 The Ladies Man Professional Equity Play Feb. 17-Mar. 4, 2012 |
Nov. 5-21, 2010
The Edith Bolte Kutz ’42 Theater (Blackbox) of the Lackland Center
Professional Equity Theatre Presentation
Ghosts and Political Intrigue:
Mugabe Drama Opens at Centenary Stage Company
 Ezra Barnes is Alexander Peric, Che Ayende is Gabriel, Michael Rogers Is Robert Mugabe and Roslyn Coleman is Grace Mubabe in Fraser Grace’s Breakfast with Mugabe Photo by Carl Wallnau [closer view] |
The Play
Robert Mugabe is haunted by ghosts.
And he has an election to worry about.
Luckily, he has summoned a noted psychiatrist to help mediate the "ngozi"- or evil spirits for him. But as the white,
tobacco-farm-owning doctor in a land of social turmoil and economic collapse, the cost of Dr. Peric's analysis threatens to come
at grave personal expense.
Award-winning playwright Fraser Grace brings his compelling drama of psychological intrigue and political strife, Breakfast with Mugabe, to the Centenary Stage Company for its New Jersey premiere. "Mugabe .." will christen the new Edith Kutz Bolte Theater of the David and Carol Lackland Center November 5 – 21, in Hackettstown.
 Michael Rogers is Robert Mugabe, Che Ayende is Gabriel and Ezra Barnes is Alexander Peric in Fraser Grace’s Breakfast with Mugabe, directed by David Shookhoff Photo by Carl Wallnau [closer view] |
First produced at the Royal Shakespeare Company in Stratford (directed by Anthony Sher) Breakfast with Mugabe transferred to London's West End, and was named joint winner of the John Whiting Award for best new play of 2006. "The power the play lies in its ability to put Zimbabwe's current tragedy into a historical context," stated Michael Billington of The Guardian, who also recognized the work as a play of "Shakespearean dimensions."
The Playwright: Fraser Grace
Directed By: David
Shookhoff
Breakfast with Mugabe will be directed by Manhattan Theatre Club's David Shookhoff.
 Michael Rogers as Robert Mugabe |
The Cast [Featuring:
Michael Rogers, (Broadway: Joe Turner's Come and Gone)]
The cast will feature Michael Rogers (seen last season on Broadway in "Joe Turner's Come and Gone")
as Robert Mugabe, the president who wrested control from a small white community to become Zimbabwe's first black leader.
 Rosalyn Coleman as Grace Mugabe |
Psychiatrist Dr. Peric will be performed by Ezra Barnes, founder and former artistic director of Shakespeare on the Sound Theatre (CT). In addition to his extensive work in classical and regional theatre, Barnes has also been seen recently on the television series Law & Order, Law & Order: SVU, Bored to Death, and in a recurring role on As The World Turns.
Dr. Peric is simultanaeously cajoled and threatened by the chic wife of the president, Grace Mugabe, who will be played by Rosalyn Coleman. Coleman can currently be seen in the feature film "It's Kind of a Funny Story", starring Zach Galifianakis. Her Broadway credits include "Radio Golf", "Seven Guitars", and "The Piano Lesson." Coleman has been seen on television in guest-starring roles on "Mercy", "NYPD Blue", "NY Undercover", and "Law &Order SVU" among others.
Chey Ayende will play the role of impenetrable bodyguard, Gabriel. Ayende's NY credits include performances at Playwrights Horizons, the New York Theatre Workshop and The Public theatre, with additional regional performances at The Long Wharf Theatre and Dallas Theatre Center among others.
Set and Sound design by: Lee Savage
| Reviews |
| "...a modern-day Macbeth, haunted by the ghost of
Banquo, attempting to sort out his blood-stained fears with the help of a therapist. "The intimacy of the airy black box space is conducive to the effectiveness of “Breakfast With Mugabe,” "The lighting, designed by Ed Matthews, is consistently clear and bright overall; narrowing the focus and creating some darkness hovering over the sessions..." Michael Sommers - The New York Times [Full Review] "...actors remember and deliver a great number of lines in a natural manner...acting is beyond superb" "Ezra Barnes is wonderful as Dr. Peric" "Michael Rogers...His Mugabe a force to be reckoned with." "Julia Sharp’s costumes...native get-up she provides for Grace is a knock-out." "if you are looking for great acting, Breakfast with Mugabe has the right menu! And the final scene will render you speechless." Ruth Ross, nj arts maven [Full Review] "...an ideal way to break in the new Edith Bolte Kutz Theater, a black box for experimental work...At Friday night’s opening, many a theatergoer was on the edge of his [seat]." "...under David Shookhoff’s taut direction, we’ll see that both Michael Rogers as Mugabe and Ezra Barnes as Peric are up to the challenge of a head-to-head clash of alpha males." "Rosalyn Coleman knows how to play this woman." "...Gabriel...Mugabe’s bodyguard...Che Ayende...plays that scene to the hilt." Peter Filichia, The Star-Ledger [Full Review] "Award-winning drama is a gem at the Centenary Stage Company" "The small, very impressive, cast, directed by David Shookhoff..." "...wife of the president, Grace Mugabe...is played with style by Rosalyn Coleman." "Chey Ayende is properly threatening in the role of Mugabe's bodyguard, Gabriel." "Michael Rogers is perfect as Mugabe." "The very effective set was designed by Lee Savage." Rick Busciglio, examiner.com™ New York [Full Review] "...outstanding cast..." "Grace gives us a meaty drama that is intensified by placing it on the stage of Centenary Stage Company's new black box Edith Bolte Kutz '42 Theatre. "On such a stage, where every scene is a close-up, the actors had better be good, so Shookhoff stacked the deck in his (and our) favor..." "Michael Rogers... is a tightly wound revelation.' "All the actors employ convincing accents that add credibility to this complex and intense battle of wills, which leads to a powerful climax." William Westhoven - DailyRecord.com [Full Review] |
Schedule
Performances of Breakfast with Mugabe, which will run through November 5 - 21, 2010, will be Thursdays
at 7:30 PM, Fridays and Saturdays at 8 PM, and Sundays at 2:30 PM, with an additional preview matinee on Friday,
Nov. 5th at 2:30 PM, and a Wednesday matinee on Nov. 10th at 2:30 PM. A student matinee will be performed on Wednesday, Nov. 17th at 10am.
| Nov. 2010 - Breakfast with Mugabe | ||||||
| Wed. Stu.Mat. 10am |
Wed. Mat. 2:30pm |
Thurs. Eve. 7:30pm |
Fri. Mat. 2:30pm Preview |
Fri. Eve. 8pm |
Sat. Eve. 8pm |
Sun. Mat. 2:30pm |
| 5 | 5 | 6 | 7 |
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| x | 10 | 11 Family Night |
x | 12 | 13 | 14 "Talk- back" |
| 17 | x | 18 Family Night |
x | 19 |
20 |
21 Access- ibility |
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About Lackland Performing Arts Center
 Lackland Performing Arts Center |
One of the most sophisticated performing arts venues in Northwest New Jersey, the David and Carol Lackland Center encompasses a 22,000-square-foot performance space, a new state-of-the-art 500-seat theatre (Sitnik Theater), a black box theater (The Edith Bolte Kutz ’42 Theater), a dance studio, scene shop, a costume shop, green room and dressing rooms. In addition to housing the theatre, the 68K square foot Lackland Center will be a home for a variety of cultural activity, and will include WNTI, the College’s listener-supported NPR Affiliate, and CCTV, Centenary’s Comcast-licensed television studio, and gallery space for visual artists.
Named in honor of Carol Burgess Lackland, A Centenary graduate (Class of 1954), and her husband, David A. Lackland, a Centenary College Trustee, The David and Carol Lackland Center has been designed to enrich student life and bring new cultural opportunities to northwest New Jersey. ...more (including photos, progress reports, and 'Tour Lackland with Carl')
| Lackland Center Seating | |
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Sitnik Lower Level Seating Seats assigned on a best available basis. [closer view] |
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Sitnik Balcony Seating Seats assigned on a best available basis. [closer view] |
| The Edith Bolte Kutz ’42 Theater (Blackbox) Seating Open Seating as the theatre configuration will change depending on the event. Parking [Large Map Link] [Print Map Link] |
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Tickets
Tickets for Breakfast with Mugabe range in price from $20 to $25, with special discounts for seniors, students and
groups. A special tradition locally for the economically-minded, Thursday evenings at CSC are "Family Nights" with
two-for-one ‘rush' ticket prices available at the door on the evening of the performance. Tickets may be purchased
through our Secure
Online Ticketing System or by calling the CSC box office at 908-979-0900, Mon. through Fri., from 1-5 PM.
Subscription Value Still Available
(Review the Full Schedule
)
- 
Subscription Events)
Centenary Stage Company is often referred to as "the best deal in the state."
Though our season has already started, this event can still be purchased as a part of a discounted season subscription
purchase. Centenary Stage Company offers several subscription plans for its season with the mission of making arts affordable
for all. The still available subscription is:
Individual TicketsSeries B Subscription, priced at $100, allows patrons to purchase a season subscription for any SIX of the remaining subscription events in the CSC season.
Individual Tickets are:
| Season Plays: | |
| Saturday: | $25.00 for adults, $22.50 for
seniors/students and $15.00 for children under 12 |
| Friday | $22.50 for adults, $20.00 for seniors/students and $15.00 for children under 12 |
| Other Evening Performances: | $22.50 for adults, $20.00 for seniors/students and $15.00 for children under 12 |
| Matinee showings (except Preview) | $20.00 for adults and seniors/students, $15.00 for children under 12 ($20.00 at the door) |
| Friday Preview Matinees | $17.50 for adults and seniors/students, $15.00 for
children under 12 ($17.50 at the door) 2010-11 Fri. Preview Matinee Dates: Oct 1, Nov. 5, Nov. 26, Feb. 18, April 1 |
| Thursday (2 for 1 at the door the day of the show only): | $22.00 |
| Concert / Dance Events | In Advance: New Jersey Ballet; Chamber Orchestra Kremlin $25.00 for adults ($30.00 at the door) $22.50 for seniors/students ($25.00 at the door) $15.00 for children under 12 ($20.00 at the door) All Other $22.50 for adults ($25.00 at the door) $20.00 for seniors/students ($22.50 at the door) $15.00 for children under 12 ($20.00 at the door) The at-the-door ticket prices: New Jersey Ballet; Chamber Orchestra Kremlin: $30.00 / $25.00 / $20.00 All Other: $25.00 / $22.50 / $20.00 |
| The 2011-12 season of performing arts events at Centenary Stage Company is made possible (and affordable) through the generous support of The Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation, The New Jersey State Council on the Arts, The Blanche and Irving Laurie Foundation, and CSC sponsors and members, including Premiere Sponsors Fulton Bank of New Jersey (formerly Skylands Community Bank) and Heath Village Retirement Community, as well as Hackettstown Regional Medical Center, Mama's Café Baci, and Centenary Stage Company Members and Sponsors. |
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