Photo Flash: First Look at Cincinnati Shakespeare's THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING EARNEST

Cincinnati Shakespeare Company, Cincinnati's stage for the classics, presents Osacr Wilde's most perfect comedy, "The Importance of Being Earnest" playing from November 23- December 16, 2012. This production is directed by Cincinnati Shakespeare Company Producing Artistic Director Brian Isaac Phillips and features CSC Resident Ensemble Members Sara Clark, Jeremy Dubin, Jessie Wray Goodman, Jim Hopkins and Brent Vimtrup. The production design is generously sponsored by Towne Properties. Get a first look at the show in the photos below!

In a classic tale of romance and folly, two beautiful ladies, Gwendolen Fairfax (Sara Clark) and Cecily Cardew (Jesse Wray Goodman) are pursued by two dashing gentleman, John Worthing (Jeremy Dubin) and Algernon Moncrieff (Brent Vimtrup). However Mr. Worthing's mischievous brother Earnest and Mr. Moncrieff ailing friend Bunbury always complicate matters - especially since they don't actually exist. And to make matters worse for Gwendolen and Mr. Worthing, they must contend with the disapproval of Gwendolen's mother, the formidable Lady Bracknell (Jim Hopkins). One of the funniest comedies in the English language, "The Importance of Being Earnest" provides an examination of the hypocrisies and conventions of a so-called well-mannered society.

"The Importance of Being Earnest" was first performed on February 14, 1895 at the St. James's Theatre in London. The original Broadway production opened at the Empire Theater a few months later on April 22, 1895. Reviews all praised the play's humor and foresaw the modern consensus that it would be considered the culmination of Wilde's artistic career. Its high farce and witty dialogue have helped make "The Importance of Being Earnest" Wilde's most enduringly popular play. It has been revived many times since its premiere and has been adapted for the cinema on three occasions. John Gielgud was possibly the most famous Jack Worthing of the twentieth century, and his 1939 production was seen as a model for later performances. The play has been performed at the Stratford Shakespeare Festival five times beginning in 1975 with William Hutt playing "Lady Bracknell" in both the 1975 and 1976 productions and Brian Bedford in the 2009 production. In 2011, the Roundabout Theatre Company produced a Broadway revival based on the 2009 Stratford Shakespeare Festival production featuring Brian Bedford as director and as Lady Bracknell. It was nominated for three Tony Awards: Best Revival of a Play, Best Costume Design of a Play and Best Leading Actor in a Play for Bedford.

Performances of "Importance of Being Earnest" are scheduled from November 23- December 16, 2012 on Thursday, Friday & Saturday evenings at 7:30pm and Saturday and Sundays at 2pm. Preview performances are on Tuesday Dec. 20 and Wednesday Dec. 22 at 7:30pm and tickets are $15. The theater is located at 719 Race Street, downtown Cincinnati, two blocks west of the Aronoff Center. Single ticket prices range from $22-$28 on Thursday Nights and Sunday Matinees and from $26-$32 on Friday and Saturday Nights. If available, $14 student rush tickets may be purchased 30 minutes before a show with a valid student ID. Visa, Discover, MasterCard, and American Express are accepted. Ticketing fees may apply. Discounts are available for students, seniors and groups as well as Enjoy the Arts and AAA members. To purchase tickets or for more information, call the CSC Box Office at 513.381.BARD (2273) ext. 1, or go online at www.cincyshakes.com.

Cincinnati Shakespeare Company is a professional theatre company dedicated to bringing Shakespeare and the classics to life for audiences of all ages. Located in the heart of downtown Cincinnati, CSC produces a dozen mainstage productions each season. CSC employs a resident company of actors and artists who live and work in Cincinnati year-round, and performs on a Small Professional Theatre contract with Actors' Equity Association. Cincinnati Shakespeare Company's Education and Outreach Programs see an average of 18,000 students each season by taking Shakespeare into schools, parks, community centers and by hosting educational matinees of mainstage productions at its home on Race Street. In Season 20, CSC will become one of only a handful of companies worldwide to have produced Shakespeare's 38-play canon in its entirety. CSC is a 501 (c)(3) non-profit organization and all donations are tax deductible.

Photo Credit: Rich Sofranko

Brent Vimtrup as Algernon Moncrieff

Sara Clark as Gwendolen Fairfax and Jeremy Dubin as John Worthing

Jesse Wray Goodman as Cecily Cardew and Brent Vimtrup as Algernon Moncrieff

Sara Clark as Gwendolen Fairfax and Jesse Wray Goodman as Cecily Cardew

Jim Hopkins as Lady Bracknell