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Classical Theatre of Harlem To Present

The Cherry Orchard

All-Star Cast Featuring Earle Hyman (“The Cosby Show”) and Wendell Pierce (“The Wire”)

Adapted and Directed by Christopher McElroen

February 3rd through February 27th

HSA Theatre, 645 St. Nicholas Ave. (near 141st Street)

January 10th, 2005

Classical Theatre of Harlem (CTH), a professional theatre company in residence at The Harlem School of the Arts, will continue their sixth season with a new production of Anton Chekhov’s THE CHERRY ORCHARD, directed by Christopher McElroen (The Blacks).  Performances at the HSA Theatre (645 St. Nicholas Avenue) will begin on Thursday, February 3rd and will continue through Sunday, February 27th.

THE CHERRY ORCHARD is Anton Chekhov's best-loved and most luminous work explores the bittersweet passing of a way of life and the devastating effect of the hand of history through the lives of a collection of ordinary folk living in the countryside at the turn of the 19th century.   As with all CTH productions, CTH will blow the dust of this world classic and present an innovative and highly visual production.

Leading the cast of THE CHERRY ORCHARD will be veteran actor Earle Hyman. Mr. Hyman is best known for his role on “The Cosby Show” as Bill Cosby’s father. He is also a noted stage actor who appeared in numerous productions in New York and regionally, including The Lady from Dubuque on Broadway.  Other cast members include Wendell Pierce (numerous stage and screen credits, most recently his leading role as Detective William "Bunk" Moreland on HBO’s “The Wire”), Vinie Burrows (numerous stage appearances, including Having Our Say on Broadway), Petronia Paley (“Guiding Light”, “Another World”), Charles Turner (King Lear with Avery Brooks), Roslyn Ruff (In The Blood), Darian Dauchan (Twentieth Century), Carolyn Ratteray (Jean Cocteau Rep) and Chandra Thomas (Crowns).  CTH regulars include J. Kyle Manzay (OBIE Winner for The Blacks), George Hosmer (CTH’s Native Son), and Dana Watkins.

The director and adapter of THE CHERRY ORCHARD will be Christopher McElroen, who staged the multiple OBIE award-winning production of THE BLACKS.  Mr. McElroen is also a co-founder of the Classical Theatre of Harlem, a dynamic and unique theatre company dedicated to producing the classics for a new, young, and culturally diverse audience.  Since 1999, CTH has presented numerous classic plays, garnered 5 AUDELCO Awards (41 nominations) for Excellence in Black Theatre, and won five OBIE Awards, off-Broadway’s most prestigious honor.  This year the company won a Special Drama Desk Award for their work.  Their most recent production was Melvin Van Peebles’ AIN’T SUPPOSED TO DIE A NATURAL DEATH, which may return in the spring at another theatre.

THE CHERRY ORCHARD will begin performances on Thursday, February 3rd, and will continue through Sunday, February 27th.  Performances will be Wednesdays through Saturdays at 8pm, and Sundays at 3pm.  Tickets will be $25 and may be purchased by calling Smarttix at (212) 868-4444, or online at www.smarttix.com.  Photos will be available for download at www.brettsinger.com/clients/cth2004.html.

 

The Cherry Orchard

By Anton Chekhov

Adapted and Directed by Christopher McElroen

HSA Theatre, 645 St. Nicholas Ave. (near 141st Street)

SCHEDULE: Wednesdays through Saturdays at 8pm, Sundays at 3pm

Thursday, February 3rd through Sunday, February 27th

TICKETS: $25; Call (212) 868-4444 or visit www.smarttix.com

 

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