IF YOU GO
WHAT: "Valhalla"
WHERE: The Theater Project, Cranford
WHEN: July 5-29
FOR MORE: (908) 659-5189 or
www.TheTheaterProject.com
COURTESY THE THEATER
PROJECTMembers
of the "Valhalla" cast include, from left
Gail Lou, Stephen Medvidick (white and blue
shirt), Jenelle Sousa, Kevin Sebastian, Rick
Delaney (blue shirt) and Dennis DaPrile
(seated).
CRANFORD -- The Theater Project, Union County
College's professional theater company, 1033
Springfield Ave., will present Paul Rudnick's
comedy "Valhalla," July 5-29.
Artistic Director Mark Spina directs this
comedy by the author of "Jeffrey" and "In &
Out."
"The audience is asked by Paul Rudnick to
reflect on why it is that some people pursue
beauty above all else, and then asks us to
imagine what the world would be like without
such folk," Spina said.
Rudnick's fanciful "Valhalla" intertwines two
stories: the life of Ludwig of Bavaria, the
1880s Mad King responsible for building a series
of storybook castles inspired by Wagnerian
operas and the fictional adventures of James
Avery, a wild Texas teenager of the 1940s. The
play explores questions of beauty and madness as
both Ludwig and James pursue lives of operatic
passion, bringing them in contact with such
diverse figures as the small town inhabitants of
Dainsville, Texas, most of the characters of
Lohengrin and Princess Sophie, the loneliest
humpback in Europe. "Valhalla is outrageous fun
confronting the price to be paid for pursuing
and, seemingly, attaining everything you could
dream of.
Piscataway-born playwright Paul Rudnick also
wrote "I Hate Hamlet," "The Most Fabulous Story
Ever Told" and, most recently, "Regrets Only."
His screenwriting credits include "In and Out,"
"Addams Family Values," "The Stepford Wives" and
uncredited contributions to "Sister Act," "The
Addams Family" and "The First Wives Club."
"Valhalla" opened in the spring of 2004 at the
New York Theater Workshop. The Theater Project's
production will showcase the comedic talents of
Dennis DaPrile, Rick Delaney, Gail Lou, Stephen
Medvidick, Kevin Sebastian and Jenelle Sosa.
Production designers include Rohit K. Kapoor
(set), Jerad Schomer (lights) and Maggie Baker
Atkins (costumes), Joel Stigliano (sound) and
Chris Wood (stage manager).
Performances are Thursdays, Fridays and
Saturdays at 8 p.m., Sundays at 3 p.m.
Discussions will be held each Sunday immediately
following the performance. Tickets are $20;
students $10. Thursdays: all tickets $12.
Sunday, July 8 has been designated as "Senior
Sunday" - all senior citizen tickets are $12.
An Audio Described performance will take place
on Thursday, July 12. For ticket reservations,
call (908) 659-5189. The Theater Project is
wheelchair accessible. For more information,
please visit
www.TheTheaterProject.com.
The Theater Project is Union County College's
Professional Theater Company, bringing artists
from all over the state and New York City
together in its productions.
Well-known for its intimate "Studio on Stage"
where the audience sits within arm's reach of
the performers, the company is celebrating its
12 season of producing new works and
contemporary classics. The Theater Project has
been recognized by grants from the Geraldine R.
Dodge Foundation, the New Jersey State Arts
Council, and The Union County College
Foundation.
