Contacts:         Larry Aldrich/Sandy Smith                 Michael Seel/Cheryl Rizzo

                        Aldrich & Associates                          Boston Court

                        larry@aldrichpr.com                           michaels@bostoncourt.com

                        Tel: (562) 436-5156                            Tel: (626) 683-6883

 

THE THEATRE @ BOSTON COURT OPENS NEW SEASON WITH "A PICTURE OF DORIAN GRAY"

 

PASADENA, Calif., January 27, 2006 -- The Theatre @ Boston Court presents the world premiere of Michael Michetti's boldly theatrical adaptation of "A Picture of Dorian Gray" February 25 on the Main Stage at Boston Court, 70 North Mentor. Michetti, co-artistic director of The Theatre @ Boston Court, also directs the adaptation, which marries a highly contemporary sensibility with the original Victorian setting of Oscar Wilde's scandalous novella.

 

Michetti rips the fig leaf off the novella's remarkably contemporary themes of hedonism and the insatiable pursuit of pleasure, while strictly adhering to Wilde's text. "I chose to avoid the familiar melodramatic Gothic horror approach to the story, instead concentrating on the psychological resonance behind the allegory of the decaying painting," said Michetti.

 

The production features J. Todd Adams, Andrew Borba and Steve Coombs in leading roles, with supporting cast including Annie Abrams, Jeremy Glazer, Josh Gordon, Jamie Hebert, McKerrin Kelly, Kerry Michaels, Dale Sandlin, Amy Tolsky, and Jacob Witkin.

 

Creative staff includes John Pennington, choreography, Steven Young, lighting design, Amanda Seymour, costume design, Robert Oriol, sound design, Michetti, scenic design, Andrew Thiels, property design, Joe Foster, associate producer, Dan Friedman, assistant director, Jon Garcia, production manager, Susan Lang, production stage manager, and Michael Donovan, CSA, casting.

 

Adams (Basil) returns to The Theatre @ Boston Court, where he first played Mercutio in the inaugural production of "Romeo and Juliet, Antebellum New Orleans, 1836." His credits include numerous productions at the Mark Taper Forum and Ahmanson Theatre in Los Angeles, American Conservatory Theatre in San Francisco, the Pasadena Shakespeare Company, and the LA Opera.

 

Borba (Harry), who played Jason in last season's production of "Medea" at Boston Court, has recently played roles at Pasadena Playhouse, Southcoast Rep, The Globe Theaters, Berkeley Rep, and The Oregon Shakespeare Festival.

 

Coombs (Dorian Gray), making his Los Angeles stage debut, recently moved from New York where his theatre credits include the American premiere of "The Gift" and Val in "Orpheus Descending." He has also appeared in numerous independent films and on television.

 

Michetti has directed The Theatre @ Boston Court's productions of "Pera Palas" (Ovation Nominations for Best Play, Best Director of a Play), "Summertime," and its inaugural production of "Romeo and Juliet: Antebellum New Orleans, 1836."  His diverse credits include: the celebrated production of Stephen Sondheim and Arthur Laurents' "Anyone Can Whistle" at the Matrix Theatre; Bertolt Brecht's "Edward II" for Circle X at the Actors' Gang; David Mamet's "A Life in the Theatre" starring Hal Holbrook at the Pasadena Playhouse; and the world premiere of "Ouroboros" by The Theatre @ Boston Court's literary manager Tom Jacobson.

 

Celebrity photographer Greg Gorman has donated four photographic images for marketing and for use in the set. Gorman has photographed film and music celebrities and shoots for some of the world's leading companies and magazines, including Vogue, GQ, Esquire, and Rolling Stone.

The Theatre @ Boston Court is the non-profit theatrical production company that programs for the Main Stage in the Boston Court performing arts complex in Pasadena. "A Picture of Dorian Gray" is the first play in the award-winning company's third season. Z. Clark Branson is the developer of the complex and founding director of The Theatre @ Boston Court. Eileen T'Kaye is executive director, Michael Seel is producing director, Cheryl Rizzo is managing director, and Michetti and Jessica Kubzansky are the co-artistic directors.

 

"A Picture of Dorian Gray" previews for six performances beginning February 16, opens February 25 and runs Thursdays to Sundays through April 2. Preview tickets are priced at $15 and regular performances cost $30. Four-play subscriptions are available for $99/$79/$49. Senior and student discounts are also available. Tickets can be purchased online at www.bostoncourt.org or by calling (626) 683-6883.

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For reservations to Press Night, Saturday, Feb. 25, 8 pm contact: sandy@aldrichpr.com

 

 

 

CALENDAR

The Theatre @ Boston Court presents the world premiere of Michael Michetti's boldly theatrical adaptation of "A Picture of Dorian Gray" February 25. Michetti, who directs, rips the fig leaf off the novella's remarkably contemporary themes of hedonism and the insatiable pursuit of pleasure, while strictly adhering to Oscar Wilde's text. Previews February 16-19, 23-24 opens February 25, and runs Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m., and Sundays at 3 p.m. through April 2 at Boston Court, 70 North Mentor, Pasadena. Tickets: $15 previews, $30 regular, available online at www.bostoncourt.org or the box office at 626-683-6883.