(PDF) (DOC) (JPG)January 2, 2003

(Mahwah) – An original adaptation of Pulitzer Prize-winning author Studs Terkel’s American Dreams: Lost and Found, performed by The Acting Company, will be presented at Ramapo College of New Jersey Wednesday, January 29 at 7:30 p.m. in the Sharp Theater. The play exemplifies Terkel’s ability to capture the voices of Americans from all walks of life – an embittered winner of the Miss U.S.A. pageant, a businessman enamored of success, farm kids dreaming of the city and city boys determined to get out, the Boston Brahmin, the KKK, and a 19-year-old Puerto Rican bellhop.

Founded in 1972 by John Houseman and current Producing Director Margot Harley with members of the first graduating class of Juilliard’s Drama Division, The Acting Company promotes theater and literacy by bringing touring repertory of classical productions, talented young actors and teaching artists in communities across America, particularly those where live performances and theater arts education is limited or non-existent.

Terkel is the author of eight books of oral history, including the Pulitzer Prize-winning The Good War, a memoir entitled Talking to Myself and the just-published Will the Circle Be Unbroken. His other books include Working, Hard Times: An Oral History of the Great Depression and Race: How Blacks and Whites Think and Feel About the American Obsession. His daily radio show on WFMT in Chicago was broadcast on stations throughout the world until last year. He is currently based at the Chicago Historical Society, archiving his massive collection of interviews.

Peter Frisch, the play’s adaptor, has directed over 150 productions in the New York and regional theater, including a full range of classic and contemporary plays, cabaret and opera. His Chicago premier of Stud Terkel’s American Dreams received a Joseph Jefferson Award and his production of My Papa’s Wine on New York’s Theater Row won the Outer Circle Award.

Rebecca Guy, American Dreams’ director, is currently in her 15th season as artistic director of the Chautauqua Conservatory Theater Company. Her directing credits at Chautauqua include You Can’t Take It With You, Waiting for the Parade, The Faithful, and The Good Person of Setzuan, among many others. She is a project director and teacher at The Juilliard School Drama Division where she most recently directed Much Ado About Nothing, Cosi and Street Scene.

Tickets for American Dreams: Lost and Found are $22 for adults, $19 for seniors and $12 for students. For more information, please call (201) 684-7844. The Sharp Theater is located in the Angelica and Russ Berrie Center for Performing and Visual Arts on the Ramapo College campus.

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About Ramapo College

Ramapo College of New Jersey is the state’s premier public liberal arts college and is committed to academic excellence through interdisciplinary and experiential learning, and international and intercultural understanding. The comprehensive college is situated among the beautiful Ramapo Mountains, is within commuting distance to New York City, was named one of the 50 Most Beautiful College Campuses in America by CondeNast Traveler, and boasts the best on-campus housing in New Jersey per Niche.com. Established in 1969, Ramapo College offers bachelor’s degrees in the arts, business, data science, humanities, social sciences and the sciences, as well as in professional studies, which include business, education, nursing and social work. In addition, the College offers courses leading to teacher certification at the elementary and secondary levels, and offers graduate programs leading to master’s degrees in Accounting, Applied Mathematics, Business Administration, Contemporary Instructional Design, Computer Science, Creative Music Technology, Data Science, Educational Leadership, Nursing, Social Work and Special Education, as well as a Doctor of Nursing Practice.

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