(Clockwise from top left) Sara Clark as Gwendolen Fairfax, Jeremy Dubin as John Worthing, Brent Vimtrup as Algernon Moncrieff, Jesse Wray Goodman as Cecily Cardew & Jim Hopkins as Lady Bracknell. Photo by Jeanna Vella.
Brian Isaac Phillips directs Oscar Wilde’s “trivial comedy for serious people” opening November 23, 2012
CINCINNATI, November 2, 2012 – Cincinnati Shakespeare Company, Cincinnati’s stage for the classics, is delighted to present Osacr Wilde’s most perfect comedy, THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING EARNEST playing from November 23- December 16, 2012. This production is directed by Cincinnati Shakespeare Company Producing Artistic Director Brian Isaac Phillips and features CSC Resident Ensemble Members Sara Clark, Jeremy Dubin, Jessie Wray Goodman, Jim Hopkins and Brent Vimtrup. The production design is generously sponsored by Towne Properties.
In a classic tale of romance and folly, two beautiful ladies, Gwendolen Fairfax (Sara Clark) and Cecily Cardew (Jesse Wray Goodman) are pursued by two dashing gentleman, John Worthing (Jeremy Dubin) and Algernon Moncrieff (Brent Vimtrup). However Mr. Worthing’s mischievous brother Earnest and Mr. Moncrieff ailing friend Bunbury always complicate matters – especially since they don’t actually exist. And to make matters worse for Gwendolen and Mr. Worthing, they must contend with the disapproval of Gwendolen’s mother, the formidable Lady Bracknell (Jim Hopkins). One of the funniest comedies in the English language, “The Importance of Being Earnest” provides an examination of the hypocrisies and conventions of a so-called well-mannered society.
THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING EARNEST was first performed on February 14, 1895 at the St. James’s Theatre in London. The original Broadway production opened at the Empire Theater a few months later on April 22, 1895. Reviews all praised the play’s humor and foresaw the modern consensus that it would be considered the culmination of Wilde’s artistic career. Its high farce and witty dialogue have helped make “The Importance of Being Earnest” Wilde’s most enduringly popular play. It has been revived many times since its premiere and has been adapted for the cinema on three occasions. John Gielgud was possibly the most famous Jack Worthing of the twentieth century, and his 1939 production was seen as a model for later performances. The play has been performed at the Stratford Shakespeare Festival five times beginning in 1975 with William Hutt playing “Lady Bracknell” in both the 1975 and 1976 productions and Brian Bedford in the 2009 production. In 2011, the Roundabout Theatre Company produced a Broadway revival based on the 2009 Stratford Shakespeare Festival production featuring Brian Bedford as director and as Lady Bracknell. It was nominated for three Tony Awards: Best Revival of a Play, Best Costume Design of a Play and Best Leading Actor in a Play for Bedford.
About the Cast
Sara Clark* (Gwendolen Fairfax) is an Artistic Associate and Resident Ensemble member at CSC. This is her seventh season. She was last seen on the stage as Juliet in the critically acclaimed production of “Romeo and Juliet”. Some of her favorite productions at CSC include Lady Macbeth in “Macbeth” and Elizabeth Bennett in “Pride and Prejudice”. Sara has appeared locally with The Carnegie Visual and Performing Arts Center and New Edgecliff Theatre.
Jeremy Dubin* (John Worthing) is an Artistic Associate and Resident Ensemble Member at CSC. This is his thirteenth season. He was most recently seen on the stage as Sherlock Holmes in CSC’s smash hit “The Hound of the Baskervilles”. He will reprise his role as Sherlock Holmes this June during a run of encore productions. Audiences have delighted in many of Mr. Dubin’s comedic performances including last season as Costard in “Love’s Labour’s Lost”, The Common Man and narrator of “A Man for All Seasons” and “Henry VIII: All is True” as well as in Season 18 as Launce in “The Two Gentlemen of Verona”, which brought houses down nightly. He has worked for several theaters across the country, including the Milwaukee Repertory Theater and the Unseam’d Shakespeare Company, and has appeared in a number of independent films.
Jessie Wray Goodman (Cecily Cardew) debuts at CSC this season. She has been seen on CSC’s stage most recently as Benvolio in “Romeo and Juliet”. She is also Miranda in “The Tempest” and the Witches in “Macbeth”, both of CSC’s touring productions this season. Originally from Pittsburgh, PA, Jessie traveled to Shenandoah Conservatory in Virginia where she earned her BFA in Acting. Some of her favorite Shenandoah roles include Masha in “The Three Sisters”, Audrey in “As You Like It”, Maggie in “Dancing at Lughnasa”, Lampito in “Lysistrata”, and Helga in “Kindertransport”.
Jim Hopkins* (Lady Bracknell) is in his fifth season as a Resident Ensemble Member at CSC. He has been seen on CSC’s stage this season as Judge Taylor & Walter Cunningham in the sold-out run of “To Kill a Mockingbird”. He was featured last season as the title role in “Henry VIII: All is True” and “A Man for All Seasons.” He was also seen last season as Don Armado in “Love’s Labour’s Lost”, Duncan in “Macbeth” and Ernest in “Bedroom Farce”. He has also performed at The Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey; Human Race Theatre, Great Plains Theatre Festival, Nebraska Repertory Theatre and at the Opera for Playhouse on the Square in Memphis.
Brent Vimtrup* (Algernon Moncrieff) is now in his 2nd season with the company. He was most recently seen on the stage as Henry Baskerville in CSC’s smash hit “The Hound of the Baskervilles”. He will reprise his role as Henry Baskervilles this June during a run of encore productions. His debut last season included comedic roles in “Bedroom Farce”, “Love’s Labour’s Lost” and “Sense & Sensibility” as well as critically acclaimed roles in “The Grapes of Wrath” as Noah Joad and in “A Man for All Seasons” and “Henry VIII: All is True” as the Duke of Norfolk.
About the Director
Brian Isaac Phillips** (Producing Artistic Director) is celebrating his 10th season of artistic leadership of Cincinnati Shakespeare Company. He was named Producing Artistic Director in 2010 after being Artistic Director since 2003. Prior to these responsibilities, he served with the organization as Associate Artistic Director for one season, as well as four seasons as a member of the acting company. He is a proud member of Actor’s Equity Association and the Stage Directors and Choreographers Society. Mr. Phillips is a graduate of Morehead State University and has been a resident of Cincinnati for almost fifteen years. In that time he has worked for Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park, Ensemble Theatre of Cincinnati, Cincinnati Opera, Cincinnati Ballet, Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, The Children’s Theatre, Know Theatre of Cincinnati, New Stage Collective, as well as over 100 productions with CSC. Most recent credits include “The Grapes of Wrath”, “Henry VIII: All is True”, “Macbeth”, “A Man for All Seasons”, “Bedroom Farce”, “The Two Gentlemen of Verona”, “The Handmaid’s Tale” (world premiere), “The Life and Death of King John”, “Dracula”, “Blithe Spirit”, “Krapp’s Last Tape”, “The Lion in Winter”, “All’s Well that Ends Well”, “Amadeus”, “Timon of Athens”, “The Seagull”, “Hamlet”, “Long Day’s Journey Into Night”, “King Lear”, and “Cymbeline”. Outside of CSC Mr. Phillips has recently been seen onstage in “Collapse” at Know Theatre, “Porgy and Bess” at Cincinnati Opera, as well as “The Seafarer” and “Dead Man’s Cell Phone” at Ensemble Theatre. He staged Know Theatre’s recent production of “Angels in America: Millennium Approaches” and served as dramaturg on Cincinnati Ballet’s “A Midsummer Night’s Dream”. Mr. Phillips is honored that CSC was named as a finalist last year for Cincinnati Chamber of Commerce’s Non Profit of the Year. He is also thrilled that after next season, CSC will have produced all 38 of William Shakespeare’s plays and, on a personal note, he will have either staged or performed in all 38 as well.
* Member of the Actors Equity Association
** Member of the Stage Directors and Choreographers Society.
For additional information on THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING EARNEST, including photography, or for interviews with any member of the cast or company, please contact Jeanna Vella by email jeanna.vella@cincyshakes.com or by phone 513.381.2273 x. 3202 or visit http://www.cincyshakes.com.
Performances of THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING EARNEST are scheduled from November 23- December 16, 2012 on Thursday, Friday & Saturday evenings at 7:30pm and Saturday and Sundays at 2pm. Preview performances are on Tuesday Dec. 20 and Wednesday Dec. 22 at 7:30pm and tickets are $15. The theater is located at 719 Race Street, downtown Cincinnati, two blocks west of the Aronoff Center. Single ticket prices range from $22-$28 on Thursday Nights and Sunday Matinees and from $26-$32 on Friday and Saturday Nights. If available, $14 student rush tickets may be purchased 30 minutes before a show with a valid student ID. Visa, Discover, MasterCard, and American Express are accepted. Ticketing fees may apply. Discounts are available for students, seniors and groups as well as Enjoy the Arts and AAA members. To purchase tickets or for more information, call the CSC Box Office at 513.381.BARD (2273) ext. 1, or go online at www.cincyshakes.com.
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About Season 19:
Season 19 is generously sponsored by The Otto M. Budig Family Foundation. Cincinnati Shakespeare Company receives operating support from The Ohio Arts Council and is supported, in part, by the generosity of thousands of individuals and businesses that give annually to ArtsWave. The season design sponsor is Judge Mark Painter. Production dates and info on Season 19 are available online at http://www.cincyshakes.com/season-19.html
About Cincinnati Shakespeare Company:
Cincinnati Shakespeare Company is a professional theatre company dedicated to bringing Shakespeare and the classics to life for audiences of all ages. Located in the heart of downtown Cincinnati, CSC produces a dozen mainstage productions each season. CSC employs a resident company of actors and artists who live and work in Cincinnati year-round, and performs on a Small Professional Theatre contract with Actors’ Equity Association. Cincinnati Shakespeare Company’s Education and Outreach Programs see an average of 18,000 students each season by taking Shakespeare into schools, parks, community centers and by hosting educational matinees of mainstage productions at its home on Race Street. In Season 20, CSC will become one of only a handful of companies worldwide to have produced Shakespeare’s 38-play canon in its entirety. CSC is a 501 (c)(3) non-profit organization and all donations are tax deductible.
Behind the Curtain Cincinnati 