Accomplice by Tony-winning composer Rupert Homles kicks off the American Stage Festival's Summer Stage in Milford, NH, Friday, July 11 with Holmes expected to be in attendance. A preview performance was held July 10. The comedy-thriller will run through July 20.
Matthew Parent is ASF's artistic director. Troy Siebels is managing director.
The play is directed by Marcia Milgrom Dodge, a noted regional theatre director whose latest New York production was Radio Gals at the John Houseman Theatre. She directed an earlier production of Accomplice at Springfield, MA's StageWest where she collaborated with Holmes on extensive revisions in the four-character script that is layered with suspects, deception, intricate plot twists, weapons and elaborate tricks.
Accomplice premiered on Broadway in April, 1990 at the 46th Street Theatre, where it played 23 previews and 52 performances. During that run the theatre was renamed the Richard Rodgers. The original production starred Jason Alexander, in his first role after winning the 1989 Tony Award as Best Actor in a Musical for Jerome Robbins' Broadway, and Natalia Nogulich, who went on to a successful career as a TV character actress.
Holmes wrote the book, lyrics, and music for the 1986 Tony-winning New York Shakespeare Festival production of The Mystery of Edwin Drood, which moved from its summer engagement at Central Park's Delacorte Theatre to a Broadway run at the Majestic Theatre. ASF's Summer Stage is a 492-seat theatre on Mont Vernon Street in Milford, NH, 12 miles west of Nashua. In 1995, ASF became a full-season company with its 277-seat Studio Theatre at 14 Court Street in Nashua.
As a special promotion for the show, in conjunction with local businesses, the theatre is having a "Marquee Parade" between Nashua and Milford, as well as a contest. From July 7-20, stores in the area will post dastardly messages, such as "Whacked At ASF" and "Crushed Under The Wheel." Inside those participating stores will be "Clue Cards" which hold hints at solving the mystery in Accomplice. Certain cards can then be turned in for various gifts and discounts, or a $1,000 mystery grand prize. (One card per person, although you don't have to purchase tickets to the show to get a card.)
For information and reservations, call (603) 673-7515.
-- By Ellis Nassour and David Lefkowitz
