Don’t Dress for Dinner
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Don’t Dress for Dinner
By Marc Camoletti
Adapted by Robin Hawdon
Directed by Christopher Williams
From: Nancy Richards
nancy@northcoastrep.org
Office: 858-481-1055 ext.
NORTH COAST REPERTORY THEATRE TO REPRISE
AUDIENCES’ FAVORITE FARCE,
DON’T DRESS FOR DINNER
By Marc Camoletti
Adapted by Robin Hawdon
Directed by Christopher Williams
July 17 – Now extended to August 18, 2024
Solana Beach, Calif. – For the past twenty years, audiences have been requesting North Coast Repertory Theatre to bring back the side-splitting, furiously paced farce, DON’T DRESS FOR DINNER, soon to reappear July 17 to Aug. 18. Playwright Marc Camoletti writes in the style of a classic French farce, full of mistaken identities, rapid-fire dialogue and unexpected twists. His recipe for comedic confusion combines some sexy hanky-panky, hilarious mix ups and of course, a gourmet dinner in a French country house. Audiences will be laughing from start to finish at the antics of these lovable (and sometimes not-so-lovable) characters. Box offices sales have been especially strong, so order tickets early to avoid disappointment.
Christopher Williams directs Brian Robert Burns,* Kim Morgan Dean,* Veronica Dunne*, Brandon J. Pierce,* Katy Tang,* and Jared Van Heel.* Vernon Willet is the Production Stage Manager; Jeruel Canda is the Production Assistant. The Design Team includes Marty Burnett (Resident Scenic Designer), Matthew Novotny (Lighting Design) Elisa Benzoni (Costume Design), Chris Leussman (Sound Design), and Kevin Williams (Props).
*The actor or stage manager appears through the courtesy of Actors’ Equity Association.
DON’T DRESS FOR DINNER previews begin on Wednesday, July 17. Opening Night is set for Saturday, July 20, at 8 pm. The play has now extended. Starts Wednesday, July 17, to Sunday, August 18, with performances on Wednesdays and Thursdays at 7 pm, Fridays and Saturdays at 8 pm, and Saturday and Sunday matinees at 2 pm and Sundays at 7 pm. Added matinee performances at 2pm on Friday, July 19, and Wednesday, Aug. 7. A talkback session with the director and cast is scheduled for July 26.
BIOS:
MARC CAMOLETTI (Playwright) (1923-2003) authored more than 40 plays and became a Chevalier de la Légion d’Honneur in France. Boeing Boeing, his first major international success, ran for seven years and 2000 performances in its debut London production. It became the Guinness Book of Records' most performed French play worldwide. The Paramount film starred Jerry Lewis, Tony Curtis and Thelma Ritter. A later play, Don’t Dress for Dinner, also ran for seven years in London’s West End. A French citizen, born in Geneva, and an acclaimed artist and associate of the Société National des Beaux Arts, Marc Camoletti launched his theatre career with three plays running simultaneously in Paris. Ten of his plays have also been produced for television. His work continues to flourish in numerous languages and some 55 countries.
ROBIN HAWDON (Adaptation) is a British playwright especially known for the popularity of his comedies. Mr. Hawdon’s plays are amongst the most frequently produced around the world – his name is as well-known abroad as in his native Great Britain. Many of his plays are published by Samuel French/Concord. Over recent years his plays have appeared in mainstream theatres in the UK, New York, Chicago, Toronto, Paris, Moscow, Warsaw, Krakow, Bonn, Stockholm, Copenhagen, Tel Aviv, Russia, Italy, Ukraine, South Africa, Australia, and in hundreds of smaller theatres across every continent. Their popularity, amongst professional and amateur companies alike, is due to the fast pace and comic complexity of their plot lines, combined with an essential humanity and reality in their characterization.
CHRISTOPHER WILLIAMS (Director) During his 30 years in the industry, Christopher has made his theatrical career as a director, union actor and stage manager, as well as, fight choreographer, designer, and instructor. His directing credits include: Last of the Red Hot Lovers, Visiting Mr. Green, and the West Coast Premieres of Gabriel and Desperate Measures (North Coast Rep); Romeo and Juliet (Southwest Shakespeare); Beau Jest and Leading Ladies (Moonlight Stages); Halpern and Johnson (AZ Jewish Theatre); I Hate Hamlet (Intrepid Theatre); Julius Caesar (New Village Arts); The Outsider and Chapatti (Scripps Ranch Theatre). He served six years as Associate Artistic Director and Casting Director for North Coast Rep following his duties as founding Artistic Director of Oceanside Theatre Company. Christopher has also worked in the film industry where he was producer, casting associate, and on-set acting coach for the WWII feature “Walking with the Enemy,” starring Sir Ben Kingsley and Jonas Armstrong.
BRIAN ROBERT BURNS* (Bernard) First National Tour: War Horse, The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time. Yale Rep: Richard II, Romeo and Juliet. San Francisco Playhouse: Becky Shaw. Rubicon Theater Company: The Baby Dance: Mixed. The Fountain Theatre: Arrival and Departure. Boomerang: Cymbeline. Clout in the Mug: Look Back in Anger. Lifetime: “Danger Lurking Under My Roof,” “Lucky Hearts.” Streaming: “Daredevil,” “Blackish.” MFA Yale School of Drama. Brian is in a punk band called Nonheroelite, is a Brazilian jiu-jitsu and kickboxing champion, and plays co-ed wood-bat baseball in a rec league for the two-time LABF champion Los Angeles Death. Brian is elated to be sharing this production of Don’t Dress for Dinner with you at the North Coast Rep and would like to thank his friends and family for their love and support.
KIM MORGAN DEAN* (Jacqueline) is delighted to return to North Coast rep, where she was seen last season as Captain Hastings in the world premiere of Steven Dietz’s Murder on the Links. Kim has performed in over 20 productions at Barter Theatre in Abingdon, VA and over 30 productions at Greenbrier Valley Theatre in Lewisburg, WV, including Next to Normal in the summer of 2023. Other credits include: Yankee Tavern (Florida Stage); Collected Stories (Mosaic Theatre); Beguiled Again, Ripcord, Moon Over Buffalo (Florida Rep). She is the recipient of the 2008 and 2009 Carbonell Best Supporting Actress Award for her performances as Wren in Body of Water and Mairead in The Lieutenant of Inishmore, respectively. Gratitude to the North Coast Rep crew for having me aboard, to TM for love & support, and to YOU for supporting live theatre! www.kimmorgandean.com
VERONICA DUNNE* (Suzette) is overjoyed to be working on this hilarious show. She is most recognized for her role as Marisa on Disney Channel’s “KC Undercover” and making her Broadway debut as Roxie Hart in Chicago. Along with other TV and Film protects, some stage credits include Cabaret (Sally Bowles), Into the Woods (Baker’s Wife), and Legally Blonde (Margot). Instagram: @veronica_dunne.
BRANDON J. PIERCE* (Robert) is thrilled to be performing at North Coast Rep once again! Born in the city of Philadelphia, where he has most extensively plied his trade, Brandon has had the pleasure of performing all over the country. Broadway: Birthday Candles (Roundabout Theatre) Off-Broadway: Exit Strategy (Primary Stages) Regional: Fat Ham, Eternal Life Pt.1, Kill Move Paradise (Wilma Theatre); Incendiary (Woolly Mammoth); Ben Butler (North Coast Repertory); Native Son (Playmakers Rep.); Welcome to Fear City (Kansas City Rep); Skeleton Crew (Portland Stage); Sweat (People’s Light); Metamorphoses (Arden Theatre Company). Brandon is a member of the Wilma Theater's Hothouse Acting Company. Brandon was the recipient of the 2023 Barrymore Award for Outstanding Supporting Performance in a Play. Love to Alexandra, Mom, and Dad.
KATY TANG* (Suzanne) is excited to return to North Coast Rep, previously seen in Pippin, The Cherry Orchard, and The Remarkable Mister Holmes. Regional credits: Sweeney Todd, She Loves Me (South Coast Repertory), A Christmas Carol (Denver Center, Syracuse Stage), Marry Me A Little (International City Theatre), Candide (San Bernardino Symphony), A Little Night Music (EastWest Players), Spring Awakening (Cygnet Theatre),The Mikado, Turn of the Screw (Pacific Opera Project), La Mirada Theatre, Independent Shakespeare Company, Laguna Playhouse, The LATC, Arrow Rock Lyceum, Sacred Fools, Fullerton Civic Light Opera, and LA Opera. International credits: Susanna in ”Le Nozze di Figaro” (Mediterranean Opera Festival, Italy), Sophie in “Werther,” Amour in “Orphée et Eurydice” (La Péniche Opera, France). Katy has also recently created her own site-specific work with vocal sound installations, as a selected 2023 Artist in Residence with Saturn’s Return in Washington state. Tang trained at UCLA & the Ecole Normale de Musique, Paris. She was runner-up Miss CA 2013 and is a two-time Junior Olympian ice-skater.
JARED VAN HEEL* (George) is thrilled to be returning to North Coast Rep after appearing as Valére/M. Loyal in Tartuffe earlier this year. San Diego audiences may have previously seen him in eight productions of Shakespeare at The Old Globe. He has toured extensively throughout the USA, Canada, Mexico, Australia, and New Zealand. Off-Broadway credits include Hamlet and The Awesome 80s Prom. Select Regional credits include Tartuffe (Laguna Playhouse), The Liar, The Merry Wives of Windsor, and The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged) (Texas Shakespeare Festival); The Trip to Bountiful, Frankenstein Unplugged, Betty’s Summer Vacation, Cyclone, and Breach (Montana Repertory Theatre); Antony & Cleopatra (Harlequin Productions), American Midget (Trembling Stage), Twelfth Night (MadCap Productions), and others.
VERNON WILLET* (Production Stage Manager) is returning to North Coast Rep after having helmed Tartuffe, the return engagement of 2 Pianos 4 Hands and two world premieres: The Angel Next Door by Paul Slade Smith and one of the most successful productions to date, Murder on the Links, written and directed by Steven Dietz. Vernon’s work encompasses many of the Southern California theatres: the Laguna Playhouse, McCoy/Rigby Entertainment, Musical Theatre West, 3D Theatricals, the Rubicon Theatre, San Diego Musical Theatre, Theatre Aspen, Maltz Jupiter Theatre and a myriad of others. He shares his life with director/choreographer/champion ballroom dancer Cate Caplin. Actors’ Equity Association member since 1983.