The Cumberland Theatre will continue their 2021 Season with the opening of The Great Gatsby this weekend. The show, based on the classic literary work by F. Scott Fitzgerald, will run April 8th – 18th with Thursday – Saturday performances at 8:00 pm and Sunday matinees at 2:00 pm.
Last season, the COVID shutdown occurred in the middle of the rehearsal process for the show and the theatre has reassembled most of the same cast members to finally bring The Great Gatsby to the CT stage under the direction of Jennifer Clark.
Top row (left to right): Marty Jellison, Cory Asinofsky, Jen Ayer Drake, John Barker
Second Row: Ashley Snow, Sean Besecker, Kimberli Rowley, Kevin Shreve
Heading the cast as Nick Carraway, who serves as the narrator to the show, is Marty Jellison, who was last seen on the CT stage in Miracle on 34th Street. Playing the titular character, Jay Gatsby, will be Cory Asinofsky who is making his Cumberland Theatre debut. He is currently based in Brooklyn, New York where he is a member of the Less Than Rent Theatre Company.
Also making her first appearance at the theatre will be Jen Ayer Drake as Daisy Buchanan. Drake has appeared on stage throughout the tri-state area as will as in film and television. She recently won Best Supporting Actress at the Fusion Film Festival in London for her work in the psychological thriller Black Island. Returning to the Cumberland Theatre as her husband Tom Buchanan will be John Barker, who was last seen as Stanley Kolwalski in the theatre’s 2019 production of A Streetcar Named Desire.
Ashley Snow (who recently starred as Doris Walker in CT’s Miracle on 34th Street) and Sean Besecker (last seen as Sam Byck in Assassins) will return to play Jordan Baker and George Wilson. Co-Artistic Director Kimberli Rowley will appear as Myrtle Wilson and also serves as choreographer for the show. Local actor Kevin Shreve will be featured as Meyer Wolfsheim.
Playing a variety of supporting roles and dancing in the classic style of the 1920’s will be Morganne Chu, Ebony Genes, Emily Haworth, Connor McCabe, Wyatt Neff, Brielle Windle, and Hayden Kline who also serves as the Assistant Stage Manager for the production.
Other members of the production staff include Rhett Wolford (set and lighting design), Clark (costume design) and Karen Hutcheson (stage manager).
COVID precautions are in place for both patrons and staff. Masks must be worn for the duration of the performance and at all times when moving about the building. Audiences members will be temperature checked at the door and asked to observe social distancing regulations. Online ticket purchases are encouraged; however, the CT staff reserves the right to alter any reservations that do not comply with social distancing standards.
The Great Gatsby has an approximate running time of two hours with one intermission and is appropriate for audiences 12 and up. Parental discretion is encouraged. Tickets are available at www.cumberlandtheatre.com or by calling the theatre at 301-759-4990. Reservations are also being taken for the VIP Star Box which includes food, beverage and balcony seating for 8 people.
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