Tony Nominated Play Comes to Irvington for One Weekend

Written by gallen (Open Post)

Irvington Town Hall Theater is excited to present 4th Wall Theatre’s production of NEXT FALL for two performances on March 7 & 8. The play goes beyond the typical love story to explore what it means to believe and what it might cost us not to. The play is about two gay men in a committed relationship in which one is devoutly religious and the other is an atheist. The play revolves around their five-year relationship and how they make it work despite their differences. However, when an accident changes everything, Adam must turn to Luke’s family for support and answers.

“When I started working at ITHT, I was told audiences would like to see more plays presented in the space,” says Theater Manager Greg Allen. “I had worked with 4th Wall Theatre previously and once I heard they were producing this play in March, I immediately asked them to bring it to us for a weekend.”

4th Wall Theatre has produced lessor known works for the past 18 seasons in Northern New Jersey and has become known as a group willing to take risks with cutting edge theatre. In addition to many award-winning musicals, they have presented Having Our Say: The Delany Sisters’ First 100 Years, Avow, Speech & Debate, and Lips Together, Teeth Apart just to name a few plays.

The play by Geoffrey Nauffts (current head writer on the TV series Nashville) made quite a splash in New York in 2010 when it moved from off-Broadway to Broadway with the entire cast intact, including Irvington’s own Maddie Corman. The play was produced on Broadway by Elton John (along with others) and was nominated for a Tony Award for Best Play.

Of, NEXT FALL, Director Gwen Ricks-Spencer says “I saw this piece a couple of years ago and was immediately struck by the simplicity at the core of a story—that every relationship requires a leap of faith. I was also attracted to the very complex political and religious viewpoints which entangle the story. I am intrigued by the fact that the play shows that rarely are things black and white--that we navigate the world more in gray.”

The play, which is considered a drama with very funny moments, was given a rave review by Ben Brantley of the New York Times. Patrick Heusinger (currently on TV’s A Girlfriend’s Guide to Divorce), the original Luke on Broadway, told ITHT Theater Manager, “That play meant so much to me. Changed my life. Changed many lives.”

Many locals of the Rivertowns know Maddie Corman as the little girl who spent years on the stage in Irvington doing children’s shows before heading into the city to make it a career. And that she did. The entire village was thrilled when she originated the role of Holly, the fun-loving best friend of Adam in Nauffts’ play.

“Geoffrey Nauffts’ NEXT FALL is an incredible important hilarious honest wonderful play that I feel lucky to have been a part of,” says Maddie Corman of the original production. “The play has so much to say about love and family and faith and friendship. All of us who worked on the play were changed forever by the experience. The Irvington Town Hall Theater is a magical theatre where I first discovered my love for acting. As a 10 year old girl, I performed on that stage and dreamed that maybe someday I could act on a Broadway stage...so the fact that NEXT FALL, which was my Broadway debut, is being staged at the ITHT... Well it just makes my heart smile.”

4th Wall’s cast includes Nick Wolf as Luke, Ted Cancila as Adam, Lynn Langone as Arlene, Victor Gallo as Buch, Vanessa Robinson as Holly, Alan Van Antwerp as Brandon. Gwen Ricks-Spencer directs and Kate Swan is the theater’s artistic director.

NEXT FALL will run on March 7 at 8pm with a 3pm matinee on Sunday, March 8th. Tickets can be purchased for a discount of $20/$15 in advance on the theater’s website at: http://bit.ly/4WT_NextFall - Groups interested in attending should contact the box office at: 914-591-6602

Irvington Town Hall Theater is located at 85 Main Street, Irvington NY

Video Promo

Photos by Tom Schopper

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