Friday
Tickets: $20 adults; $18 seniors/children
The CENTERstage production of “The Time of Your Life,” William Saroyan’s wise and bittersweet homage to life will open at The CENTER for Performing Arts at Rhinebeck on Sunday, May11, at 3 pm for a limited two-week engagement. Directed by David Tass Rodriguez, “The Time of Your Life” is a true ensemble masterpiece. This production features a cast of CENTER regulars, as well as welcoming some new faces to the CENTER stage.
Set in Nick’s Pacific Street Saloon, Restaurant, and Entertainment Palace in San Francisco in the fall of 1939, “The Time of Your Life” won the Pulitzer Prize in 1940 but Saroyan refused the award because he believed that “commerce should not judge the arts.” He did accept the New York Drama Critics’ Circle Award for the play, however, also awarded in 1940. Saroyan is also known for “The Human Comedy,” “My Heart’s in the Highlands,” and “The Cave Dwellers.” He also co-authored the Rosemary Clooney hit, “Come On-a My House,” and worked on the screenplay of Clifford Odets’ “Golden Boy.”
The play’s director, David Rodriquez, is known to area audiences for years of performances, with recent characters including Pseudolus in “A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum,” Stanley in “A Streetcar Named Desire,” Claudius in “Hamlet,” and Sky Masterson in “Guys and Dolls.” All four productions played at The CENTER for Performing Arts and CENTERstage producer, Lou Trapani, directed Mr. Rodriguez in “Streetcar” and “Hamlet” and co-starred with him in “Forum” and “Guys and Dolls.” Rodriguez has also directed Arthur Kopit's "Oh Dada, Poor Dad, Mama's Hung You in the Closet and I'm Felling So Sad" at Bard Courtyard and W.S.' "Romeo & Juliet" & "Mid-summer Night's Dream" and two student films. He proudly announces his recent assent to professional status by virtue of his employment at Stageworks on the Hudson as Producing Artistic Associate and a contract with Phillip Morris at Proctors Theater in Schenectady. “David is one of the regions’ finest actors,” says Trapani, “and I’m sure he’ll bring his keen sensibilities to the staging of this play.”
“The Time of Your Life” plays at The CENTER for Performing Arts at Rhinebeck May 11 – 18, (opens Sunday) Friday and Saturday at 8 pm and Sundays at 3 pm. Tickets are $20 adults; $18 seniors & children, and may be purchased on-line, any time, at www.centerforperformingarts.org or by calling The CENTER’s box office (845) 876-3080 (box office hours are Tuesdays – Fridays 11 am – 5 pm and Saturdays 1 pm – 5 pm). The CENTER is located at 661 Route 308, Rhinebeck, NY. Free parking, on-site. Wheelchair accessible. Climate controlled. Concession stand. The CENTER is a non-profit arts and education organization.
