Press Release

 

Triad Stage delivers a world premiere modern-day adaptation of Molière’s classic comedy, Tartuffe, or the Hypocrite, June 7 – 28, 2009

 

(Greensboro, NC - May 19, 2009) —Triad Stage closes out its 2009-2010 “Season of Spirit” with a new reimagining of Molière’s classic, Tartuffe, or the Hypocrite. No matter how you say it, it’s funny! Orgon is a very happy man. He has a lovely family, a beautiful new wife, an incredible fortune and a spiritual advisor who promises him eternal bliss. Unfortunately, he is about to lose it all. He’s fallen into the trap of a pious imposter, the hilarious hypocrite Tartuffe. Preaching piety, two-faced Tartuffe is plotting to steal Orgon’s fortune, marry his daughter, seduce his wife and take over his home. Can anything stop him? Triad Stage presents one of the world’s funniest comedies and dares to shake up a theatrical classic to find its contemporary spirit. Tartuffe, or the Hypocrite runs June 7 through June 28, 2009. Opening Night is Thursday, June 11. The production is sponsored by VF Corporation.

About the playwright
French actor/playwright Molière was born Jean-Baptiste Poquelin in 1622 and by the height of his fame, he had been accused of marrying his daughter, slandering the aristocracy and scandalizing the clergy. Most of his burgeoning successes were greeted with criticism from either the people he was satirizing or the other playwrights he was making jealous. Molière’s work is chronicled for combining old comedy with new ideas; he created plays that stand the test of time for their dramatic individuality—and their hilarity. Today he is known the world over for his classic comedies The Miser, The Misanthrope, The School for Wives, The Imaginary Invalid and, of course, Tartuffe.

Death literally began onstage for Molière. In 1673, while he was acting in his own comedy, The Imaginary Invalid, he collapsed in a fit of coughing. His refusal to stop performing is now legendary. Molière managed to finish the performance but passed away later that same night.

About the play and production
Tartuffe was first performed in three acts for King Louis XIV at a festival in Versailles in 1664. Though favored and thought uproariously funny by the king, religious Dèvots pressured Louis XIV into banning the play from future production. These powerful elite felt the play was not only disrespectful to them, but also that the lower classes would not understand the satire and become rebellious. (Molière found this oddly humorous since the target of his satire were those same hypocrites.) Five years later, after Molière had continually petitioned the king on behalf of his play, a royal decree was issued ordering the revival of Tartuffe. In 1669, the five-act version was celebrated at the Palais-Royal not only for its comedy, but also its triumph over a church trying to censor a great playwright. Preston Lane cites the playwright’s willingness to speak truth to power as part of his desire to mount the classic, “The play has a satiric attack that is as relevant today as when it was first written. Like all great satires, it tackles big issues with laughter. Molière was fearless in his hilarious assault on the danger of hypocrisy and the foolishness of those who fall prey to hypocrites.”

Triad Stage’s production of Tartuffe, or the Hypocrite is adapted and directed by Preston Lane, the company’s co-founder and artistic director. “Our new adaptation of Tartuffe is bold and contemporary,” Lane explains. “While keeping absolutely true to Moliere’s comic spirit, we’ve updated the play to a very modern day high fashion Paris.” Trimmed to an estimated 90-minute run time, the production seeks to introduce the classic to today’s audience. Lane continues, “The original is written in French rhymed verse, and English language adaptations have struggled with how best to render Moliere’s verse in another language. Ours goes back to the author’s roots in less formal and artificial theatrical styles. We want to cut through the heightened language to bring the characters up to date and to find the reality behind the artifice of its neo-classical style.”

Lane worked for months to assemble the high-caliber acting company. “This is an extraordinary cast filled with some Triad Stage favorite as well as some exciting new faces,” says Lane. And after a week of rehearsals, his efforts appear ready to pay off. “I am thrilled with their ability to root the comedy in reality and I am delighted by their talent, inventiveness and anarchic spirit.” The 13-member ensemble includes: the husband and wife acting team of Gordon Joseph Weiss as Tartuffe and Rosie McGuire as Dorine (Weiss and McGuire were last seen together at Triad Stage in the critically-acclaimed 2007 production of Tobacco Road), John Robert Tillotson as Orgon, Krista Hoeppner as Elmire, Christine Morris as Madame Pernelle and Jason Scott Quinn as Mr. Loyal. They are joined by University of North Carolina-Greensboro Theatre students TJ Austin as Damis, Katy Sink as Mariane, Stephen Spencer as Valere, Joshua Yoder as Cleante, Meghan Hoffman as the Queen, and Caitlin Davis and Emma Reaves as police officers.

The creative team includes: scenic designer Fred Kinney, costume designer Kelsey Hunt, lighting designer John Wolf and sound designer David E. Smith. The dramaturg is Drew Barker, the casting director is Cindi Rush and the stage manager is Eric Tysinger.  

Biographies for the cast and creative team, and more information on the production can be found online at www.triadstage.org.

Please note: Tartuffe, or the Hypocrite replaces the previously announced production of One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest.

Performance and special event information
Tickets for preview performances of Tartuffe, or the Hypocrite, on June 7, 9 and 10, are all $16 each. From Opening Night, June 11, single ticket prices range from $10 to $42. Prices vary depending on the day of the week and seat location desired.

All performances are at Triad Stage at The Pyrle Theater, located at 232 South Elm Street in downtown Greensboro, North Carolina (between Market and Washington Streets).

Show times for Tartuffe, or the Hypocrite are 7:30 pm on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday evenings and 8:00 pm on Friday and Saturday evenings. Sunday matinees are at 2:00 pm. There are no matinee performances during previews. Pay-What-You-Can performances are Sunday, June 14, and Tuesday, June 16, at 7:30 pm. Wine Tasting Friday is June 12, prior to the evening’s 8:00 pm performance. A Sign-Interpreted performance is on Tuesday, June 23, at 7:30 pm, with services provided by the Greensboro Communication Services for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing.

Technically Talking,a behind-the-scenes discussion with members of the design team is Tuesday, June 9, immediately following the 7:30 pm preview performance. The InSight Series, the free humanities program that brings a noted speaker to the Triad to discuss the world of the play and its subject matter, will be held on Sunday, June 14, immediately following the 2:00 pm matinee performance. PostScript, a lively, open discussion with members of the cast, will be held on Thursday, June 18, immediately following the 7:30 pm performance.

THTR 232: “A Crash Course in Entertainment!”
Tartuffe, or the Hypocrite marks the fourth season of THTR 232, Triad Stage and University of North Carolina-Greensboro Theatre’s annual summer collaboration, which includes participation by UNC-G students and faculty both onstage and behind the scenes.

About Triad Stage
Triad Stage is a professional not-for-profit regional theater company based in Greensboro’s downtown historic district. All Triad Stage productions are created in Greensboro using the best of local and national talent. Triad Stage gratefully acknowledges the support of its Season Sponsors: Mitre Agency, the North Carolina Arts Council and the United Arts Council of Greater Greensboro. The starring sponsor for Tartuffe, or the Hypocrite is VF Corporation.

Triad Stage’s 2009-2010 Season – “A Season Together” begins in September with Picnic, a summer romance by William Inge (September 6 – 27, 2009), followed by Oleanna, a power play by David Mamet (October 18 – November 8, 2009), Around the World in 80 Days, a comic adventure by Mark Brown, based on the novel by Jules Verne (February 7 – 28, 2010), Ethel Waters: His Eye Is on the Sparrow, a life in music by Larry Parr (April 11 – May 2, 2010) and the world premiere of Providence Gap, an Appalachian saga by Preston Lane, with original music by Laurelyn Dossett (June 6 – July 4, 2010). Beautiful Star: An Appalachian Nativity, a seasonal celebration by Preston Lane, with original music by Laurelyn Dossett, returns for a fourth season as the holiday special (November 27 – December 23, 2009). New Season Passes for the 2009-2010 Season are on sale now. Single tickets to all productions go on sale Monday, August 3.

All Triad Stage productions feature the bold acting and breathtaking design that have been nationally recognized by The Wall Street Journal and haveearned the theater accolades including “One of the Best Regional Theatres in America”, New York’s Drama League; “Best Live Theater”, Go Triad/News & Record and The Rhinoceros Times; and “Professional Theater of the Year”, North Carolina Theatre Conference. 

To purchase tickets or for performance information on Tartuffe, or the Hypocrite, call the Triad Stage Box Office at 336.272.0160 or toll-free at 866.579.TIXX (8499), or visit www.triadstage.org.

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CALENDAR EDITORS, PLEASE NOTE:

Triad Stage presents
Tartuffe, or the Hypocrite
A Classic Comedy
by Molière
translated by Curtis Hidden Page
adapted by Preston Lane
June 7 – 28, 2009

Performed at The Pyrle Theater
232 South Elm Street
Greensboro, NC 27401

No matter how you say it, it’s funny! Orgon is a very happy man. He has a lovely family, a beautiful new wife, an incredible fortune and a spiritual advisor who promises him eternal bliss. Unfortunately, he is about to lose it all. He’s fallen into the trap of a pious imposter, the hilarious hypocrite Tartuffe. Preaching piety, two-faced Tartuffe is plotting to steal Orgon’s fortune, marry his daughter, seduce his wife and take over his home. Can anything stop him? Triad Stage presents one of the world’s funniest comedies and dares to shake up a theatrical classic to find its very contemporary heart.

For tickets:
Phone: (336) 272-0160
Toll-free: (866) 579-TIXX (8499)
Box Office hours: Monday – Friday, 10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Online: www.triadstage.org
Ticket prices: $10 – $42, depending on performance date and seat location

Group tickets:
Call (336) 274-0067 ext. 218
Email: groupsales@triadstage.org
Ticket discounts: Groups of 10 – 49, 15% off; Groups of 50+, 20% off

Educator's 20% discount tickets:
Current school teachers and professors receive a 20% discount off regular price tickets to all performances. Must present valid school employee ID or proof of employment to Box Office when picking up tickets. Subject to availability. Some restrictions apply.
Call: (336) 272-0160 or toll-free (866) 579-TIXX
            Monday – Friday, 10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Ticket prices: $8 – $33.60, depending on performance date and seat location

$8 Student Rush tickets:
Current students with valid school ID may purchase tickets for $8. Student Rush tickets are only available at the Triad Stage Box Office one hour before each performance. Subject to availability. Some restrictions apply.
Available at the Box Office for walk-up sales. (Performance days: Sunday, Tuesday – Thursday, 6:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.; Friday and Saturday, 7:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.; Sunday matinees 1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m.)

$10 Gallery Seats:
A limited number of $10 general admission gallery seats are available for each performance.
Call: (336) 272-0160 or toll-free (866) 579-TIXX
            Monday – Friday, 10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Also available at the Box Office for walk-up sales.

Note: Tartuffe, or the Hypocrite replaces the previously announced production of One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest.

Tartuffe, or the Hypocrite performance dates:
Sunday, June 7 7:30 p.m.  1st Preview  
Tuesday, June 9 7:30 p.m.  Preview/“Technically Talking” post-show discussion
Wednesday, June 10 7:30 p.m.  Preview  
Thursday, June 11 7:30 p.m.  Opening Night with free pre-show lobby party
Friday, June 12 8:00 p.m.  “Wine Tasting” pre-show event
Saturday, June 13 8:00 p.m. 
Sunday, June 14 2:00 p.m.  “InSight Series” post-show discussion
Sunday, June 14 7:30 p.m.  “Pay-What-You-Can” performance
Tuesday, June 16 7:30 p.m.  “Pay-What-You-Can” performance
Wednesday, June 17 7:30 p.m.
Thursday, June 18 7:30 p.m.  “PostScript” post-show discussion with the cast
Friday, June 19 8:00 p.m.
Saturday, June 20 8:00 p.m.
Sunday, June 21 2:00 p.m.
Sunday, June 21 7:30 p.m.
Tuesday, June 23 7:30 p.m.  Sign-interpreted performance
Wednesday, June 24 7:30 p.m.
Thursday, June 25 7:30 p.m. 
Friday, June 26 8:00 p.m.   SOLD OUT
Saturday, June 27 8:00 p.m.
Sunday, June 28 2:00 p.m. 
Sunday, June 28 7:30 p.m. Closing performance