Borough Resident to Star in "Glengarry Glen Ross" at Bergen County Players

The  (BCP) will present "Glengarry Glen Ross", a hard-hitting portrait of cut-throat office politics and BCP’s first foray into the world of David Mamet next Saturday, Mar. 26. The winner of the Pulitzer Prize for Drama, "Glengarry Glen Ross" features sharp dialogue, compelling characters and strong social commentary.

Inspired partly by Mamet’s stint as a typist in a Chicago real estate office during the late 1960s, "Glengarry Glen Ross" is a scalding dark comedy, driven by the playwright’s trademark staccato and profanity-laced dialogue. The play won the 1983 Laurence Olivier Award for Best New Play and the 1984 Pulitzer Prize for Drama. A 2005 Broadway revival won both the Drama Desk Award and the Tony Award for Outstanding Revival of a Play. A 1992 film adaptation by Mamet further solidified Glengarry’s place as one of the great masterpieces of 20th century drama.

Here is Mamet at his very best, writing with brutal power and the tough life of tough characters who cajole, connive, wheedle and wheel and deal for a piece of the action, where closing a sale can mean a brand new Cadillac but losing one can mean losing it all.

Scathingly funny, with a thrilling whodunit at its core, "Glengarry" exposes a dog-eat-dog world in which small-time real estate brokers vie for the hot leads at a Chicago firm selling shoddy properties. With money, egos and jobs on the line, the cut-throat salesmen will stop at nothing to get their fair share of the American Dream. This gritty story of shifting values in the male-dominated workplace is as potent andexhilarating as ever!

“Glengarry is a revolutionary piece of theater and one of the very best American plays of the 20th century," said director Alyson Cohn of Wyckoff. "Mamet’s language has the visceral power of machine gun fire and the savage grace of a puma. In short, it’s theatrical perfection.”

Alyson is both a seasoned BCP performer and director. Her directing credits at BCP include "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest", "Angels in America: Millennium Approaches" and "Proof", which won the 2006 Perry Award for Best Production of a Play. She has appeared on the BCP stage in many productions including "The Full Monty", "Little Shop of Horrors", and "Into the Woods". Alyson is the founder and director of Music Together of Northern NJ, an acclaimed music program for young children and their caregivers.

“I couldn’t have asked for a better cast,” says Cohn. “The connection and level of dedication among the cast members is truly amazing.”

Ricky Roma, the most successful salesman in the office, is played by Larry Kadish of New Milford. Frank Osmers of Haworth plays Shelly “The Machine” Levene, an older, once-successful salesman who has fallen on hard times.

Hackensack resident Rich Ardito appears as George Aaronow, a follower with low self esteem and no confidence in his sales ability. Jon Cole of Glen Rock appears as John Williamson, the office manager, who is despised but needed by the salesmen.

Dave Moss, a big-mouthed hothead with big dreams and schemes, is portrayed by Steven Reyngoudt of Hasbrouck Heights. Tom Lambrix of Franklin Lakes plays James Lingk, a timid, middle-aged man who becomes Roma’s latest client, with disturbing results. Jim Lugo of Congers, NY plays Baylen, the police detective who is investigating the office break-in around which the plot revolves.

This production contains mature themes and language.

Ticket and Schedule Information

"Glengarry Glen Ross" will be performed at the Little Firehouse Theatre in Oradell from March 26 through April 16, with shows at 8pm on Friday and Saturday and 2pm on Sunday.

Tickets for "Glengarry Glen Ross" are $19 for Friday and Saturday performances and $16 for Sunday matinee performances, and can be purchased online, by calling 201-261-4200 or by visiting the box office at 298 Kinderkamack Road in Oradell during regular box office hours.  Visa, Master Card, and American Express are accepted.

Those interested in Group Sales of 20 or more tickets can call 201-262-0515. Student Rush tickets are available for $5 for students age 25 and under with valid ID, 30 minutes prior to curtain. One ticket per ID. Cash only. Students can also guarantee their seats in advance either online or through the box office for the special student price of just $14.

Parking is free at the Park Avenue municipal lot, across the street, one-half block north of the theater.