(RED BANK, NJ) Two River Theater Company, under the leadership of Artistic Director Jonathan Fox and Producer Robert M. Rechnitz, is proud to present a new stage version of the musical romance The Umbrellas of Cherbourg, beginning September 22 and running through October 16 at its new home on 21 Bridge Avenue in Red Bank, NJ. Directed by Jonathan Fox, with choreography by Ginger Thatcher and music direction by Nathan Hurwitz, the ensemble cast stars Heather Spore, Max von Essen and TRTC company member Maureen Silliman. Performances are Wednesday through Saturday at 8pm, with matinees Saturday and Sunday at 3pm. The official press opening is Saturday, September 24 at 8pm. Approximate running time is 2 hours. Tickets are $32-$48 by calling 732-345-1400 or online at www.trtc.org.
Two River Theater Company’s production of The Umbrellas of Cherbourg will be the first authorized, fully-staged version of the show in the U.S. since it premiered off-Broadway in 1979 at the Public Theater. The production starred Dean Pitchford (Guy), Stefanianne Christopherson (Genevieve), Judith Roberts, (Madame Emery), Lawrence Guittard (Cassard), and Maureen Silliman (Madeleine). Silliman plays Madame Emery, Genevieve's mother in the Two River production.
The production will open the inaugural season in TRTC’s new state-of-the-art performance facility, designed by the prestigious firm of Hardy Holzman and Pfeiffer. "We’re very honored to present the first stage version of this beautiful musical in 25 years," said Fox. "I can’t think of a more exciting way to open the premiere season in our new facility."
The Umbrellas of Cherbourg is a passionate sung-through tale of two star-crossed lovers — Genevieve (Heather Spore), a shop girl and Guy (Max von Essen), an auto mechanic — whose love is put to the test when Guy is drafted into military service. Adapted by Sheldon Harnick (Fiddler on the Roof and She Loves Me) from the 1964 Jacques Demy award-winning film that starred Catherine Deneuve, The Umbrellas of Cherbourg is an exuberant and poignant, yet darkly ironic, story of love and life’s profound choices. The enchanting and haunting jazz score by legendary Academy Award-winning composer Michel Legrand, features new lyrics to the hit song "(If It Takes Forever) I Will Wait for You."
Also in the cast are: Ken Krugman (Cassard), Patti Perkins (Aunt Elise), Robyn Payne (Madeleine), Jonathan C. Kaplan (the original Jason in B'way's Falsettos), Joshua Furr, Steven Stein Grainger, Brett Rigby, Kate Sortino and Sara DeLaney.
The design team for The Umbrellas of Cherbourg includes Neil Prince (Sets), Moira Shaughnessy (Costumes), Aaron Black (Lighting) and Zach Williamson (Sound). Marci Glotzer is Production Stage Manager.
Making his TRTC debut as Guy is Max Von Essen, who recently appeared Off-Broadway in the hit revival of Finian's Rainbow and in the Paper Mill Playhouse productions of The Baker's Wife and My Fair Lady. On Broadway Max has been seen in Dance of the Vampires, Jesus Christ Superstar and Les Misérables; his Off-Broadway credits include The Fantasticks and John & Paul.
Newcomer Heather Spore makes her TRTC debut as Genevieve. Her NYC credits include Louisa in the final NYC company of The Fantasticks, Laurey in Oklahoma!, Maria in Twelfth Night, Clarisse in Fahrenheit 451, and Pippin. Her numerous regional credits include leading roles in State Fair, Grease, Carnival, The Music Man and Sweeney Todd. Television credits include All My Children, The Rosie O’Donnell Show and Walker Texas Ranger.
TRTC company member, Maureen Silliman, returns to the stage to play Genevieve’s mother, Mme. Emery. Maureen was in the original Off-Broadway stage version 25 years ago, in which she played Madeleine. Her previous TRTC appearances include Maureen in The Beauty Queen of Leenane, Annie in The Real Thing and Sonia in Uncle Vanya. Maureen has appeared on Broadway, off-Broadway, in regional theaters all across the country, and while on the West Coast, won the Los Angeles Drama Critics Award and the DramaLogue Award for her performance in Blue Window.
Jonathan Fox has directed Two River Theater Company’s productions of: The Beauty Queen of Leenane, The Tragedy of Carmen, Salome, Old Wicked Songs, A Delicate Balance, La Bête, Light Up The Sky, Blood Wedding, Hedda Gabler, The Illusion, Betrayal, and Machinal. He has directed in San Francisco, New York, Philadelphia, and Germany, including the German premiere of Maria Irene Fornes’s play, Mud, at the Horizont Theater in Cologne. Jonathan is a recipient of the prestigious Alexander von Humboldt Foundation Fellowship for research in Germany.
Michel Legrand (Composer) has received three Academy Awards and five Grammy Awards. He has composed many memorable motion picture scores including The Umbrellas of Cherbourg, The Young Girls of Rochefort, The Go-Between, Ice Station Zebra, Forty Carats, The Three Musketeers, Summer of ’42, The Thomas Crown Affair, Lady Sings the Blues, Atlantic City and Yentl. His songs include "I Will Wait for You," "The Summer Knows," "What Are You Doing the Rest of Your Life?," "The Windmills of Your Mind," "How Do You Keep the Music Playing?," "The Hands of Time" (from "Brian’s Song") and "Papa, Can Your Hear Me?" (the last six written with Alan and Marilyn Bergman). A conductor and virtuoso jazz pianist, he has appeared with symphony orchestras worldwide. For the Broadway stage Legrand composed Amour, which starred Malcolm Gets and Melissa Errico.
Sheldon Harnick’s musical theater career as a lyricist began in the 1950s with songs (e.g. "The Boston Beguine," "Merry Little Minuet") in revues on and Off-B'way. In 1957 he teamed with Jerry Bock to create the scores for a number of memorable musicals, including Fiorello (Tony Award, Pulitzer Prize), She Loves Me (Grammy), Fiddler on the Roof (Tony), The Rothschilds and The Apple Tree. Other musicals: Rex (Richard Rodgers), A Wonderful Life (Joe Raposo), A Christmas Carol (Michel Legrand), The Phantom Tollbooth (Arnold Black and co-librettist Norton Juster) and Dragons (for which he wrote book, lyrics and music). He has contributed songs to the films The Heartbreak Kid, Blame It on Rio (Cy Coleman) and Aaron's Magic Village (Legrand). In the world of opera, he has provided librettos for Jack Beeson's Cyrano, Dr. Heidegger's Fountain of Youth and Captain Jinks of the Horse Marines, Henry Mollicone's Coyote Tales and Thomas Z. Shepard's Love in Two Countries. Mr. Harnick has won two Tony Awards, two Grammy Awards, three gold records and a platinum record. He is a longtime member of the Dramatists Guild and Songwriters Guild.
Two River Theater Company was founded in 1994 as Monmouth County's first professional regional theater in 30 years. TRTC's mission is to perform from the world body of dramatic literature, including new works, those plays which most richly direct our gaze to the life of the human spirit in all of its shifting modes, its thought, its suffering, its passion, its joy and laughter. As one of New Jersey's leading regional theaters, Two River Theater Company, a not-for-profit arts organization, is supported in part by grants from the New Jersey State Council on the Arts/Dept. of State, a partner agency of the National Endowment for the Arts, and The Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation, in addition to contributions from many corporations, foundations, businesses and individuals.
Two River Theater Company is a member of Theatre Communications Group and the New Jersey Theatre Alliance.
Two River Theater Company, located at its new home at 21 Bridge Avenue in Red Bank, NJ, 07701, is easily accessible by car from both New York (60 min. from midtown), Philadelphia (75 minutes) and New Jersey via the Garden State Parkway (Exit 109). From NY’s Penn Station: NJ Transit’s North Jersey Coast line offers nonstop service (approx. 90 minutes) from Manhattan to Red Bank on selected days and times, convenient for weekday matinees, evening performances and Saturday/Sunday performances.
For further information call NJ Transit at 800-772-2222 or visit www.njtransit.com.Two River Theater Company is barrier-free and completely accessible to people with disabilities. Children under the age of 4 are not permitted into mainstage shows.Tickets/Information: Tickets $32-$48. Visa, MasterCard, Discover and American Express accepted. $12 student tickets available for any performance with current ID.
BOX OFFICE PHONE: 732-345-1400.
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