(PDF) (DOC) (JPG)April 12, 2004

(Mahwah) – A despicable hypocrite will turn one family’s life upside down in an adaptation of Mollière’s, comedy, Tartuffe, opening April 22 at Ramapo College of New Jersey. Additional performances are scheduled April 23-24, 28-30 and May 1; all performances are at 8 p.m. in the Sharp Theater. The Ramapo College Theater Program production is directed by Martha Banta.

Although much of Mollière’s language has not been changed, the story has been updated to be relevant for today’s audience. Tartuffe, the lead character, is presented as a Southern evangelist-type, Dorine, as a sassy, street-like maid, and Mariane resembles Jessica Simpson.

Martha Banta (director) is the artistic director of the Adirondack Theatre Festival in Glens Falls, NY where she has directed many contemporary plays and world premieres. She has served as artistic associate at New York Theatre Workshop and on the production staff at New York City Opera. Some directing credits include work at theaters such as: Clark Theater, Lincoln Center; NYTW; Soho Rep; Ensemble Studio Theater; New Georges; Cincinnati Playhouse; Portland Stage; Capital Rep.; Merrimack Rep.; and The Julliard School. She has directed the musical Rent in Japan and Germany, and her production of Playhouse Disney Live is still running in Disneyworld. She has taught at NYU, SUNY Stony Brook, and Vassar.

Students in the cast include:

Ramapo alumna Chrissy Tippy of Parsippany is the production assistant director. Andrea Gonzales of Phillipsburg is stage manger and Allison Barton of New Milford and Courtney Tobin of Phillipsburg share the role of assistant stage manager.

Tickets for Tartuffe are $10. The Sharp Theater is located in the Angelica and Russ Berrie Center for Performing and Visual Arts on the Ramapo College campus. For more information call 201.684.7844.

This program is made possible in part by funds from the New Jersey State Council on the Arts/Department of State, a Partner Agency of the National Endowment for the Arts.

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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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