Western Play to Make Its Debut at New Jersey Repertory Company

Oct. 5, 2009 - PRLog -- LONG BRANCH - The New Jersey Repertory Company, located at 179 Broadway in Long Branch, is proud to present the world premiere of the Western drama, Dead Ringer by Gino DiIorio, October 15th through November 15th.

The action of the play takes place in 1885 in Sunset Valley, Texas where Tyrus Cole, a crusty, ill-tempered horse trainer lives on a ranch with his invalid sister, Mary. Because he is unable to watch her during the day, Mary is confined to a root cellar.  Enter Dwight Foley, a young stranger seeking help with his horse. His arrival soon upsets the delicate balance between brother and sister, and the three find themselves trapped in a complex web of intrigue, greed and secrets.

Dead Ringer was originally titled The Hard Way and was part of NJ Rep's popular annual Theatre Brut Festival of Short Plays in 2004. Due to the tremendous success of the festival version, Mr. DiIorio was persuaded to further develop the piece into a full length play that became the winner of the 2005 BBC International Playwriting Contest and was broadcast over BBC Radio.

Playwright, Gino DiIorio is no stranger to NJ Rep. Two of his previous plays, Winterizing the Summer House and Apostasy, both had their world premieres at NJ Rep.  With Dead Ringer, Mr. DiIorio explores the Western genre, an area he had not grappled with previously, and one that is purely American and is neglected in contemporary theater. He also created a challenge for himself, the director, and the actors in establishing the character of Mary Cole, who is heard but not seen, spending her time inside a root cellar. "Part of my work on this play is experimental," he explains, "as I wanted to see if I could sustain the action and drive of the play while one character remains unseen." In doing this, "The root cellar itself becomes a character in Dead Ringer."

Dead Ringer is directed by NJ Rep's Artistic Director, SuzAnne Barabas and stars NJ Rep regulars Michael Irvin Pollard and Natalie Wilder, along with Christian Pedersen, who will be making his NJ Rep Mainstage debut.

For tickets and additional information about Dead Ringer or any of NJ Rep's plays visit www.njrep.org, call 732-229-3166 or email njrep@njrep.org

Specially-priced preview performances are Thursday and Friday, October 15 and 16 at 2:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. Opening night with reception is Saturday, October 17 at 8:00 p.m. There will be a special Western Round-Up and Chow Night sponsored by the NJ Rep Theatre Guild on Thursday, November 5 beginning at 7:00 p.m.

Talk-backs with the playwright and cast will follow the October 15th matinee and the Western Round-Up.

Regular performances run Thursdays and Fridays at 8:00 p.m.; Saturdays at 3:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m.; Sundays at 2:00 p.m. and selected Sundays at 7:00 p.m.  

Tickets: Adults $40; Previews $35; Opening Night with reception $60; Seniors (65+) and full-time students $35 (except for Opening Night and Western Round-Up). Group Rates are available for 10 or more.

Reservations: Online at www.njrep.org or call 732-229-3166.
Email: njrep@njrep.org
URL: www.njrep.org

NJ Rep is handicapped accessible and offers free on-site parking and easy access from NJ Transit and Academy Bus Lines. Visa, MasterCard, American Express, and Discover are accepted.

# # #

A professional non-profit 62-seat theater in Long Branch, NJ committed to developing and producing new plays, returning to the basics where text is paramount, so as to make a contribution to the repertoire of the American stage.