Monday, February 02, 2009

Off-Broadway 'Our Town' Announces Cast; My Bud, George Demas, Rocks

I'm so happy for George Demas, who has been a friend of mine for just about forever. He's been cast in the Off-Broadway transfer of David Cromer's acclaimed revival of Thornton Wilder's Our Town. Here's the press release:

COMPLETE CAST ANNOUNCED FOR
OUR TOWN

ACCLAIMED DAVID CROMER STAGING
TO PREMIERE OFF BROADWAY
AT BARROW STREET THEATRE

PERFORMANCES BEGIN FEBRUARY 17,
OPENING NIGHT SET FOR FEBRUARY 26

Producers Scott Morfee, Jean Doumanian and Tom Wirtshafter have announced complete casting for the acclaimed David Cromer production of’ Thornton Wilder’s Our Town. Performances will begin on February 17th with an official opening night set for Thursday, February 26th, 7:30 p.m., at the Barrow Street Theatre (27 Barrow Street), whose space will be completely redesigned for this production.

The cast of Our Town includes (in alphabetical order) Jeremy Beiler as Sam Craig, Rob Beitzel as Howie Newsome, Kati Brazda as Mrs. Webb, George Demas as Constable Warren, Donna Jay Fulks as Mrs. Soames, Jennifer Grace as Emily, Wilbur Edwin Henry as Professor Willard, Adam Hinkle as Joe Crowell, James McMenamin as George, Jeff Still as Doc Gibbs, Ken Marks as Editor Webb, Jonathan Mastro as Simon Stimson, Seamus Mulcahy as Wally Webb, Lori Myers as Mrs. Gibbs, Jay Russell as Joe Stoddard, Jason Yachanin as Si Crowell and David Cromer as the Stage Manager.

This production marks the official debut collaboration between Jean Doumanian Productions and Barrow Street Theatre who recently announced a creative partnership to bring innovative works and artists to Off Broadway, and will take place during the 70th anniversary year of Our Town’s Broadway premiere (Pulitzer Prize, 1938). The two companies are currently collaborating on Barrow Street Fortnight2, a three-week celebration of new improv, sketch comedy, music and solo shows, currently running at the downtown venue.

The creative team for Our Town will feature Michele Spadaro (set design and props), Alison Siple (costume design) and Heather Gilbert (lighting design). The Production Stage Manager is Richard A. Hodge.

Cromer, who directed last season’s hit musical, Adding Machine, and who next season will make his Broadway directing debut with Neil Simon’s Brighton Beach Memoirs and Broadway Bound, will himself perform the central role of ‘Stage Manager’ in this staging of Wilder’s timeless play.

David Cromer’s production of the Joshua Schmidt/Jason Loewith musical Adding Machine (Minetta Lane Theatre), also produced by Barrow Street Theatre’s Scott Morfee and Tom Wirtshafter, earned him unanimous critical acclaim and OBIE and Lucille Lortel awards as Best Director. Adding Machine received four OBIE Awards and Outer Critics Circle and Lucille Lortel awards as Best Musical. One of Chicago’s most respected and prolific theater artists, Mr. Cromer most recently staged praised productions of William Inge’s Picnic at Writers’ Theatre, and the premiere of Celebrity Row by Itamar Moses at American Theater Company, in addition to Our Town, which he directed for Hypocrites Theater Company.

And here's a YouTube clip of George:

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