Nicholas Nickleby Begins!

Previews for Part I began last night and continue through tomorrow. Part II previews next week and then Opening on the 21st!

You can join us and spend a day at the theatre on November 21st. We're even serving dinner, if you make your reservations by Friday, November 13. See both parts of the show, eat dinner in between and join us for our Gala reception afterwards!

For now, check out these great production photos by Jon Gardiner. These are from dress rehearsal for Part I. We'll have pics from Part II next week. And check back tomorrow for another post from blog favorite, Rachel Pollock!

The Company

Justin Adams as Nicholas Nickleby

Justin Adams as Nicholas Nickleby; Julie Fishell as Mrs. Nickleby; 

Marianne Miller as Kate Nickleby

Weston Blakesley as Newman Noggs; Ray Dooley as Ralph Nickleby; 

Jeffrey Meanza as Mantalini

Joy Jones as Mrs. Mantalini; Jeffrey Meanza as Mantalini

Derrick Ledbetter, Kahlil Gonzalez-Garcia, John Brummer & Flor De Liz Perez as Milliners; Lenore Field as Miss Knagg (center)

Dede Corvinus as Mrs. Squeers; Matthew Murphy as Snawley; 

Jeffrey Meanza as Young Wackford

Scott Ripley as Squeers

Jason Powers as Smike; Justin Adams as Nicholas Nickleby

Marianne Miller as Kate Nickleby; Lenore Field as Miss Knagg

Allison Altman as Fanny Squeers; Alice Whitley as Tilda; Justin Adams as Nicholas Nickleby

L to R: Matthew Miller, Flor De Liz Perez; Sarah Berk; James E. Brinkley, Derrick Ledbetter, David McClutchey,  Kahlil Gonzalez-Garcia & Prince T. Bowie (in back) as the Dotheboys

Jeffrey Blair Cornell as Crummles; Alice Whitley as Percy Crummles; Jason Powers as  Smike; Matthew Murphy as Master Crummles & Justin Adams as Nicholas Nickleby

Justin Adams as Nicholas Nickleby

Allison Altman as Fanny Squeers; Scott Ripley as Squeers; Jeffrey Meanza as Young Wackford

The cast of Nicholas Nickleby as the Crummles Company

It's Tech - Part 2

Tonight I got see the dress rehearsal for Part I! Of course I'm supposed to be biased, but honestly - it was still the most fun I have had at the theatre in a long time. Previews for Part I start tonight. Production photos will be right here tomorrow, so be sure to come back and check them out. Today, however, we've got even more Tech! Because Tech is such a long journey, there are lots of photos, so here we go!

Dede Corvinus takes a turn as Mrs. Crummles.

While Tom and stage manager Chuck Bayang discuss logistics with Weston Blakesly, Matt Murphy and Alice Whitley practice a few steps.

How will Allison Altman descend from this high platform? David Adamson and Jimmy Kieffer to the rescue!

Joy Jones, Marianne Miller and Alice Whitley wait to resume rehearsal after a cue break. 

Justin Adams as Nicholas Nickleby

The grand entrance of the Infant Phenomenon

Wardrobe Supervisor Amy Fortenberry discusses quick changes with several actors backstage, during a break. Where they have to go to change; what they're changing into. If you've seen the chart, you know this is a complicated process.

The Crummles Company

This is the "tech" table. Stage Manager Sarah Smiley, along with designers run the show from here during rehearsals. 

Tom has a note for Joy Jones as Miss Snevellicci

First Rehearsal - The Joys of a Read-Through

We rarely take photos of first rehearsal, but when it comes to the biggest show in our history, exceptions have to be made. The first rehearsal is typically  a read-through, as you'll see here. 

This is our rehearsal hall, which is large enough to tape out the actual specs of the stage. With a set as amazing as McKay Coble's, the taping process includes a complicated color-coded system of tape, indicating everything from stairs to moving platforms. 

Co-directors Tom Quaintance and Joseph Haj confer during rehearsal 

(also company member Kenneth P. Strong and playwright David Edgar)

Playwright David Edgar joined the company for the first week of rehearsals

(also pictured stage manager Sarah Smiley)

Long-time company members Ray Dooley, Dede Corvinus and David Adamson

Associate DDA Chair and company member Jeffrey Blair Cornell, acting graduate student Joy Jones, and undergraduates Sarah Berk and Jeb Brinkley, and Allison Altman (recent graduate from UNC and the Department of Dramatic Art.)

Guest actor Justin Adams (Nicholas) prepares for the read-through

While the company was doing table work, everyone gathered in our rehearsal hall, however that phase was completed on Saturday and now they've divided into two spaces in order to double the rehearsal time. More pictures will be coming soon! 

AND NOW... -A Nicholas for Nicholas Nickleby!

We had to interrupt our regularly scheduled blog this week for an exciting announcement. The role of Nicholas Nickleby has been cast! We are thrilled to announce that JUSTIN ADAMS, last seen at PRC as Mercutio, will return to perform in the title role. 

Of his performance in PRC's Romeo and Juliet, The Independent Weekly's Kate Dobbs Ariail had this to say:

"Mercutio may be the best role in the play, and Justin Adams displays greater intelligence and humor than you often see and an unexpected delicacy. He swaggers cheerfully in his snug red pants; his barbs and challenges could be jokes."

For the complete Indy article about Romeo & Juliet, click here:

A Fresh Take on Romeo and Juliet

While we are still pending the most updated bio from Justin (the agreement was literally settled on Monday), here is the latest one I found online. This is taken from the Alliance's production of Eurydice last year. Additionally, here's a photo of Justin from that show along with the show's title actress, Melinda Helfrich. The photo is by Greg Mooney.

JUSTIN ADAMS

New York credits include Proteus in The Two Gentlemen of Verona and Petruchio in Love, Shakespeare with the Acting Company; Edward IV in Her Majesty the King (World Premiere) at HERE Studios; The Boy in The Municipal Abbatoir (NYC Premiere) at 13th St. Rep.; and Merlin in The Knight in Rusty Armor with the NYU Tisch Freeplays. He most recently was seen as Mercutio in Romeo and Juliet at PlayMakers Repertory Theatre. Other regionalcredits: Ethan in the World Premiere of Jesus Hates Me at the Denver Center; Lysander in A Midsummer Night's Dream and James in The Miracle Worker with Texas Shakespeare Festival (in conjunction with Peking University). Film credits include: Independence: Beyond What She Expects, Babylion Productions; ASAS: Anatomy of Socially Awkward Situations, Arclab Productions; and Radio Cape Cod, Asilver Productions (upcoming). Justin is a recent graduate of the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art.