Florida Repertory Theatre announces the opening of An Inspector Calls by J.B. Priestley to continue its 2019-2020 season. Playing in the Historic Arcade Theatre Dec. 6 – 22.
The gala opening night on Friday, Dec. 6 features a free champagne reception and light hors d’oeuvres and desserts in the Historic Arcade Theatre’s lobby beginning at 7 p.m.
“Florida Rep has never done anything quite like this play,” said artistic director Greg Longenhagen. “It’s a classic thriller, and it’s a morality play. Not only will audiences be on the edge of their seats with the twists and turns, but they will see how the characters’ actions have incredible repercussions they never intended. This play is a turn-of-the-century cautionary tale and calls on all of us to make the world a better place. It shows us what can happen when we forget to be kind to one another, but at the same time, it will keep you guessing.”
In Priestley’s play, a festive dinner party at the home of a wealthy British family is interrupted by a mysterious inspector investigating the death of a young woman. As questions multiply and guilt mounts, the family’s entanglement in the affair shatters the foundations of their comfortable lives – and challenges us to examine our actions. Set in 1912 England and written in the aftermath of World War II, this chilling morality play is both a plea for a more just society and a warning of what’s to come if we fail to attain it. More relevant now than ever, this is a must-see for a whole new generation of theatergoers. The Daily Telegraph called the play “superbly tense and breathtaking!”
An Inspector Calls features an all-star cast led by Florida Rep ensemble members Kate Hampton, William McNulty, V Craig Heidenreich, and Brendan Powers, alongside New York actors Cole Francum and Ellyn Heald, with Florida Rep intern Bailey Tyler making their Florida Rep debuts.
Hampton and McNulty appeared in the season-opening farce, Ken Ludwig’s A Fox on the Fairway. Heidenreich returns to the stage after appearances in Twelve Angry Men and To Kill a Mockingbird, and Powers returns after appearing in last season’s Hay Fever and Million Dollar Quartet. Newcomers Francum and Heald make appearances at Florida Rep after extensive work in regional theatres, and Bailey Tyler makes her main stage season debut after her work in Florida Rep’s Theatre for Young Audiences Series as one of the company’s 2019-2020 interns.
Frequent Florida Rep guest artist Michael Marotta directs the production after recent appearances in last season’s Tenderly: the Rosemary Clooney Musical and Cabaret in 2018. Marotta’s work as a director at Florida Rep includes recent critical and box office successes, Erma Bombeck: At Wit’s End and I Loved, I Lost, I Made Spaghetti.
Marotta leads an expert creative team including set designer Dennis C. Maulden (Hay Fever), ensemble costume designer Stefanie Genda (Million Dollar Quartet), lighting designer Tyler M. Perry (Cabaret), sound designer Katie Lowe (Always…Patsy Cline), and stage manager Phill Madore (Florida Rep debut).
Tickets start at $55/$49 for regular performances and $35/$29 for previews. Tickets are available online at www.FloridaRep.org and through the box office at 239-332-4488.
Subscriptions are also on sale now and offer the best seats at the most significant discount.
Performances are Tuesday – Thursday at 7 p.m., Friday and Saturday at 8 p.m., and Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday at 2 p.m.
Again this season, Florida Rep’s parking lot will open 2 hours before each performance and offers guests free parking across the street from the Arcade Theatre.
V Craig Heidenreich and Ellyn Heald
