Dirty Rotten Scoundrels PRESS RELEASE

Theatre Department Robsham Theater Arts Center 50 St. Thomas More Drive Chestnut Hill, MA 02467 617.552.4012 www.bc.edu/theatre Media Contact: Scott T. Cummings Chair, Boston College Theatre Department [email protected] 617.552.4012 For Immediate Release: “GREAT BIG STUFF” ONSTAGE AT BC Boston College Theatre Department to Present April 27 - May 1, 2011 Chestnut Hill, MA (April 13, 2011) – The Boston College Theatre Department and Robsham Theater Arts Center are proud to present the final production of the 2010-11 Season, the hit musical Dirty Rotten Scoundrels. Adapted from the 1988 feature film comedy starring Steve Martin and Michael Caine, the musical tells the story of two con artists battling head to head in an effort to swindle an heiress out of her riches. Featuring music and lyrics by David Yazbek (The Full Monty) and a book by Jeffrey Lane, the production will be performed April 27 – May 1, 2011 on the Robsham Main Stage as part of the 13th Annual Boston College Arts Festival. Set in the beautiful French Riviera, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels presents the battle of wits between Lawrence Jameson, a sophisticated veteran charlatan, and Freddy Benson, an aspiring huckster who wants to learn from the master (and give him a run for his money). Their challenge to see who can be the first to swindle Christine Colgate, a naive American soap heiress, out of $50,000 leads to a game of one-upmanship full of clever disguises and hilarious twists and turns. A supporting cast of vacationers, hotel workers, and wealthy socialites provide a series of song-and-dance numbers that add to merriment. The BC production of Dirty Rotten Scoundrels is directed and choreographed by guest artist Kevin P. Hill, a veteran of Broadway, Off Broadway, and national touring companies, including tours of Hello Dolly! starring Carol Channing, Leslie Uggams, and Michele Lee. Musical direction is by José Delgado, who returns to BC after working on such past productions as Urinetown in 2008 and Sweet Charity in 2009. Joining Hill and Delgado on the production team are Theatre Department Associate Professor Crystal Tiala (scenic design), Assistant Professor Jacqueline Dalley (costume design), guest artist Frank Meissner (lighting design), and Technical Supervisor George Cooke (sound design). You can catch a sneak-peek inside the design process in a video entitled “Creating the Process” on the Theatre Department’s website: bc.edu/theatre. "This show is pure light-hearted fun," says Theatre Department Chair Scott T. Cummings. "It's clever one moment and a little bit naughty the next. There's lots of great dance numbers, a luscious sun-splashed setting, and a million costumes. It will be a feast for the eyes and ears." Featured in the production are seniors Seth Byrum as Lawrence and Patrick Connolly as Freddy. Freshman Sarah Winglass plays the pivotal role of Christine Colgate. Senior Lisa Bocuzzi will play Jolene Oakes and junior Kasey Brown will play Muriel Eubanks, two victims of Lawrence’s conning ways. Lawrence’s bodyguard Andre will be portrayed by junior Cam Cronin. Rounding out the cast is the talented ensemble of singers and dancers: Jake Alexander ’14, Alexis Berlinger ’13, Tory Berner ’14, Meghan Crosby ’12, Owen Grover ’12, Tim Kopacz ’13, Phoebe Kuhlman ’13, Dmitry Larionov ’14, Billy McEntee ’14, Tom Mezger ’14, Christine Movius ’13, Colin O’Neil ’14, Kim Pomerleau ’11, Nate Richardson ’13, Allison Russell ’12, and Nicole Trauffer ’13. Dirty Rotten Scoundrels took Broadway by storm in 2005 and ran for more than 620 performances, seventeen years after the film comedy directed by Frank Oz and starring Michael Caine and Steve Martin. The corresponding roles in the Broadway show were played to great acclaim by actors John Lithgow and Norbert Leo Butz, with each receiving Tony award nominations. Reviewers ate up the piece, with New York Magazine calling it “funny…clever, with a nice sprinkle of the outrageous” and The New York Sun hailing it as both “clever and engaging.” The production received nine other Tony nominations and ten Drama Desk Nominations. The production opens Wednesday, April 27, 2011 at 7:30pm and runs through Saturday, April 31, 2011, and Sunday May 1, 2011 at 2pm on the Main Stage of the Robsham Theater Arts Center. Tickets are $15 for general admission and $10 for students and seniors, and are available at the RTAC Box Office, or by calling 617-552-4002. For more information, please go to www.bc.edu/theatre. Dirty Rotten Scoundrels Music and lyrics by David Yazbek Book by Jeffrey Lane Directed and choreographed by Kevin P. Hill Music directed by José Delgado Wed 27 April-Sat 31 April at 7:30pm Sun 1 May at 2pm Scenic Designer: Crystal Tiala Costume Designer: Jacqueline Dalley Lighting Designer: Frank Meissner Sound Designer: George Cooke Bonn Studio Theater Robsham Theater Arts Center Boston College 140 Commonwealth Ave. Chestnut Hill, MA 02467 RTAC Box Office 617.552.4002 www.bc.edu/theatre [MEDIA NOTE: Members of the press may contact the Boston College Theatre Department at 617- 552-4012, to reserve complimentary tickets. Jpgs attached: Production poster image and Senior Seth Byrum with members of the Dirty Rotten Scoundrels ensemble, courtesy Boston College] BOSTON COLLEGE THEATRE DEPARTMENT - In 1865, two years after Boston College opened, theater began at BC. It continued for many years as a student activity under the aegis of the Dramatics Society. In the early 1970s the College of Arts and Sciences established a theater major as part of the Department of Speech, Communications and Theatre. The Robsham Theater Arts Center opened in 1981 as the center of theater production on campus. In 1993 the Theatre Department was established as an independent department. Since then, both the academic and production programs have grown steadily in terms of faculty staff, theater majors, course offerings, and the quality and quantity of productions. For more information go to www.bc.edu/theatre. ### .

Load more