Having already been inducted into the Theatre Hall of Fame and having brought the Humana Festival to international prominence, you'd think Jon Jory had earned the right to take it easy, but directors direct, so Feb. 14-March 10 will see the former Actors Theatre of Louisville artistic director stage Marivaux's The Game of Love and Chance at Atlanta's Alliance Theatre.
Translated by Stephen Wadsworth in 1991, the 1730 comedy tells of two people who have never met but are forced into an arranged marriage. The troubles — and class differences — begin when they get others to stand in for them and watch their courtship from afar.
Starring in the Georgia staging, which officially opens Feb. 20, are Christopher Baker, David Pichette (as Harlequin), Michelle Six, William McNulty, Jeff Portel, Patty Foster and Pamela Gold. Designing the show are Robert Andrew Dahlstrom (set), David Zinn (costumes), Adam Silverman (lighting) and Clay Benning (sound).
Director Jory spent 33 years at the Actors Theatre of Louisville, where the Humana Festival of New American Plays has become a major breeding ground for plays hitting the regional and New York circuit. (New York is currently seeing two 2000 ATL offerings: Tape and No. 11 (Blue and White). Jory's worked widely in regional theatre, but this is his first Alliance production.
The Alliance Stage season kicked off with Oliver Goldstick's Dinah Was, Aug. 23-Sept. 23, 2001, directed by David Petrarca. Tennessee Williams' A Lovely Sunday for Creve Coeur followed, Oct. 11-Nov. 4, 2001, with A Christmas Carol, ending the year, Nov. 16-Dec. 30, 2001. After the Marivaux play, artistic director Susan V. Booth helms David Auburn's 2001 Pulitzer Prize winner, Proof, March 21-April 21, about a young woman coping with the loss of her math genius father and the mystery surrounding a mathematical proof.
Closing out the season is The Wiz, May 9-June 9, an African American adaptation of The Wizard of Oz, by William F. Brown (book) and Charlie Smalls (music and lyrics). Kenny Leon directs and Patdro Harris choreographs.
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The Hertz Stage season began with Richard Dresser's Below the Belt, Sept. 8-Oct. 14, 2001. Next up is Cheryl West's Jar the Floor, Jan. 26-March, 3, in which a woman startles her African American family by bringing home her white girlfriend. Andrea Frye directs. Jorge Ignacio Cortinas' new play Sleepwalkers, April 13- May 19, looks at a Havana family in the shadow of the Castro regime. Ruben Polendo directs. Jan. 12-Feb. 3, the children's theatre is offering Pinocchio 3.5. An update of the classic fairy tale, it features a wealthy computer designer with no children who builds a robot named Pinocchio. Written by Eric Coble and directed by Newcott, it runs Jan. 12 Feb. 3.
For subscription tickets, call (404) 733-4600; for single tickets, call (404) 733-5000. For more information, visit www.alliancetheatre.org.
— By David Lefkowitz
and Diane Snyder
