directed by

Michael Champlin

 

cast (click on Name for Bio and Picture)

Isaac Benelli as Calisto/Clindor/Theogenes
Bill Davidovich as The Amanuensis
Monique Hafen as Melibea/Isabelle/Hippolyta
Jim Johnson as Matamore
Drew Ledbetter as Pleribo/Adraste/Prince Florilame
Sepideh Moafi as Elicia/Lyse/Clarina
Ray Renati* as Pridamant
Patricia Tyler as Alcandre

*Member, Actors Equity

 

 

 

 

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Artistic Staff

Director	Michael Champlin
Set Designer	Ron Gasparinetti
Stage Manager	Shannon Wass
Lighting Designer	Michael Sokolsky
Costume Designer	Rebecca Ennals
Sound Designer	Valerie Clear

 

The Play

The Illusion is a play by Tony Kushner, adapted from Pierre Corneille's seventeenth-century comedy, L'Illusion Comique. It follows a contrite father, Pridamant, seeking news of his prodigal son from the sorcerer Alcandre. The magician conjures three episodes from the young man's life. Inexplicably, each scene finds the boy in a slightly different world where names change and allegiances shift. Pridamant watches, but only as the strange tale reaches its conclusion does he learn the ultimate truth about his son.

The Illusion has a lighter mood than Kushner's most famous play, Angels in America, but the two plays share a love of poetic dialogue and theatricality.