MISALLIANCE
By George Bernard Shaw
directed by Artistic Associate/Casting Director Stephen Brown-Fried
WHEN: begin Wednesday, August 5th and continue through Sunday, August 30th
WHERE: F.M. Kirby Shakespeare Theatre, 36 Madison Avenue (at Lancaster Road) in Madison. TICKETS: Single tickets start at $25 for preview performances and $32 for regular performances. Student Rush tickets are available a half-hour before curtain for $15 with a valid Student ID. For tickets, call the Box Office at 973-408-5600, visit www.ShakespeareNJ.org, or email BoxOffice@ShakespeareNJ.org.
Published in 1909 by Irish playwright George Bernard Shaw, Misalliance transports audiences to Edwardian-era England and the lush Tarleton solarium, where patriarch John Tarleton struggles to maintain control over his rebellious daughter and headstrong son, as well as a host of unexpected visitors. Over the course of a single Saturday afternoon, Shaw creates a chaotic clash of class, gender and generation and explores the idiosyncrasies of the British classes and their family values.
The Playwright: Born in 1856, Shaw enjoyed a successful career in the literary realm. In 1925, he was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature for Saint Joan, and in 1938 he won an Oscar for his contributions to the film Pygmalion. As a critic, essayist, and public speaker, Shaw’s social interests were widespread. In particular, he was interested in the theme of male-female relations, which he explored over the course of several of his plays.
The Cast:
- In his thirteenth season with The Shakespeare Theatre, Ames Adamson returns to the Main Stage as undergarment magnate John Tarleton.
- Brian Cade returns to The Shakespeare Theatre stage in his sixth season as Johnny Tarleton, heir to his father’s undergarment business.
- In her fifth season at The Shakespeare Theatre, Katie Fabel plays Hypatia Tarleton.
- Playing Lord Summerhayes, Jonathan Gillard Daly is in his first season with The Shakespeare Theatre.
- Making his Shakespeare Theatre debut as Bentley Summerhays is Matthew Sherbach.
- Erika Rolfsrud takes the stage in her second season at The Shakespeare Theatre as Mrs. Tarleton.
- Caralyn Kozlowski returns for her eleventh season with The Shakespeare Theatre to play Polish acrobat Lina Szczepanowska.
- Robbie Simpson makes his Shakespeare Theatre debut as Joey Percival.
- Rounding out the cast is Matt Kleckner, playing Gunner in his debut season with The Shakespeare Theatre.
The Director: Stephen Brown-Fried is in his twelfth season with The Shakespeare Theatre, where he is currently the Artistic Associate and Casting Director.
The Artistic Staff: The world of the Misalliance comes to life with the help of scenic designer Brian Clinnin, costume designer Tilly Grimes, lighting designer Andrew Hungerford, and sound designer Toby Algya. Denise Cardarelli serves as production stage manager.
Special Performances:
Discount preview performances for Misalliance take place on Wednesday, August 5thth at 7:30 PM, Thursday, August 6th and Friday August 7th at 8:00 PM, and Saturday, August 8th at 2:00 PM. 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 performance-time on Wednesday, August 5th to purchase a ticket for that evening’s 7:30 PM show, at a cost that is affordable to you. 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 Misalliance will be Tuesday, August 11th at 7:30 PM and Saturday, August 15th and Saturday, August 22nd at 2:00 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, August 13th at 7:00 PM, and is 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.
