Countryman will portray Yale academician Robert Conlan in the world premiere of Charles Evered's play, which begins previews at the New Jersey Theatre Sept. 9 prior to an official opening Sept. 12. Directed by George Street's Artistic Director David Saint, the play will run through Oct. 5 at the famed theatre, which is currently celebrating its thirtieth anniversary season.
Countryman will be joined onstage by Leslie Lyles as Conlan's wife Susan; Welker White, who plays Conlan's niece; Alex Draper as the student turned-spy James Singleton; Monica West as a journalism student named Erin; and Yuval Boim and Martin Friedrichs. The creative team includes James Youmans (scenic design), David Murin (costume design), David Lander (lighting design) and Christopher J. Bailey (sound design).
Wilderness of Mirrors is set primarily at Yale University in the 1940's. At this point in history students were recruited by their professors to form the OSS, the Office of Strategic Services. The OSS was the precursor to the CIA. Playwright Evered, a graduate of Rutgers and Yale, helped document the devastation of the attack on the World Trade Center. That experience led him to write some of the pivotal scenes of Wilderness. His primary source material for the new play was Robin Winks' 1987 tome, "Cloak and Gown." Evered's published plays include The Size of the World and Other Plays, The Shoreham and Other Plays and Adopt a Sailor.
Michael Countryman has starred on Broadway in Night Must Fall, Laughter on the 23rd Floor and A Few Good Men. Off-Broadway he has been seen in House/Garden and Lips Together, Teeth Apart, and his film credits include "Black Knight," "You Can Count On Me" and "Ransom." Wilderness of Mirrors marks his third production at the George Street Playhouse, having appeared there in Down the Garden Paths and Inspecting Carol.
Tickets for the production are now on sale by calling (732) 246-7717. The George Street Playhouse is located in New Jersey at 9 Livingston Avenue; visit www.GPSonline.org for more information.
