Striking costumes, musical underscoring, digital projection, and a setting independent of time and space are what audiences can expect in the upcoming New Vintage Ensemble production of Thornton Wilder’s “Our Town” at the Scranton Cultural Center at the Masonic Temple.
(Scranton, PA) – With a mission of reinventing the familiar, the New Vintage Ensemble is set to delight audiences with a fresh interpretation of an American theatre classic.
New Vintage Ensemble will present “Our Town” by Thornton Wilder, in partnership with the Scranton Cultural Center at the Masonic Temple and by special arrangement with Samuel French later this month. Performances will run Friday, April 27th through Saturday, May 5th, 2018 at the Scranton Cultural Center’s Shopland Hall.
Celebrating its 80th anniversary since its original debut, the Pulitzer Prize-winning “Our Town” remains a classic piece of American drama that is often taught in high school English classrooms around the country.
“I think in many ways, this a piece that deserves greater appreciation and justice,” said Director Conor Kelly O’Brien. “When you mention ‘Our Town’ to anyone who had to study it as part of their high school drama or English curriculum, you’re likely to get an eye roll. The piece is challenging, but beautiful and under appreciated.”
O’Brien’s choice of “Our Town” as his next project with the New Vintage Ensemble was a personal one as it was one of his first theatre performances as an actor. When given the opportunity to direct “Our Town”, O’Brien leapt at the opportunity.
As for what audiences can expect, O’Brien hopes that New Vintage Ensemble’s treatment of the work will redeem it in the eyes of anyone who felt challenged by it as part of their schoolwork. He notes that New Vintage Ensemble creates a Grover’s Corners unlike one audiences may have seen before.
“We’ve done a lot with pacing and styling to really make some of those scenes move faster. They’re much more dynamic and interesting,” said O’Brien. “We also use musical underscoring and digital projection that draws directly from the text to create this setting that’s independent of time and place. The costumes by Simone Daniel are also very striking.”
O’Brien adds that audiences can also expect stellar performances from the cast. “They demonstrate so much hard work and dedication,” said O’Brien. “They deliver beautiful performances.”
To keep up to date with upcoming performance announcements and future New Vintage Ensemble shows at the Scranton Cultural Center, follow them on Facebook, Twitter, or online at newvintageensemble.com.
CAST & CREW LIST:
- STAGE MANAGER – Maggie O’Brien
- EMILY WEBB – Kimmie Leff
- GEORGE GIBBS – Tim McDermott
- DR. GIBBS – Sarah Regan
- JOE & SI CROWELL / REBECCA GIBBS – Izzy DeFlice
- MRS. GIBBS – Chantel Mitchell
- MRS. WEBB – Alicia Nordstrom
- MR. WEBB / HOWIE NEWSOME – Dave Spitzer
- SIMON STIMSON – Casey Thomas
- MRS. SOAMES – April Holgate
- CONSTABLE WARREN / JOE STODDARD – Art Walsh
- WALLY WEBB / SAM CRAIG – Will Krisanda
- PROFESSOR WILLARD / AMONG THE DEAD – Celine Carter
Directed by Conor Kelly O’Brien
Stage Manager: Kathleen Barrett
Assistant Stage Manager: Mary-Pat DeFlice
Supervising Producer: Mollie Dooley
Costume Designer: Simone Daniel
Marketing: Mandy Pennington
Production Photographer: Brent Pennington
Production Graphic Designer: Jess Meoni
SUMMARY:
- OUR TOWN
- Written by Thornton Wilder’
- Presented by the New Vintage Ensemble in partnership with The Scranton Cultural Center at the Masonic Temple
- Directed by Conor Kelly O’Brien
- WHERE: Shopland Hall in the Scranton Cultural Center at the Masonic Temple, 420 N. Washington Ave., Scranton, PA
- WHEN: Friday April 27th at 8 p.m., Saturday April 28th at 8 p.m., Friday May 4th at 8 p.m., and Saturday May 5th at 3 p.m. and 8 p.m.
- Tickets start at $15 and will be available via Ticketmaster and at the Scranton Cultural Center’s Fidelity Bank Box Office
ABOUT THE NEW VINTAGE ENSEMBLE
Founded in 2013, the New Vintage Ensemble is a collective of actors from Northeastern Pennsylvania dedicated to producing innovative and interactive theater while helping the art community of the Scranton region thrive. Their distinctive style and passion for engaging audiences has resulted in award-winning and internationally-recognized productions as well as regional premieres of original works. For more information, visit newvintageensemble.com.
ABOUT THE SCRANTON CULTURAL CENTER
The Scranton Cultural Center at the Masonic Temple (SCCMT) is a hub for cultural events, regional performances, and community engagement for all of Northeastern Pennsylvania. It plays host to national tours of Broadway musicals and concerts, as well as national and regional artists. Learn more at scrantonculturalcenter.org