As the end of summer approaches, Cape May Stage is pleased to announce “The Shuck” by Shawn Fisher opens Sept. 19 and runs through Nov. 19. This world premiere by a Cape May native provides a gritty look inside the life of Constance, an oyster boat captain who is forced to face the truth about her family and the secrets that broke them apart so many years ago.
Making her debut at Cape May Stage is Kim Zimmer playing Constance, a rugged unkempt oyster boat captain with plenty of brashness and tenacity. Kim is best known for her portrayal of Reva Shayne on “Guiding Light,” where she received four Lead Actress Emmys. When the show ended its run in 2009, Kim returned to her first love: live theater! After appearing on Off Broadway stages in “Four Dogs And a Bone” and “Love Letters” with Alec Baldwin, Kim then toured with Broadway’s “Wicked” in the First National Tour for 22 months. Regional credits include “Blood Brothers,” “Gypsy” and “Sunset Boulevard.” Television credits include “Seinfeld,” “Designing Women,” “MacGyver,” “One Life to Live” and “Santa Barbara.” Her film credits include “23 Blast,” “Body Heat,” “Freshmen Father,” “Keeping Secrets” and “Trench Coat in Paradise.”
Playing Anthony, a tough old fisherman with a youthful attitude, is Bill Tatum. Bill has been a New York actor and proud member of Actors’ Equity Association for 45 years. He previously has appeared at Cape May Stage in “Moon Over Buffalo” and “Mary, Mary.” This past winter he appeared in “In White America,” which was a top 10 in Deadline. Bill has worked 18 seasons at the Oldcastle Theatre in “Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?” “The Odd Couple,” “Night and Her Stars” and “Sherlock Holmes.” His TV appearances include “As the World Turns,” “Law and Order,” “The Office Party” and “On the Water.”
Playing Constance’s long lost daughter, Gail, is Kyra Adams. Kyra is thrilled to be making her Cape May Stage debut! A recent graduate from New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts and a Cape May local, Kyra is honored to be working on this wonderful play in the town where she was raised. Some past credits include “Merrily We Roll Along” (Gussie), “Hades & Gahenna” (Yael), “Assassins” (Squeaky) and “Bare: A Pop Opera” (Claire). Kyra has also appeared on HBO’s “The Deuce.”
Cape May native Shawn Fisher is also the playwright of “Do Not Hit Golf Balls into Mexico,” “How to Make a Rope Swing” and “Scope.” He won the Edgerton Foundation New American Play Award and was a two-time nominee for the Steinberg/American Theatre Critics Association Award and the Stavis Playwriting Award. He was a national finalist for the Osborn New Play Award, the Nuestras Voces Award and the David M. Cohen Playwriting Awards. He is the director of the National Playwrights Symposium at Cape May Stage, which he co-founded with Producing Artistic Director Roy Steinberg. Shawn has also designed, directed or produced over 125 productions throughout the country. He holds an MFA from Brandeis University and serves as a professor and Head of Graduate Studies in Theatre at Utah State University.
The world premiere of “The Shuck,” sponsored by The Harrison, is Sept. 19. The show runs Wednesday-Saturday at 7:30 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday at 3 p.m. through Nov. 9. Join us on Sept. 20 for the official opening night at 6 p.m. with a special pre-celebration featuring oysters from Cape May Oyster Salts and a cash wine bar. Then join us after the performance at Harry’s Bar & Grille for a post-celebration with cast and crew, cash bar and light fare provided by Harry’s.
For more information, call the box office at (609) 770-8311 or visit www.capemaystage.org. Even though summer is coming to a close, Cape May Stage’s season is far from over. Don’t miss a single moment of this very special 2018 season!