(HAMMONTON, NJ) -- Eagle Theatre opens Moonlight & Magnolias - the highly anticipated and uproarious irreverent behind-the-scenes glimpse of Gone With The Wind - on March 28th. Based on a true story, the play offers hilarious insight to the making of America’s most successful and beloved film of all time. The production stars Damon Bonetti, Hanna Gaffney, Bruce Graham and Ernie Jewell and runs until April 29.
1939 Hollywoodland is abuzz! Unimpressed by the screenplay, legendary producer David O. Selznick shuts down production of his new epic, Gone with the Wind, the film adaptation of Margaret Mitchell's novel. While fending off the film's stars, gossip columnists and his own father-in-law, Selznick sends for famed screenwriter, Ben Hecht, and pulls formidable director, Victor Fleming, from the set of The Wizard of Oz. Summoning both to his office, he locks the doors, closes the curtains, and on a diet of only bananas and peanuts, the three men labor over five days, as they act out the roles of America’s soon-to-be blockbuster.
While noted by NY Daily News as, "Frankly, my dear, this is one funny play,” Eagle Theatre’s production of Ron Hutchinson’s slapstick comedy will provide more than just side splitting high hilarity.
Eagle Theatre has transformed itself into Hollywoodland, complete with a red carpet walkway designed to lead audiences to an interactive Gone With The Wind screen test step-and-repeat. In addition, Eagle Theatre’s onsite Sharott Wine Lounge has received a “Brown Derby” overlay, filled with headshots and various golden age immersive accouterments. The house itself is dressed as a private Tinseltown screening room, all the while displaying clips of America’s greatest cinematic moments.
Eagle Theatre’s Artistic Director, Ted Wioncek III asks, “Why watch the glitz and glamour of Hollywood, when you can live it? That is precisely what we have set out to do with Eagle Theatre’s production of Moonlight & Magnolias. That is the Eagle Experience.”
Eagle Theatre, located at 208 Vine Street in Hammonton, is South Jersey’s only year-round Professional Equity Theatre and is dedicated to redefining regional theatre. The theatre produces more than 160 live performances each year, including full-scale Broadway caliber World Premieres and re-conceptualized revivals; New Works Development Series play readings; a traveling Theatre for Youth Audiences program, specializing in providing arts education to schools in under served communities; an Annual Fringe Festival, a 3-day street fair and theatrical marathon, featuring multiple eclectic productions, a beer and wine garden, pop-up art, food, live music, and street performers; and Eagle Theatre Conservatory, a year-round tuition based theatrical institute for all ages and levels of professionalism.