Kingston, NY – May 30, 2002: After living a pious life, Doña Ana is somewhat surprised to find herself in Hell. When she encounters Don Juan, a former suitor who killed her father in a duel, she learns that she can go to Heaven if she chooses to, but her father – visiting the underworld in the form of a statue – attempts to convince her to stay in Hell. Then, the devil arrives. Would it be silly to say that all hell breaks loose in DON JUAN IN HELL by George Bernard Shaw? We say it nonetheless.

“We’re very excited to have Ian Holm and Roger Rees join us for this reading,” says Artistic Director Nicola Sheara, “and the fact that they are able to participate highlights the strength of a series like this. It would be very difficult to schedule a full production with busy actors such as Mr. Rees and Mr. Holm but, because the performance is a reading, Hudson Valley audiences have the opportunity to watch these award-winning actors face off as Don Juan and The Devil.”

Star of stage and screen, SIR IAN HOLM most recently appeared as Bilbo Baggins in the critically acclaimed LORD OF THE RINGS: THE FELLOWSHIP OF THE RING. For his performance as King Lear at the Royal National Theatre Cottesloe, he won the Critics Circle Award, the Evening Standard Award, and the Olivier Award for Best Actor. When he returned to the role for the television production of KING LEAR, he was nominated for an Emmy. Mr. Holm appeared in the films CHARIOTS OF FIRE, for which he was nominated for an Academy Award, FROM HELL, BRAZIL, THE MADNESS OF KING GEORGE, as Napoleon Bonaparte in both TIME BANDITS and, 20 years later, THE EMPEROR’S NEW CLOTHES, as an insane robot in the first ALIEN movie, and many others.

Although ROGER REES may be best known in the United States for his recurring guest role on CHEERS as Robin Colcord, the rich boyfriend of Kirstie Alley’s character, it was his portrayal of NICHOLAS NICKLEBY that earned him the 1980 Oliver Award for Actor of the Year for the British stage adaptation of Dickens’ novel, the 1982 Tony Award for Best Actor for the American production, and an Emmy nomination for the BBC mini-series adaptation. He was nominated again for the Best Actor Tony in 1995 for his role in INDISCRETIONS. Fans of Mel Brooks will remember Mr. Rees as Mervin, Sheriff of Rottingham in ROBIN HOOD: MEN IN TIGHTS. He also appeared in this summer’s blockbuster THE SCORPION KING.

The reading is directed by acclaimed local director BEVERLY BRUMM, a theater professor at SUNY New Paltz, where her most recent production was THE GRAPES OF WRATH. DON JUAN IN HELL also stars TOM BLOOM, veteran of Broadway, Off-Broadway, television, and film, and KATE INGRAMM, who returns to the Hudson Valley for this reading. Ms. Ingramm taught acting, voice, and speech in the area for 14 years, and initiated Shakespeare-under-the-Stars at SUNY New Paltz.


ABOUT THE PLAY:
DON JUAN IN HELL is an excerpt from George Bernard Shaw’s MAN AND SUPERMAN. The third act, a stand-alone dream sequence, was first performed by itself as a reading in 1950 by Charles Laughton, Charles Boyer, Cedric Hardwicke, and Agnes Moorhead. The excerpt proved to have a life of its own, and, based on its extraordinary wit and provocative ideas, it has continued to be staged as a separate entity ever since.

ABOUT THE READING:
TheaterSounds will present DON JUAN IN HELL on Saturday, June 8th at 8pm. Admission is free, but reservations are recommended: (845) 331-2884. The Community Center at UUCC is located at 320 Sawkill Road in Kingston, 1 mile North of Washington Ave, 1.5 miles South of Route 209.

ABOUT THEATERSOUNDS:
Dedicated to the concept that the mind is the best stage, the TheaterSounds playreading series brings both classic and new plays performed by professional actors, to the Hudson Valley. TheaterSounds has no budget constraints, no restrictions on scenery, costumes, or props, because all of these things are created in the imaginations of the audience. Noted actors and directors who are too busy with other work to commit to a lengthy rehearsal process have the opportunity to present scripts they love, and audiences can enjoy plays and performers they would not otherwise have had the opportunity to see live. For more information about TheaterSounds, contact Artistic Director Nicola Sheara at 845-657-6303, or by email at nicola@theatersounds.com. Website: www.theatersounds.com http://www.theatersounds.com/.

Disclaimer: Actors’ schedules have been known to change at the last minute. TheaterSounds publicizes readings based on cast scheduled to appear, but cannot guarantee actors’ participation. If, due to circumstances beyond their control, an actor cannot take part in the reading, they may be replaced.