A Noise Within Presents THE REHEARSAL April 18, 2009

A NOISE WITHIN PRESENTS THE REHEARSAL,
JEAN ANOUILH’S WITTY, ICY DRAMA,
ONE OF THE CELEBRATED FRENCH PLAYWRIGHT’S
MOST CRITICALLY ACCLAIMED PLAYS

Saturday, April 18 – Sunday, May 24, 2009
(previews begin April 11)

A Noise Within (ANW), the acclaimed repertory theatre company, concludes its 18th Season with Jean Anouilh’s The Rehearsal, which opens Saturday, April 18 and closes Sunday, May 24, 2009 (previews begin Saturday, April 11). One of the celebrated French playwright’s most critically acclaimed plays, it is directed by ANW Co-Founder/Co-Artistic Director Julia Rodriguez-Elliott, and the cast includes Steve Coombs (Villebosse), Susan Angelo (Countess), Robertson Dean (The Count), Jill Hill (Hortensia), Mitchell Edmonds (Damiens), ANW Co-Founder/Co-Artistic Director Geoff Elliott (Hero), Lenne Klingaman (Lucille) and Chris Roessner (Footman).

Anouilh creates a world filled equally with brave affirmation and bitter protest, crackling with sharp wit and icy romanticism. Idealism and reality collide as the leading character, Count Tiger, disillusioned by a life spent pursuing pleasure, seems to find salvation in the purity of a young visitor to his court. Members of his jaded, sated court, threatened by disruption of the fragile status quo, are bent on ferreting out and annihilating his innocent savior.

The Rehearsal, set in 1950’s France, revolves around a ball where the players are performing Marivaux’s comedy The Double Inconstancy. The characters spend most of the time in 18th century costumes, creating a dynamic theatrical intersection as they switch back and fourth between the worlds of Marivaux and Anouilh. “The play is humorous but also emotionally dire and exists in a world of excess,” says Rodriguez-Elliott. “The characters possess great wit but there is tremendous misery and malignancy underneath the humor. They've established a way of living where husbands and wives accept outside relationships, lovers, mistresses as part of the culture, but when one character discovers true love for the first time and decides to stray from the pack, the group is threatened and terrified of change. The rules must be obeyed or the group will destroy anyone who changes the game.”

A Noise Within (ANW) is the only classical repertory company in Southern California and one of only a handful in the entire country dedicated solely to producing classical dramatic literature year-round and working in the repertory tradition of rotating productions using a resident company of professional artists. ANW is led by Founders/Artistic Directors Julia Rodriguez-Elliott and Geoff Elliott.

Over the last 17 years, ANW has attracted fiercely loyal audiences and high praise from the media for its productions of great works of world drama and also as a leading regional force in arts education. The company’s consistent dedication to quality has been rewarded with 26 Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle Awards, Los Angeles’ highest recognition for theatrical achievement, and other similarly substantial honors. Since its founding in 1991, A Noise Within has presented more than 120 plays from the classics of world literature, each season producing a minimum of six plays from authors ranging from Shakespeare and Molière, to Ibsen, O’Neill and Shaw, to Miller and Williams. The Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle named A Noise Within's production of O'Neill's A Touch of the Poet Best Revival of 2006, and the LA Stage Alliance nominated Jarry’s Ubu Roi for six Ovation Awards. In 2004, the theatre collaborated with the Los Angeles Philharmonic and conductor Esa-Pekka Salonen in a tandem performance of Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream at the Hollywood Bowl.

A Noise Within’s 2008-09 season is dedicated to the De Pietro family for their unflagging generosity and support for the past 17 years.

Single Tickets are $44 (Friday and Saturday evenings, Sunday matinees); $40 (Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday evenings, Saturday matinees); and $28 (previews). Groups (10 or more) are $25, or $30 on Saturday evenings and Sunday matinees; School Groups (10 or more) are $15, or $20 on Saturday evenings and Sunday matinees.

A NOISE WITHIN is located at 234 South Brand Boulevard, Glendale, CA 91204. To purchase tickets or for a full season brochure, call 818-240-0910 x1 or visit www.ANoiseWithin.org.

CALENDAR LISTING

WHO:
A Noise Within – one of the nation’s leading repertory theatres

WHERE:
A Noise Within
234 South Brand Blvd.
Glendale, CA 91204

TICKET PRICES:
$44 (Friday and Saturday evenings, Sunday matinees);
$40 (Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday evenings, Saturday matinees);
$28 (previews).
Group rates and special rates for school groups available

TICKETS & INFO:
818-240-0910 x1
www.ANoiseWithin.org

WHAT:
JEAN ANOUILH’S THE REHEARSAL

Cast and Crew:
Robetson Dean (The Count)
Susan Angelo (The Countess)
Steve Coombs (Villebosse)
Jill Hill (Hortensia)
Mitchell Edmonds (Damiens)
Geoff Elliott (Hero)
Lenne Klingaman (Lucile)
Chris Roessner (Footman)

Julia Rodruguez-Elliott, Director
Maggie Goddard, Stage Manager
Michael Smith, Set Designer
Soojin Lee, Costume Designer
Robin Vane, Costume Assistant
Ken Booth, Lighting Designer
Renee Cash, Props Master
Scott Barber, Sound Designer
Monica Sabedra, Wigs/Hair and Makeup
Rebecca Baillie, Production Manager
Adam Lillibridge, Technical Director
Jennifer Inglis, Scenic Artist
Ronnie Clark, Master Electrician

WHEN:

Previews:
Saturday, April 11, 8 pm
Sunday, April 12, 7 pm
Wednesday, April 15, 8 pm
Thursday, April 16, 8 pm
Friday, April 17, 8 pm

Opens:
Saturday, April 18, 8 pm

Runs:
Sunday, April 19, 2 pm
Sunday, April 19, 7 pm
Saturday, May 2, 2 pm
Saturday, May 2, 8 pm
Sunday, May 10, 2 pm
Sunday, May 10, 7 pm
Wednesday, May 13, 8 pm
Thursday, May 14, 8 pm
Friday, May 15, 8 pm
Thursday, May 21, 8 pm
Friday, May 22, 8 pm
Saturday, May 23, 2 pm
Saturday, May 23, 8 pm
Sunday, May 24, 2 pm

Official Website: http://www.ANoiseWithin.org