"Master Harold and the Boys" takes the stage- despite the World Series!

For the past few weeks in a basement not far from the Wawa an usual scene has been taking place. A man in knee pads is scrubbing the floor while another is going through some dance steps and a younger fellow in a school uniform seems particularly agitated. In fact, these were three brilliant artists rehearsing for "Master Harold ...and the boys" which is opening tonight at the Robert Shackleton Playhouse for Cape May Stage. These sought after actors are continuing the tradition of bringing top tier talent to Cape May Stage in this award winning play! Each has distinguished resumes and joins us in our jewel of a theatre because of their commitment to their craft.

Tivo the World Series and skip the commercials to see a live performance where every second is engaging. This newest production is designed to get people talking. We have brought a director from England via Los Angeles to bring a special understanding to this piece. Marlena Lustik Steinberg, a former Broadway dancer, has been consulting with the dance aspects of the play. New lighting and set designers have been engaged to give this play a different look.

On Friday, November 13 PNC Arts Alive will sponsor a special ASL interpreted Performance for our hearing impaired community. "Master Harold...and the boys" by Athol Fugard first burst on the scene some twenty seven years ago and is considered by many to be one of the most important plays in the international canon of dramatic literature. Frank Rich said "we are left with the exultant hope that we may yet practice compassion without stumbling". That it is also funny and beautiful makes it a masterpiece!

Cape May Stage celebrates writers and the Second Stage will present a reading of a Robert Auletta's newest play called "Early On". Actors and directors on both coasts rush to do Robert Auletta's plays. Mr. Auletta is coming to Cape May with actors Ken Ryan and Rebecca Nelson. The three met while at Yale Drama School and all have had important careers in the world of entertainment. On Monday, November 9 at 8 PM the play will be read and discussed. Roy Steinberg will read the stage directions! These Second Stage events are sponsored by Chris and Dave Clemans.

“Master Harold...and the Boys” performances are Wednesdays through Sundays at 8pm from October 28 through November 28 on the Otto Haas Stage at the Robert Shackleton Playhouse, Cape May Stage. Tickets are $35 adults, $25 seniors, and $12.50 students. Call (609) 884-1341 for tickets and information or visit the theatre’s website, www.capemaystage.com. Audio enhancement and wheelchair accessible seating are available with advance notice by calling the box office at (609) 884-1341.

'Master Harold...and the Boys' opens next week with an incredible cast and production team! The Second Stage is hot again!

Athol Fugard is one of the world's most important dramatists and "MASTER HAROLD...and the boys" is widely considered his masterpiece. The play opens at Cape May Stage this Thursday and the opening night party will be at The Mad Batter. The entire opening night audience is invited to party with the cast and crew! Once again, Cape May Stage has assembled an astonishing cast from New York and Hollywood!
Gregg Daniel has been in just about every television show you can name as well as feature films and major theatre! Larry Hines played in Atlantic City with the Platters a short while ago but here has transformed himself into a shy South African waiter. Jared McGuire plays the title role with extraordinary emotional intensity. The director is Elizabeth Swain who comes to us from Great Britain via Los Angeles. A new set designer, Sarah Lambert, who trained at Yale Drama School and works in the most prestigious theatres in the nation has joined our team. Maria Shaplin was brought in to give a new look to the lighting plot. "MASTER HAROLD...and the boys" takes place in the 1950s in South Africa and tells the story of two waiters preparing for a dance competition. Their friendship with the boss's son goes through a major change and this funny, poignant and powerful play will lead to much discussion!

On Friday, November 13 a special American Sign Language performance of "MASTER HAROLD...and the boys" will be presented for the deaf community thanks to PNC Arts Alive. A special screening of the Academy Award-winning film "TSOTSI" will be presented on Monday, November 16 at 8 PM in a joint partnership with Cape May Film Society. "TSOTSI" is a film that was based on a novel by Athol Fugard who wrote "MASTER HAROLD...and the boys". The Artistic Director of Cape May Stage thought that viewing this film would give special insight into the world of South Africa under the system known as Apartheid.

An early reading of a play is a window into the development of the fully mounted production. "EARLY ON" is Robert Auletta's new play and it will be read on Monday, November 9 at 8PM with two wonderful actors from New York who have major credits in the entertainment industry. Robert Auletta is an Obie Award winning writer whose plays have been performed at the Kennedy Center and Yale Repertory Theatre.

New play readings, screenings of related films and special performances of our mainstage productions are all part of our Second Stage Series! There is always something happening at Cape May Stage!

"PROOF" shutters in only two weeks. "Master Harold" takes the stage! Micheal Fischetti appears for one night only!

There are only two more weeks to see what so many people are calling the best show EVER to be at Cape May Stage! "Proof" won the Tony Award and Pulitzer Prize for best play back in 2002 but this production brings new life to this script with an extraordinary cast in a gorgeous production. Bring a friend and turn a cold blustery October night into a special occasion of great theatre and drinks around the fireplace at one of our watering holes!

The actors for "Master Harold ...and the boys have arrived in Cape May. The director, Elizabeth Swain arrived from London after spending time in LA and New York where she was teaching a series of workshops. She is staying in different housing than the actors becaause "it just wouldn't do to have them see me in my knickers in the middle of the night" as she put it! Gregg Daniel arrived at the Philadelphia airport from Los Angeles where he just finished shooting two different television shows. Google him and be astounded by his body of work in feature films and television. Gregg is also a screenwriter and director. Coincidentally he directed a play at the Fremont Theatre Center where James Reynolds ("I, Too, Am America") is the Artistic Director!

The Second Stage presents Michael Fischetti reading poetry about the ravages of war that leading poets and writers have hailed as "extraordinary". He comes to us from New York where this evening was a huge success. We lost a brave countryman from the Villas fighting in Afghanistan. This evening resonates for all of us as we honor our service men and women fighting for our country!