RENOWNED PIANIST CHRIS JARRETT AND THE RETURN OF THE MASQUE OF NIGHT
COMING THIS SPRING FROM NEW PLACE PLAYERS
“There are a million ways that Romeo & Juliet has been performed, but there is something so uniquely sweet and endearing about The Masque of Night, that sets it apart from the rest. With an earnest cast, pitch-perfect musical accompaniment, and distinctive setting, this one-hour production of Romeo & Juliet is a delicious bite-sized confection of romance and tragedy.” – Austin Fimmano, playstosee.com
“Powerful, believable performances” - JK Clarke, Theater Pizzazz on Othello
“After 14 productions of Othello this is the one ‘I've enjoyed the most’" - Peter Filichia, Broadway Radio
“New Place Players’ Othello offers a captivating, close-up, fully realized production of an iconic Shakespearean tragedy enriched with a complex interplay of elements that immerses us in both history and a timeless human theme. It’s what makes a classic a classic and what makes this an experience that shouldn’t be missed.” - Deb Miller, DC Metro Arts
“The closeness between the actors, who are trained in the Lecoq movements, and the audience created an unspoken camaraderie, as if we were fellow citizens familiar with the characters and setting.” - This Week in New York on Othello
RENOWNED PIANIST CHRIS JARRETT AND THE RETURN OF THE MASQUE OF NIGHT COMING THIS SPRING FROM NEW PLACE PLAYERS
New York, NY - April 25, 2024 - As spring blooms in New York City, New Place Players is thrilled to announce a series of captivating events that promise to enchant audiences with music, theater, and celebration. World-renowned pianist Chris Jarrett at Casa Clara on May 10, and the return of THE MASQUE OF NIGHT in both New Jersey and New York in June.
Chris Jarrett
Casa Clara, New York City - May 10
Hailed as a master of improvisation and a composer of exquisite depth, will enchant audiences with a captivating solo piano recital. Drawing from a rich tapestry of jazz, world music, and classical influences, Jarrett will showcase his unique blend of styles, including his mesmerizing compositions.
Coming from a lineage of jazz royalty, Chris Jarrett brings not just his exceptional talent but also a profound heritage to his music. Based primarily in Germany, his rare appearances in the United States make this event a must-see for music enthusiasts and connoisseurs alike.
THE MASQUE OF NIGHT
Princeton, NJ - June 7 & 8
Featuring Actors Studio lifetime member Clara Tristan as Juliet and recent Actors Studio MFA graduate Jorge Carrion Alvarez as Romeo. The performances will take place at the enchanting Hopewell Mountain Christian Church, near Princeton, New Jersey, a beautifully preserved wooden structure dating back to 1844. THE MASQUE OF NIGHT offers a unique and intimate experience for theater enthusiasts. The venue's interior balcony, grand piano, original bell, and seating for forty guests create an enchanting atmosphere that complements the magic of Shakespeare's timeless tale.
THE MASQUE OF NIGHT
Casa Clara, New York City - June 21 & 22
Celebrate the solstice with us at Casa Clara as THE MASQUE OF NIGHT returns to Gramercy in the former foundry and stone atelier, featuring Maximilian Macdonald and Elizabeth Lindsey as the star-crossed lovers.
"We are excited to present this diverse lineup of events that celebrate music, theater, and education," said Craig Bacon, Artistic Director of New Place Players. "Each event offers a unique experience, from Chris Jarrett's mesmerizing piano recital to the enchanting performances of The Masque of Night in both Princeton and New York City."
THE MASQUE OF NIGHT stars Maximilian Macdonald or Jorge Carrion Alvarez (Romeo), Elizabeth Lindsey or Clara Tristan (Juliet), Anna Bikales (Nurse, Benvolio), and Flavio Gaete (Benvolio, Mercutio, Friar Lawrence, Prince, Balthasar). Bikales and Gaete also serve as principal musicians.
The production is produced by New Place Players. The Production Manager is Rose Kanj and the General Manager is Leah Michalos. THE MASQUE OF NIGHT features graphic design by Cristian Gastelo. Kenji Golden serves as Music Intern. Publicity by Katie Rosin/Kampfire PR.
Tickets are $45 for Chris Jarrett. Tickets are $50 for THE MASQUE OF NIGHT in NJ. The Masque of Night Summer Soltice at Casa Clara tickets are $25-50.
Website:https://www.newplaceplayers.org/
IG: @newplaceplayersnyc
BIOGRAPHIES
CRAIG BACON (Co-Director) is a director, actor, and voice teacher designated by Kristin Linklater in 1998 to teach her technique “Freeing the Natural Voice”. He has taught at the Actors Studio Drama School at Pace University since 2011 and other faculty appointments include SUNY Purchase, Columbia University, Fordham University, NYU (Atlantic Theater Company), National Theater Institute (US and UK), The Actors Centre (London), The Linklater Center, and Shakespeare & Co. (Lenox, MA). Some of Craig’s directing work includes The Mercury Theatre in England (Macbeth, The Tempest, The Crucible); SUNY Purchase (The Winter’s Tale, By the Bog of Cats, and LAByrinth Theater Company’s One-Acts co-directed with Richard Crawford). He is the founder and artistic director of New Place Players where he directed Twelfth Night and co-directed A Midsummer Night’s Dream with James Ortiz. Some of Craig’s extensive acting work includes Prospero in The Tempest (New Place Players); Henry IV, Pt. 1; Much Ado About Nothing; Merry Wives of Windsor (Shakespeare & Co.); Cymbeline; The Rover; Twelfth Night (Lincoln Center Inst.); One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest; Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf; A Christmas Carol (American Drama Group, Europe); Kenneth Lonergan’s Borderlines; Off-Shore Wind w/William Hickey, and Sunday’s Child w/Celeste Holm (HB Playwrights). Craig trained extensively with Uta Hagen, Herbert Berghof, Tina Packer, and of course his mentor, the master teacher Kristin Linklater.
JANINA PICARD (Co-Director) is a German-born actor, director, and teacher of dreamwork for artists based in NYC. With over a decade of professional experience working as a stage and film actor in both Europe and the United States, her directorial vision is deeply influenced by working with the unconscious. She assisted, trained, and studied extensively with her mentor Sandra Seacat in Los Angeles and has furthered her studies of dreamwork with the C.G. Jung Institute Berlin and the C.G. Jung Centre Dublin. She has been coaching artists privately and teaching workshops internationally since 2020.
FLAVIO GAETE (Music Director) has worked as a musician, sound designer, actor, arts administrator, and teacher for the last 20+ years. He has collaborated with a wide variety of ensembles in music, theater, film, and dance. Some of his latest collaborations have been with New Place Players as music director for Othello, film composer Renaud Barbier for his latest film soundtrack, Petit Pays, and the Orquesta de Cámara de Chile for their 2018-19 season. Flavio has been a guest lecturer at Sciences Po Paris-Reims and NY University and has taught extensively throughout NYC. Flavio has also played with various orchestras and ensembles, including the Orquesta de Cámara de Chile, Distinguished Concerts International NY, The Philharmonic Orchestra of the Americas, the Manhattan Camerata, Nikolett Pankovits, and various others, having performed at Lincoln Center, Carnegie Hall, the Kennedy Center, and Palacio de Bellas Artes in Mexico City, among others.
NEW PLACE PLAYERS embodies the power of Shakespeare’s plays, performing in intimate, found spaces, integrated with original live chamber music. The company employs both experienced musicians and actors and recent MFA graduates, empowering a new generation of theater artists.
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