(TOMS RIVER, NJ) -- The Ocean County College Repertory Theatre Company presents The Importance of Being Earnest across two weekends (April 12-14 and April 19-21) in the Black Box Theater at Grunin Center for the Arts. Experience Oscar Wilde's comedic masterpiece where two witty bachelors craft alter egos to escape their mundane lives.

Set in Victorian England, The Importance of Being Earnest is the story of two young bachelors who have taken to bending the truth in order to put some excitement into their lives. John “Jack” Worthing has invented a ne’er-do-well brother, Ernest, whom he uses as an excuse to leave his dull country life behind to visit the charming and sophisticated Gwendolen Fairfax in the city. Meanwhile Algernon “Algy” Moncrieff decides to pose as the non-existent Ernest to woo Jack’s young and attractive ward, Cecily Cardew. When all four lovers end up together at Jack’s country estate, the men struggle to keep up with their own stories and become tangled in a tale of deception, disguise and misadventure.

Performances take place Friday, April 12, 2024 at 7:30pm; Saturday, April 13, 2024 at 7:30pm; Sunday, April 14, 2024 at 2:00pm; Friday, April 19, 2024 at 7:30pm; Saturday, April 20, 2024 at 2:00pm & 7:30pm; and Sunday, April 21, 2024 at 2:00pm. Tickets are $15 for adults, $12 for seniors. Tickets are available for purchase online.

The cast includes Brendan Keffner (Jack Worthing), Nathan Magno (Algernon Moncrieff), Maria Heitmann (The Honorable Gwendolyn Fairfax), Gwenne Weber (Lady Bracknell), Bridget Magnusson (Cecily Cardew), Evan Williamson (Dr. Chasuble), Kyra Griggs (Miss Prism), Grey Kellerman (Lane), and Shea Gaughan (Merriman). The crew includes George Allison (Set Design), Douglas Cox (Lighting Design),  Jamie Kasprovitz (Production Stage Manager), Shea Gaughan (Asst. Stage Manager),  Alex Garcia (Props), Riley Weeman (Costumes), and Samantha Acquaviva and Devyn Donahue (Crew).

The Grunin Center for the Arts is located on the main campus of Ocean County College on College Drive in Toms River. All performances will be held in the Black Box theatre.