The Pearl Theatre Company

New Reading Series Features
Modern Adaptations of Classics

The Pearl Theatre Company in New York City is offering "Modern/Classics," a series of three staged readings at the end of this month featuring classic plays adapted into modern scripts. With this inaugural Winter Adaptation Series, The Pearl returns to its roots by exploring what modern language brings to classic theaters pieces.

The series features the following works:

• Salome of the Moon, Jan. 23–25, Nick Jones's adaptation of Oscar Wilde's Salome directed by Knud Adams. Wilde's play opened a surreal door into the life of a young girl who discovers power, beauty, and bloodshed all in one night. Jones's comic redux is a playful mash-up of biblical Palestine and modern teen angst in which the heroine realizes that the world is more messed up—and more lovely—than she ever knew.
• The Government Inspector, Jan. 26–29, Oded Gross's adaptation of Nikolai Gogal's play of the same title directed by Lucie Tiberghien. Gross revisits Gogol's satire of mistaken identity in the context of small-town corruption, political machinations, and self-importance run amok with a boisterous adaptation of words and music that offers one reckless fop the keys to a kingdom of yes-men—if he can manage to hold onto the keys.
• Stupid Fu**ing Bird, Jan. 30–Feb. 1, Anton Chekhov's The Seagull "sort of" adapted by Aaron Posner. Posner offers a modern spin on Chekhov's tale of the frustrations of love, the illusive nature of true art, and the comical pathos of people caught in their own illusions.

"Founding Artistic Director Shepard Sobel's original idea for The Pearl included producing contemporary plays in conversation with the classics," Hal Brooks, The Pearl's current artistic director, wrote in a program flier. "For 30 years, our theater has continued to host a lively cultural exchange between classic and modern. As we enter into our fourth decade, it is my hope that The Pearl will also become a creative incubator for fresh new works influenced by great works of the past."

Modern/Classics will give audiences the opportunity to explore how classic stories are being told by a new generation of playwrights. Each reading will be followed by talkbacks with the creative team, offering audiences insight into the creative process of these new works.

"We're excited to bring The Pearl back to the future," Brooks wrote.

Individual tickets are $25 for any one performance, $20 for members. Rush Tickets of $15 are available two hours before every show. Purchase on line at pearltheatre.org or by phone, 212-563-9261.

January 15, 2015

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