/Omar.

The multi-era set, which will feature the premiere of a new Cygnet Theatre turntable, will be designed by Sean Fanning (Resident Artist). The lighting design will be by Michelle Caron (Resident Artist). Modern and Mid-Century quick change costumes will be created by Jeannie Reith (Resident Artist). Peter Herman (Resident Artist) will create wigs and make-up. Kevin Anthenill will provide the sound design, and Angelica Ynfante (Resident Artist) will design props. Jennifer Kozumplik (Resident Artist) serves as Stage Manager.

Maple and Vine runs January 16 through February 16. Cygnet's performance schedule for all shows will be Wednesdays & Thursdays at 7:30pm, Fridays at 8pm, Saturdays at 3pm and 8pm, and Sundays at 2pm and 7pm. Tickets can be purchased by visiting Cygnet's website at www.cygnettheatre.com or by calling the box office at 619-337-1525. Tickets can also be purchased in person by visiting Cygnet's box office located at the Old Town Theatre, 4040 Twiggs St. in Old Town San Diego State Historic Park.

Photo Credit: Daren Scott

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