Pulitzer Prize winning You Can't Take It With You runs September
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Beijing Playhouse announced today that the U.S. Embassy will sponsor the September production of the classic Americana comedy You Can't Take It With You. Forty five year theatre veteran David Peck has been selected to direct the production which will be presented in the theatre of YCIS Beijing.
You Can't Take It With You, the Pulitzer Prize winning marvelously funny and thought provoking stage comedy, is a hilarious clash of cultures between the rich and poor. At first, the Sycamore family seems mad, but it is not long before you realize that if they're mad, then the rest of the world is madder. In contrast to these delightful people are the unhappy Kirbys. Tony, the attractive young son of the Kirbys, falls in love with Alice Sycamore and brings his parents to dine at the Sycamore house on the wrong evening. The shock sustained by Mr. and Mrs. Kirby leads to a hilarious clash of cultures and values. And ends with a touching message.
"You Can't Take It With You characters are a multicultural cross section of people who live in America—from lovable poor Grandpa to uptight unhappy business tycoon Mr. Kirby. The show debates the merits of paying taxes, the fun of 4th of July fireworks, pickled pigs feet as a delicacy, and the beauty of finding happiness in simple things like writing or ballet dancing or playing the saxophone," said Public Affairs Officer of the U.S. Embassy Tom Skipper. "The show ends with the most important message of all—that love can be found between all kinds of people who may be alike or may be different. There's one thing all Americans value—the pursuit of happiness."
The movie version of You Can't Take It With You won the Academy Award for Best Picture and also earned Frank Capra the Academy Award for Best Director.
Beijing Playhouse's show will be directed by seasoned artist David Peck, who has directed over 80 plays. Under Peck's experienced hand, Beijing Playhouse's 2010 production of You Can't Take It With You will feature a cast of about 20 actors and 80 crew.
Peck has also played over 50 roles in musicals, dramas and comedies on both stage and film. He retired as head of performing arts at Milton Academy in 2008 after giving 30 years of his theater expertise to his students. David most recently played the title role in Beijing Playhouse's production of The Trial of Ebenezer Scrooge.
"You Can't Take It With You has been one of the most popular chestnuts of American theatre for 72 years," said Peck. "You Can't Take It With You is a great ensemble comedy with a poignant message that's appropriate for the newly rich in China: There are more important things in life than money."
Additional crew include Stage Manager Ruth Novales, Props Master Chinghan Wong, Set Designer Philippe Levine, Costume Designer Aashna Sen, Lighting Designer Yuan Lei, Sound Designer Ana Molina, Assistant Lighting Designer Zhong Rui, Assistant Director Katherine Lerner-Lam, Assistant Stage Manager Zhao Qing, Lighting and Sound Technician Vivian Cao, Box Office Coordinator Lala Wong, Head Usher Tina Lunasco, Assistant Props Master Kitty Lee, Assistant Costume Designer Julia Yang, Assistant Set Designer Simone Wang and Crew Tony Ren and Chingsin Wong.
Beijing Playhouse's production of You Can't Take It With You is conveniently located at the East Gate of Honglingjin Park in the beautiful 300 seat theatre of Yew Chung International School of Beijing (YCIS Beijing).
"We're excited to have Beijing Playhouse returning to the stage at YCIS Beijing," said Margaret Fler, Co-Principal of Yew Chung International School of Beijing. "YCIS' professional facilities combined with Beijing Playhouse's professional cast and crew make for an amazing show that both expat and local Chinese families will thoroughly enjoy."
"David Peck has been directing, producing, and performing in theatre for 45 years. Beijing Playhouse is excited to have a director with such wonderful experience take the helm of our September production of You Can't Take It With You," said Beijing Playhouse Executive Director Chris Verrill. "Beijing Playhouse is delighted to be returning to the wonderful venue at YCIS. We couldn't do this show without the financial support of the U.S. Embassy. The U.S. State Department's sponsorship makes the show financially viable. The U.S. Embassy and YCIS and all our sponsors are making a great commitment to the performing arts in China."
For reservations, email performance@beijingplayhouse.com, call the box office at 86-10-6538 4716 or visit our website at www.beijingplayhouse.com. Tickets are 260 RMB in advance and 300 RMB at the door. In continuing the new ticket pricing introduced during Beijing Playhouse's most recent show, children and student tickets are half price.
About Beijing Playhouse
Beijing Playhouse, China's English Broadway theatre, specializes in traditional Broadway favorites. Since its first show in 2006, Beijing Playhouse has produced the Broadway musical Guys and Dolls, I Do! I Do!, Neil Simon's famous comedy The Odd Couple, Love Letters, and annual Christmas shows such as A Christmas Carol and The Trial of Ebenezer Scrooge.
China's largest locally produced English theatre is driven by a core group of paid professional crew in combination with the passion of hundreds of volunteers. Beijing Playhouse is doing ground-breaking theatre in China. By introducing an American Off-Broadway community theatre model that focuses on professional productions presented in small 100-500 seat venues that run for three weeks.
Beijing Playhouse shows have subtitles, painstakingly created, to preserve the artistic beauty of the show and at the same time make the shows accessible to a non-English speaking Chinese audience—to introduce a Chinese audience to English theatre. Casting is done colorblind without regard to race or nationality. Auditions are open and everyone is welcome to toss their hat in the ring. Casting done solely based on ability and appropriateness for the part. The only requirements are the ability to act and to so in English.
Although founded and managed by a mostly American expatriate staff and advisory boards, the cast and crew come from all over the world. Shows have included people from over twenty different countries: USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, UK, France, Italy, Niger, Poland, Indonesia, Mexico, Philippines, Mongolia, Ireland, Ukraine, India, Spain, Bangladesh, Germany, Netherlands, Algeria, Malaysia, and of course most of all, from China.
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