Arden Theatre Company continues its 2010/11 season with Kurt Weill and Bertolt Brecht's The Threepenny Opera. The Arden's version of The Threepenny Opera was originally performed at London's Donmar Warehouse, which has a recent track-record of successful transfers to U.S. stages including Red and Frost/Nixon. "These newly translated lyrics are the most true to Brecht's original version, highlighting the imagery and poetry of the songs," says Terrence J. Nolen, the Arden's producing artistic director who will helm The Threepenny Opera. "While the lyrics engage the audience, asking them to think, the score is certainly one of the most beautiful and complex in 20th century musical theatre."
The cast includes many Philadelphia performers in lead rolse: Scott Greer as Peachum (Candide, Sunday in the Park with George), Mary Martello as his wife Mrs. Peachum (Candide, Sweeney Tood, Into the Woods), and Victoria Frings as their daughter Polly (Leaving and Rock ‘N' Roll at the Wilma, A 24-hour Bald Soprano with Brat Productions). Anthony Lawton plays police chief Tiger Brown (Romeo and Juliet, Sweeney Todd, The Seafarer) with Liz Filios as his daughter' Lucy (Candide, Sunday in the Park with George). Making their Arden debuts are New York-based actors Terence Archie as Macheath (Elaborate Entrance of Chad Deity Off-Broadway) and Rachel Wallace as Jenny.
The ensemble, who will each play multiple characters, while moving, pushing and climbing upon scenery, features local actors Doug Hara (member Lookingglass Theatre Company, Something Intangible and A Prayer for Owen Meany),Sean Lally (Romeo and Juliet), Darren Michael Hengst (Sunday in the Park with George and Winesburg, Ohio), Bi Jean Ngo (Peter Pan), Clare O'Malley (recent UArts graduate), and Amanda Schoonover (James and the Giant Peach, Killer Joe and Hunter Gatherers at Theatre Exile), along with New York-based actors JamAl Lee Harris and Brianna Horne.
The creative team includes set designer Tom Gleeson (a recipient of the Princess Grace Award for his work on Threepenny, who recently designed the multi-tiered, steampunk set for the Arden's Peter Pan), lighting designer Thom Weaver (2010 Barrymore nomination for Blue Door), costume designer Rosemarie E. McKelvey (2010 Barrymore nomination for Sunday in the Park with George, 2009 Barrymore Award for Something Intangible), and sound and video Jorge Cousineau, (2010 Barrymore nomination for The History Boys). Leading the ten-member orchestra will be Musical Director Eric Ebbenga, who has received multiple Barrymore Awards and nominations for his work at the Arden.
Threepenny Opera runs at the Arden now through Sunday November 7th. For more information please see the official press release.
All photos by Mark Garvin.
(L-R) Victoria Frings as Polly Peachum, Mary Martello as Mrs. Peachum and Scott Greer as Peachum
Terence Archie as MacHeath
Victoria Frings as Polly Peachum and Terence Archie as MacHeath
(L-R) Scott Greer as Peachum and Doug Hara as Filch
Terence Archie as MacHeath and Rachel Wallace as Jenny
Victoria Frings as Polly Peachum and (back L-R) Sebastian Naskaris as Ned, Doug Hara as Jimmy, Sean Lally as Crook-Fingered Jake and JamAl Lee Harris as Chain-Saw Bob
(L-R) Anthony Lawton as Tiger Brown and Scott Greer as Peachum
(L-R) Liz Filios as Lucy, Victoria Frings as Polly Peachum and Terence Archie as MacHeath
JamAl Lee Harris as Chain-Saw Bob, Sean Lally as Crook-Fingered Jake, Sebastian Naskaris as Ned and Doug Hara as Jimmy
Mary Martello as Mrs. Peachum
Amanda Schoonover as Betty
Doug Hara as Old Whore and Brianna Horne as Vixen
(L-R) Anthony Lawton as Tiger Brown and Scott Greer as Peachum in
The cast of Arden Theatre Company’s production of The Threepenny Opera
