THE DEVIL’S DISCIPLE
By George Bernard Shaw
Directed by Paul Mullins
WHEN: July 2 – 20; Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Sundays at 7:30 PM; Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays at 8 PM; and Saturdays and Sundays at 2 PM
WHERE: F.M. Kirby Shakespeare Theatre, 36 Madison Ave. (at Lancaster Road) in Madison
TICKETS: $15 to $75; Student Rush tickets are available a half-hour before curtain for $15 with a valid student ID.
Individual tickets are now on sale and can be purchased by calling the Box Office at 973.408.5600 or by visiting www.ShakespeareNJ.org.
The Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey presents George Bernard Shaw’s Revolutionary War drama The Devil’s Disciple. Just in time for the Fourth of July and the 350th anniversary of New Jersey’s charter, The Devil’s Disciple celebrates the spirit and honor of the everyday people who fought for our nation’s independence.
The Devil’s Disciple was Shaw’s first commercial success and established the signature Shavian balance of comedy, drama, and his astute exploration of human nature. As Shaw’s only play set in America, The Devil’s Disciple stands out both as a testament to Shaw’s mastery of impactful melodrama and, more importantly, as a skillful and moving examination of what is truly means to be an American. The play is set in 1777, amid the tumult of the American Revolution. Nearby insurgencies send shockwaves through the small town of Westerbridge, New Hampshire, particularly into the lives of the Dudgeon family.
The “devil’s disciple” is Richard “Dick” Dudgeon, a foil of “flaunting Vice” to the rest of his family’s puritanical “Virtue,” to quote Shaw’s stage directions. When Richard returns home for the reading of his father’s will, his life becomes entangled with the trusted local minister Anthony Anderson, causing both men to question the true meaning of honor.
The Shakespeare Theatre is thrilled to announce a unique partnership with the Museum of Early Trades and Crafts in Madison. In conjunction with the Museum’s ongoing exhibit The American Revolution: Where the Battlefront Meets the Homefront, a special “pop-up” exhibit will be on display in the Theatre’s lobby. The exhibit will feature Revolutionary War artifacts from the Museum’s exhibit. "The Museum of Early Trades & Crafts is happy to partner with The Shakespeare Theatre to create our own 'Crossroads of the Revolution' this summer. Visitors can enjoy quality theatre and visual arts while they learn local history," said Meg Wastie, the Museum’s Curator of Education. Patrons can enhance their theatre-going experience by visiting the full exhibit at the museum, located at 9 Main Street in Madison. The Museum is open Tuesdays through Saturdays, 10 AM-4 PM, Sundays 1 PM-5 PM. For more information, visit www.metc.org.
Joining in the celebration of America’s history and great local culture is Poor Herbie’s, Madison’s landmark tavern restaurant located on historic Waverly Place. Patrons who present their Devil’s Disciple ticket stub receive 10% off their entire bill. Also, be sure to ask about the exclusive cocktail the “Devil’s Disciple,” created especially for this production by proprietor Dennis Mullins, Jr. “We love working with The Shakespeare Theatre and this specially-designed summer cocktail is a great pairing for this production!”
Special Performances
Discount preview performances for The Devil’s Disciple are Wednesday, July 2 at 7:30 PM, Thursday, July 3 and Friday, July 4 at 8 PM, and Saturday, July 5 at 2 PM. These Preview performances offer opportunities for reduced-priced tickets while enjoying the excitement of the very first performances in front of an audience. As always, the first Preview performance is Pay What You Can night. Visit The Shakespeare Theatre Box Office between noon and curtain on July 2 and purchase a ticket for that evening’s 7:30 PM preview performance for what you are able to pay (offer subject to availability).
For no more than the cost of a regular ticket, three Symposium Series performances are offered for each show and include a post-play discussion with the cast and artistic staff. Symposium performances for The Devil’s Disciple will be Tuesday, July 8 at 7:30 PM, Saturday, July 12 and Saturday, July 19 at 2 PM.
For each production, The Shakespeare Theatre presents the popular education program Know the Show. From 7:00 to 7:30 PM, an artist from The Shakespeare Theatre will present a pre-performance talk that provides background information and an insider’s perspective on the production. The Know the Show performance will be held on Thursday, July 10 at 7:00 PM. General admission is $5 for the general public, $4 for ticket package holders and subscribers. Tickets to that evening’s 8:00 PM performance may be purchased separately.
The 2:00 PM performance on Saturday, July 19 will be audio described for those who are blind or have visual impairments. Audio description enables patrons with visual impairments to hear, through an FM transmitter, a live description of the action on the stage. A pre-performance sensory seminar is offered that allows patrons to feel props, costumes and set pieces to further enhance their live theatrical experience. The service is offered free of charge.
One of the leading Shakespeare theatres in the nation, serving 100,000 adults and children annually, The Shakespeare Theatre is New Jersey’s largest professional theatre company dedicated solely to Shakespeare’s canon and other world classics. Through its distinguished productions and education programs, the company strives to illuminate the universal and lasting relevance of the classics for contemporary audiences.
