NOW PLAYING
"ORSON'S
SHADOW"
BY AUSTIN PENDLETON
DIRECTED BY THE AUTHOR & DAVID SCHWEIZER
Theater
for the New City presents an Axial Theatre, Oberon Theatre Ensemble,
and Strindberg Rep production, in association with Fortify.space
and Michael Howard Studios. Additionally produced by Amanda Quinn
Olivar and Mark Karafin.
THEATER
FOR THE NEW CITY
155 FIRST AVE., NYC (AT E. 10th STREET)
NOVEMBER 8 TO DECEMBER 1, 2024
To
share a hit show of its Spring season ( March 14 to 31, 2024)
with the largest possible audience, Theater for the New City is
presenting this remounting of the August Strindberg Rep production
of "Orson's Shadow."
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Patrick
Hamilton as Kenneth Tynan,
Brad Fryman as Orson Welles. |
ABOUT "ORSON'S SHADOW"
"Orson's
Shadow," based on true events, takes place on the
stage of the Gaiety Theatre in Dublin and later on the stage of
the Royal Court Theatre. Orson Welles is directing
a production of Eugène Ionesco's "Rhinoceros,"
starring Laurence Olivier and Joan Plowright.
Olivier is fresh from his triumphant theatrical portrayal of vaudevillian
Archie Rice in John Osborne's "The Entertainer" and
is about to reprise the role in its film adaptation. He and Plowright
are in the early stages of a romantic liaison. His turbulent marriage
to Vivien Leigh is all but ended. The noted critic
Kenneth Tynan becomes entangled in the conflicts
between Welles, Olivier, and Leigh, adding tension and complexity
to their relationships and influencing their decisions and perceptions.
The
play reveals internal struggles that theatrical performers endure
when contemplating a leap to film. It also studies theatrical
egos, each of the protagonists living more on the stage than in
real life, each one insecure while jockeying for power.
REVIEWS OF OUR MARCH, 2024 PRODUCTION
"Orson's
Shadow is a fantastic revival about artistic revival.... Now,
in a new production marking Orson's 25th anniversary, Pendleton
himself takes the director's chair, with superlative results."
-- John R. Ziegler and Leah Richards, Thinking
Theater NYC
"proof,
if any is needed, that Austin Pendleton is a gifted playwright
and story teller…. we get an evening of theater at its best….
a stand-out cast….scintillates with realistic, comic and
dramatic dialogue." -- David Solloway, Encore
Theater Reviews
"Austin
has taken over the directing reins this time and it’s a
wonderful, snappy, eaves dropping couple of hours.... Each actor
wholly embodies the essence of their roles.... Austin’s
dialogue...is any actor’s dream...Orson’s Shadow delivers.''
-- David Walters, Front
Row Center
"Pendleton,
who’s now 82, can enjoy the thrill of having helmed a beautifully
cast production." Hal Glatzer, Woman
Around Town
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Above:
Brad Fryman as Orson Welles, Cady McClain as Joan Plowright,
Patrick Hamilton as Kenneth Tynan. Below: Natalie Menna
as Vivien Leigh, Ryan Tramont as Laurence Olivier, Luke
Hofmaier as Sean, the Stage Manager. |
Scroll
down to buy tickets.
THEATER
FOR THE NEW CITY
155 FIRST AVE (at E. 10th Street)
NOVEMBER 8 - DECEMBER 1, 2024
Tuesdays through Saturdays at 8:00 PM plus matinees Saturdays
at 2:00 PM and Sundays at 3:00 PM. No performances Wednesday,
Nov. 13, Thursday, Nov. 28 (Thanksgiving) and Saturday,
November 30.
Tickets:
$25, Students & Seniors $18
Tuesdays Pay What You Can
Run Time: 2 hours with one 15-minute Intermission |
Lighting Design
by Alexander Bartenieff. Costume Design by Billy Little. Sound
Design by Nick T. Moore.
www.theaterforthenewcity.net
(212) 254-01109
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