San Jose Stage Company Presents the World Premiere of THE POSTMAN ALWAYS RINGS TWICE

The World Premiere of The Postman Always Rings Twice by Jon Jory takes the stage at San Jose Stage Company as a part of their 35th Anniversary Season: "Truth & Illusion". Adapted from the 1934 novel by James M. Cain, this play examines a love affair turned deadly. This crime thriller explores the consequences of attempting to escape fate.

PLEASURE BECOMES PAIN IN THIS DEADLY TEST OF FATE

This edge-of-your-seat thriller follows Frank Chambers, a drifter who makes a pit stop at a rural California diner for a meal and begins a passionate love affair with the diner's operator, Cora. Through the promise of adventure, Frank helps Cora plot her escape from her husband and life of boredom and defeat. As they begin to wrestle with their consciences and brewing mutual distrust, things turn deadly when fate's cruel hand rises. "I write of the wish that comes true - for some reason, a terrifying concept." ? James M. Cain

The 1934 novel by James M. Cain is regarded as one of the most important crime novels of the 20th Century. Postman has received four film adaptations including the 1949 noir film starring Lana Turner and John Garfield. The 1981 film starring Jack Nicholson and Jessica Lange is based on the screenplay by Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright David Mamet.

About the Playwright

Jon Jory served as the Producing Director at Actors Theatre of Louisville, the Tony Award-winning regional theatre known for its productions of new American plays. There he directed over 125 plays and produced over 1,000 during his 32-year tenure. He conceived the internationally lauded Humana Festival of New American Plays, the SHORTS Festival, and the Brown-Forman Classics-in-Context Festival. He was also the Artistic Founding Director of Long Wharf Theatre in New Haven, Connecticut, and he has been inducted in New York's Theatre Hall of Fame.

Mr. Jory has directed professionally in nine nations, and in the United States has directed productions at many regional theatres including San Francisco's American Conservatory Theatre, Washington's Arena Stage, Hartford Stage, the McCarter in Princeton, Guthrie Theatre, and the Oregon Shakespeare Festival. He has received the National Theatre Conference Award and ATA Distinguished Career Award. For his commitment to new plays, he has received the Margo Jones Award twice, the Shubert Foundation's James N. Vaughan Memorial Award for Exceptional Achievement and Contribution to the Development of Professional Theatre, Carnegie Mellon's Commitment to Playwriting Award, and the Special Tony Award for Achievement in Regional Theatre. He currently teaches acting and directing at the Santa Fe University of Art and Design.

About the Director

Kenneth Kelleher serves as Resident Director at San Jose Stage Company, where he recently directed the critically acclaimed production of Sweeney Todd. His other notable productions for The Stage include the award-winning productions of Death of a Salesman (Standout Classical Production by Silicon Valley Theatre Awards, Best Production of 2015 by San Francisco Bay Area Theatre Critics Circle), The Threepenny Opera (Theatre Bay Area Outstanding Production of a Musical and Outstanding Direction of a Musical), the World Premiere of Jane Austen's Persuasion, and Red, among others. He served as Resident Director of The San Francisco Shakespeare Festival, and was Artistic Director of Pacific Repertory Theatre. He has directed for San Jose Repertory Theatre, TheatreWorks, California Shakespeare Theater and numerous other theatres.

Cast Includes:

Allison F. Rich* Cora

Jonathan Rhys Williams* Frank

Robert Sicular* Nick, Katz, Coroner

Michael Bellino Kennedy, Cop

Justin Gordon* Sackett, Driver, Cop

Tanya Marie Madge, Danaway, Nurse

*Actors appear courtesy of Actors' Equity Association.

Creative Staff:

Ken Kelleher Director †

Amelia Driscoll Stage Manager*

Giulio Perrone Scenic Design

Michael Palumbo Lighting Design ‡

April Bonasera Costume Design

Cliff Caruthers Sound Design ‡

† Member of Stage Directors and Choreographers Society

‡ Member of United Scenic Artists