DREAMCATCHER PRESENTS NEW JERSEY PREMIERE OF "THIS"

(SOUTH ORANGE, NJ) -- DREAMCATCHER REPERTORY THEATRE, professional Theatre in Residence at the Baird Center in South Orange, will present the New Jersey premiere of THIS by Melissa James Gibson from October 29 through November 14.  THIS is the moment in time where life turns a corner and takes a whole new direction, where the past must be surrendered and the unknown future embraced.  Humor and truth pepper the exchanges between the characters in this finely crafted hit play of New York's last season.

A group of old friends facing middle age grapple with parenthood, mortality, betrayal and what, if anything, makes their lives meaningful.  Jane is still grieving the loss of her husband to illness, and friends Marrell and Tom are feeling the strain of becoming new parents.  Alan is coming to the realization that his life may be devoid of significance, brought home by the group's new acquaintance with a French Doctor Without Borders, Jean-Pierre.  They all strain to break free of the situation in which they find themselves, but the outcome threatens to destroy their friendships along with their complacency. In its 2009 premiere, the New York Times said the "dialogue sparkles with exchanges as truthful as they are clever," and called it the "best new play to open Off-Broadway this fall."

Dreamcatcher's cast features Resident Acting Company members Nicole Callender (West Orange), Harry Patrick Christian (Montclair), Laura Ekstrand (Livingston), and Scott McGowan (Maplewood).  Completing the cast is Christopher T. Miller (New York), making his first appearance at Dreamcatcher since moving to the East Coast.  The show is directed by David Christopher (Cranford), an artist with a long career on New Jersey stages as an actor, director and teacher.

THIS will run at Dreamcatcher from Friday, October 29 through Sunday, November 14.  Performances are Friday and Saturday nights at 8:00 p.m., and Sundays at 2:00 p.m.  Tickets are $30 for adults and $25 for seniors and students, with special rates for subscribers and groups.  To save $5, purchase tickets on line at www.dreamcatcherrep.org.  Students pay only $10 on First Friday, October 29, and seniors pay only $10 on Senior Sunday, the October 31 matinee.

Performances are at The Baird, located at 5 Mead Street in Meadowland Park, a few blocks from the center of downtown South Orange.  The facility is wheelchair accessible.  As always, Assistive Listening devices for the hearing impaired and advance large print scripts are available by prior arrangement.  To purchase tickets or for information on any of Dreamcatcher Repertory Theatre's programs, please visit www.dreamcatcherrep.org or contact Dreamcatcher Repertory Theatre at The Baird, 5 Mead Street, South Orange, NJ 07079, 973-378-7754, ext. 2228.