Performance: Orson's Shadow

THEATER FOR THE NEW CITY Executive Director, Crystal Field

Presents an Axial Theatre, Oberon Theatre Ensemble, & Strindberg Rep. in association with Fortify.Space & Michael Howard Studios
Production of Orson’s Shadow
By Austin Pendleton
Directed by Austin Pendleton & David Schweizer

Theater for the New City presents a remount of “Orson’s Shadow” by Austin Pendleton, directed by Mr. Pendleton and David Schweizer

Originally Conceived by Judith Auberjonois

“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 and 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 debates the merits of stage versus screen, the internal struggle that theatrical performers endure when contemplating a leap to films, and the ways the studio system frustrated the careers of individual artists. It is also a study of theatrical egos, each of the protagonists living more on the stage than in real life, each one feeling insecure while jockeying for power.

The piece, originally conceived by Judith Auberjonois and scripted by Austin Pendleton, received critical note during its first production at Steppenwolf in 2000 and its New York debut at Barrow Street Theater in 2005. Its sharp writing and engaging performances contributed to its favorable reception, establishing it as a noteworthy work in contemporary theater. Since that time, Mr. Pendleton has worked on the play, making revisions and further developing the script. This production is historic, as it is not often that TNC productions are remounted.

Austin Pendleton is an actor, director, and playwright. He has acted in about 250 movies and appeared several times in such TV shows as “Homicide,” “Oz” and the different versions of “Law And Order.” Onstage in New York he has acted on Broadway (“Choir Boy” at Manhattan Theatre Club, “The Diary Of Anne Frank” with Natalie Portman, and as Motel the Tailor in the original cast of “Fiddler on the Roof”), Off-Broadway (Obie winner for “The Last Sweet Days Of Isaac,” “Rosmersholm” at Manhattan Theatre Club, “Up From Paradise,” a musical by Arthur Miller and Stanley Silverman at Jewish Rep; “Educating Rita” with Laurie Metcalf), and Off-off Broadway (title roles in “King Lear,” “Hamlet,” “Richard The Third,” “Richard The Second”; new plays including “City Girls And Desperadoes,” “Dress Of Fire,” “Consider The Lilies”). As a director he has been represented by the premiere productions of “A Thousand Pines” by Matthew Greene, “Between Riverside And Crazy” by Stephen Adly Giurgis, which went on to win the Pulitzer Prize; “Fifty Words” by Michael Weller with Elizabeth Marvel and Norbert Leo Butz; Chekhov productions at Classic Stage Company such as “Three Sisters” (for which he won the Obie, and which starred Maggie Gyllenhaal, Peter Sarsgaard, and Jessica Hecht), “Ivanov” starring Ethan Hawke, and “Uncle Vanya with Mamie Gummer; “A Lovely Sunday For Creve Coeur” by Tennessee Williams with Kristine Nielsen and Annette O’Toole, “War Of The Roses” (Shakespeare, at HB Studio), “Hamlet” (also at CSC, with Peter Sarsgaard), “The Little Foxes” on Broadway with Elizabeth Taylor and Maureen Stapleton (five Tony nominations, one for direction and three for actors including Ms. Taylor and Ms. Stapleton). He has written three plays: “Orson’s Shadow” (NY/London), “Uncle Bob” (NY/Paris) and “Booth,” which was done in New York starring Frank Langella and has just now been substantially revised.

David Schweizer, co-director, has been devising and directing new theater work, performance art, and opera theater since he emerged from Yale Drama School to make his 1974 debut mentored by Joseph Papp opening the Mizi Newhouse Theater in Lincoln Center with Shakespeare’s “Troilus And Cressida” starring Christopher Walken. Subsequently, based in both New York City and Venice, California he has traveled the country and the world with his productions of new and old plays and new and old operas. These include “The Mines Of Sulphur” by Richard Rodney Bennett at New York City Opera, “The Greater Good” by Stephen Hartke at Glimmerglass Opera and “Powder Her Face” by Thomas Ade at Long Beach Opera, among many others. His work in New York City includes “God Created Great Whales,” an OBIE Award winner by Rinde Eckert, “Winter Time” by Charles Mee Jr at Second Stage Theater starring Marsha Mason and Michael Cerveris, and “Horizon” at New York Theater Workshop also by Rinde Eckert. His intense creative friendship with Austin Pendleton was launched with a production of Pendleton’s play “Booth” in 1994 at the York Theater starring Frank Langella.

TNC’s Executive Artistic Director Crystal Field has been a fan of Austin Pendleton and followed his career since their time together as young actors in the Lincoln Center training program and the opening of Lincoln Center under the direction of Robert Whitehead and Elia Kazan.

“This production of ‘Orson’s Shadow’ is one of the high points of my artistic life, and I’m so happy that it just keeps rolling along,” says Austin Pendleton. “I’ve worked several times over the years at Theater for the New City. Every single one of those times I had a productive, enriching, and exciting time. Crystal provides loving, comprehensive, and productively stern support. It’s wonderful just knowing that her theater is there. And I’ve never seen a show there, either, that wasn’t eminently worth seeing.”

“While co-directing the spring run, it was very clear that this witty, passionate play was making an immediate and acute connection with its audiences,” adds co-Director Schweizer. “The excitement was palpable. It’s a play that deals so entertainingly with the foibles of live theater, but also probes beneath the surface for their heart-breaking consequences.”

CAST
Brad Fryman* as Orson Welles
Patrick Hamilton as Kenneth Tynan
Luke Hofmaier* as Sean
Natalie Menna as Vivien Leigh
Cady McClain* as Joan Plowright
Ryan Tramont* as Laurence Olivier

PRODUCTION
Co-Director: David Schweizer
Set Design: David Schweizer
Lighting Design: Alex Bartenieff
Sound Design: Nick Moore
Costume Design: Billy Little
Stage Manager: Bill Carlton
Assistant Stage Manager: Quinn Warren
Press Representative for Strindberg Rep: Jonathan Slaff
Press Representative for Axial Theatre: Dan DeMello

Location: JOHNSON THEATER

Tickets: $25, Students & Seniors $18
Tuesdays Pay What You Can
Run Time: 2 hours with one 15-minute Intermission

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