Rachel Botchan, Bradford Cover Lead The Pearl's THE PHILANDERER

THE Pearl Theatre Company (J.R. Sullivan, Artistic Director) announces the casting for Bernard Shaw's playful satire, THE PHILANDERER. The witty comedy of a man-about-town and the two women in his life includes five members of The Pearl's Resident Acting Company and three guest artists. The new production will be directed by Gus Kaikkonen (director of The Pearl's 2009 production of Tartuffe and the 2005 production of The Gentleman Dancing-Master) and begins previews January 10, 2012 at New York City Center Stage II.

THE PHILANDERER cast features five members of The Pearl's Resident Acting Company. Rachel Botchan (Grace Tranfield), a member of the company since 2000, and was seen this season at The Pearl in the critically acclaimed The Bald Soprano and recently at Two River Theater Company in Picasso at the Lapin Agile. Bradford Cover (Leonard Charteris), a company member since 1996, has performed regionally and on Broadway in the 2001 revival of A Thousand Clowns and also in The Pearl's The Bald Soprano. Dominic Cuskern (Mr. Cuthbertson), a member of the company since 2000, can currently be seen in The Pearl's Richard II, and appeared last season in The Misanthrope, Rosmersholm, and The Sneeze. Dan Daily (Colonel Craven), a Pearl company member since 1998, was also featured in The Bald Soprano and has appeared off-Broadway with The New Group, Keen Company, and Classic Stage Company. Chris Mixon (Dr. Paramore), the newest Pearl company member, is appearing in Richard II as Thomas Mowbray and Earl of Northumberland and was seen last season in Wittenberg. He has been seen regionally at the Denver Center Theatre Company, Two River Theater Company, and the Utah Shakespeare Festival.

Joining THE PHILANDERER cast are three guest actors. Shalita Grant (Sylvia Craven) is making her debut with The Pearl and has appeared in Shakespeare in the Park's productions of Measure for Measure, The Winter's Tale, and The Merchant of Venice. Karron Graves (Julia Craven), a Pearl newcomer, has been seen on Broadway in Coram Boy and off-Broadway at Lincoln Center Theater and Manhattan Theatre Club. Her film credits include "The Crucible," with Daniel Day-Lewis and television appearances on "Law & Order" and "Monk." Chris Richards (Page Boy) will be making his Pearl mainstage debut after being a part of the Pearl's Acting Apprentice program last season. He has also appeared regionally at the Ohio Shakespeare Festival and Great Lakes Theater.

A social satire once considered too shocking for the general public (withheld twelve years before censors allowed a performance), Shaw's play follows the misadventures of Leonard Charteris, whose simultaneous involvement with two women wreaks havoc on his social life while sharpening his wit. Reputedly a self-portrait, the comedy is a satire on Shaw's own pet causes, intellectual freedom in the Ibsenite manner, and Feminism as celebrated in the Shavian manner.

The Pearl Theatre Company is dedicated to playing a vital role in the cultural life of New York City and its surrounding region by creating productions that examine, explore, and illuminate the human condition. The Pearl is an artistic home for a diverse company of theatre professionals, especially a core company of resident actors. The Pearl provides engagement opportunities that both educate and enrich the experiences of artists, students, and audiences. Last season, The Pearl received a 2011 Lortel Award nomination for best revival (for The Misanthrope), and a special 2011 Drama Desk Award for "notable productions of classic plays and nurturing a stalwart resident company of actors."

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