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Oct. 17, 2007/FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Media Contact: productionpr@ncarts.edu, Kathryn Pugh, 336-734-2924 NCSA TO PRESENT RUSSIAN COMEDY Alexander Ostrovsky’s “Too Clever By Half or Diary of a Scoundrel" Nov. 1-4 and 7-10
WINSTON-SALEM – A 19^th-century satirical comedy will use masks and puppets to bring the new Russian middle class to life when the North Carolina School of the Arts presents Too Clever By Half, or Diary of a Scoundrel by Alexander Ostrovsky Nov. 1-4 and 7-10. Performances will be at 8 p.m. Nov. 1-3 & Nov. 7-10 and at 2 p.m. Nov. 4 & 10 in the Proscenium Thrust Theatre of Performance Place on the NCSA campus, 1533 South Main St., Winston-Salem. Tickets are $12 for adults and $10 for students and seniors. For more information or to order tickets, call the NCSA Box Office at (336) 721-1945 or visit www.ncarts.edu/performances. A 19^th century satirical comedy, Diary of a Scoundrel is a story about the new Russian middle class and how a “scoundrel” manages to become an important piece of its social puzzle. Gloumov -- intelligent, handsome and more than just clever -- decides to use his charms and his friends’ and relatives’ weaknesses to his advantage. Gloumov confides in his diary his real thoughts and intentions. But what would happen if his secrets end up in the wrong hands? Author Ostrovsky surprises us with the answer to this question, and reveals the game of society in a wonderful display of characters, emotions, and laughter.	E.J. Cantu (L to R): Ian Weissman, Dane DeHaan, E.J. Cantu
Diary of a Scoundrel is directed by Robert Francesconi, assistant dean of the School of Drama. He draws on his years of experience as a consultant and master class teacher in creative drama, improvisation, mime, and clowning. In addition to his work at NCSA, he has taught mime and movement at colleges and universities around the world. The only major Russian author to devote his entire career to theatre, Alexander Ostrovsky is rightfully considered one of the most important 19^th-century Russian playwrights. His contributions were not only literary; he also founded a native school of acting where the ensemble system prevailed over the star system. His contributions helped consolidate the realistic method that was fulfilled by Stanislavsky and the Moscow Art Theater. The North Carolina School of the Arts was the first state-supported, residential performing arts school in the nation. Today, it is a leading conservatory of international renown, offering professional training for careers in the performing, visual, and moving image arts. ###
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Oct. 17, 2007/FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Media Contact: productionpr@ncarts.edu, Kathryn Pugh, 336-734-2924

NCSA TO PRESENT RUSSIAN COMEDY
Alexander Ostrovsky’s “Too Clever By Half or Diary of a Scoundrel"
Nov. 1-4 and 7-10

WINSTON-SALEM – A 19^th-century satirical comedy will use masks and puppets to bring the new Russian middle class to life when the North Carolina School of the Arts presents Too Clever By Half, or Diary of a Scoundrel by Alexander Ostrovsky Nov. 1-4 and 7-10.

Performances will be at 8 p.m. Nov. 1-3 & Nov. 7-10 and at 2 p.m. Nov. 4 & 10 in the Proscenium Thrust Theatre of Performance Place on the NCSA campus, 1533 South Main St., Winston-Salem. Tickets are $12 for adults and $10 for students and seniors. For more information or to order tickets, call the NCSA Box Office at (336) 721-1945 or visit www.ncarts.edu/performances.

A 19^th century satirical comedy, Diary of a Scoundrel is a story about the new Russian middle class and how a “scoundrel” manages to become an important piece of its social puzzle. Gloumov -- intelligent, handsome and more than just clever -- decides to use his charms and his friends’ and relatives’ weaknesses to his advantage. Gloumov confides in his diary his real thoughts and intentions. But what would happen if his secrets end up in the wrong hands? Author Ostrovsky surprises us with the answer to this question, and reveals the game of society in a wonderful display of characters, emotions, and laughter.

E.J. Cantu

(L to R): Ian Weissman, Dane DeHaan, E.J. Cantu

Diary of a Scoundrel is directed by Robert Francesconi, assistant dean of the School of Drama. He draws on his years of experience as a consultant and master class teacher in creative drama, improvisation, mime, and clowning. In addition to his work at NCSA, he has taught mime and movement at colleges and universities around the world.

The only major Russian author to devote his entire career to theatre, Alexander Ostrovsky is rightfully considered one of the most important 19^th-century Russian playwrights. His contributions were not only literary; he also founded a native school of acting where the ensemble system prevailed over the star system. His contributions helped consolidate the realistic method that was fulfilled by Stanislavsky and the Moscow Art Theater.

The North Carolina School of the Arts was the first state-supported, residential performing arts school in the nation. Today, it is a leading conservatory of international renown, offering professional training for careers in the performing, visual, and moving image arts.

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