Nazareth College Department of Theatre Arts opens "The Cherry Orchard" April 11 with student cast and crew that includes Matthew Allen of West Winfield

2014 Apr 9

Matthew Allen of West Winfield will appear in the Nazareth College Department of Theatre Arts and Theatre League production of The Cherry Orchard, the fourth and final production of their 2013-2014 season. The show will run April 11, 12, 17, and 18 at 8 p.m.; and April 13 and 19 at 2 p.m., in Callahan Theatre at the Nazareth College Arts Center.

Written by the accomplished playwright Anton Chekhov, and later adapted by writer David Mamet, The Cherry Orchard presents a tragic story of a fading way of life, conflicting ideologies, love, and new beginnings. Chekhov's last full-length play has enjoyed success in several countries since the day it was first performed in 1904. Although the play has commonly been produced as a tragedy, The Cherry Orchard was originally intended by Chekhov as a comedy, and that aspect has stuck with the play throughout its many productions. The show is a guaranteed thrill for theater-goers of all kinds.

"I've wanted to direct this play for a long time," says Patti Lewis Brown, Nazareth College Department of Theatre Arts lecturer and the production's director. "I am so excited to bring it to the stage and to be working with this very talented student cast and crew!"

The Cherry Orchard is a deeply human comic elegy to a vanishing way of life. As the 19th century ends, a Russian aristocrat returns home to find the family estate in mortgage default. Neither she nor her brother seems capable of dealing with this devastating loss, and it is left to a former serf and family retainer to take action. Tragedy mingles with farce as they all try to fathom a world on the brink of upheaval.

The Cherry Orchard cast and production design teams consist of Nazareth College students: Matthew Allen (West Winfield, New York); Matt Combs (Marion, New York); Henry DuRocher (East Rochester, New York); Francis Grunfeld (Worcester, New York); Seth Hatch (Franklinville, New York); Hannah Karpenko (Rochester New York); Dimitar Kominovski (Webster, N.Y.); Chris Mauro (Webster, New York); Bella McGrath (Corning, New York); Ged Owen (Bartlett, New Hampshire); Meghan Palmer (Phoenix, New York); Jessica Pappalardo (Bartlett, New Hampshire); Rachel Viccaro (Middlefield, Connecticut); Kayleigh Yancey (Mechanicsville, Maryland); and Molly the dog (Worcester, New Work).