For Immediate Release
October 1, 2008

Cañada College Theater Arts Presents: The Importance of Being Earnest

Oscar Wilde’s classic story brings witty dialogue and humor to Victorian era England.

Cañada College drama students will bring to life what many theater critics and scholars believe is the wittiest play in the English language when Oscar Wilde’s The Importance of Being Earnest is performed this month.

Performances for the college’s fall semester production will be Oct. 16-18 at 8 p.m.; Oct. 24-25 at 8 p.m.; and Oct. 26 at 2 p.m. All performances will be in the Flex Theater at Cañada College, 4200 Farm Hill Blvd., in Redwood City. Tickets are $12 general admission and $8 for students and seniors. Tickets can be purchased at the box office prior to each show or call (650) 306-3396 for reservations.

“This cast is exceptionally talented, playful, witty, and dedicated,” said Anna Budd, director and professor of theater arts at the college. “The actors have really embraced the spirit of Wilde’s play and the audience is going to really enjoy this interpretation.”  Three of the cast members, Kevin Mayer, Chelsea Hickson, and Phillip Raupach return to the Flex Theater after appearing in last year’s smash hit, The Three Musketeers and the Famous Female Duelist of France.

Kathryn Duggan, who plays Ms. Prism, won the Hillbarn Theatre 2007 Subscriber Choice Award for Favorite Performance by a Female Actor in a Play. Nancy Martin, who plays Lady Bracknell, is the drama instructor at Carlmont High, and has also performed at Hillsdale Community Theatre, and Broadway by the Bay.

The Importance of Being Earnest is a classic comedy of manners in which two flippant young men, in order to impress their respected beloveds, pretend that their names are “Ernest,” which both young ladies believe confers magical qualities on the possessor. Mayer will play John Worthing while Max Tachis plays Algernon Moncrieff. The part of Gwendolen Fairfax is played by Hickson and the part of Cecily Cardew is played by Corinne Cortez.

For more information, contact Robert Hood, Director of Marketing and Public Relations, at hoodr@smccd.edu or 306-3340