The Sandra Feinstein-Gamm Theatre (The Gamm) presents the world premiere of Radio Free Emerson by Brown University graduate Paul Grellong through June 17. Set in Rhode Island, The Gamm’s first-ever commission is a raw, complex and often hilarious examination of the naked truth and its consequences. Gamm Resident Director Peter Sampieri (A Handwitch of the Second Stage, Crime and Punishment, Red Noses) helms the production, featuring Gamm Artistic Director Tony Estrella, Gamm Resident Actor Steve Kidd and, for the first time on the Gamm stage, Tanya Anderson.

		A young man returns to Rhode Island to take the reins of his family’s radio station following a solitary stint in Maine. Armed with his rising star power as a talk show host and a dubious understanding of American transcendentalist philosophy, he dispenses self-serving self-help over the airwaves to the lovelorn, depressed and needy of his home state; and, in the process, cunningly exposes secrets and lies within his own family. The Gamm Theatre’s first-ever commission—written by Brown University graduate Paul Grellong (writer for the hit TV series “Law and Order: Special Victims Unit”) and inspired by Henrik Ibsen’s The Wild Duck — Radio Free Emerson is a raw, funny and complex examination of the naked truth and its consequences. “When I began work on a modern adaptation of The Wild Duck to be set in Rhode Island, I knew The Gamm Theatre would be the perfect home for its world premiere,” Grellong said. “They present classic plays with a modern sensibility, and modern plays with classical style. Great acting, crystal-clear storytelling and visionary direction. It has been an honor to develop Radio Free Emerson in their company.”

“Working with Paul on Radio Free Emerson from its conception through rehearsal has been one of the distinct privileges of my career in the theater,” Estrella said. “Having our first world premiere come from a playwright of Paul’s abilities is a high water mark for the entire organization.”

UBS is this play’s sponsor. NBC10 is The Gamm’s season sponsor. Additional support comes from WBRU.

Founded in 1984 as Alias Stage, the nonprofit Sandra Feinstein-Gamm Theatre performs great works of the classic and modern theater in an intimate setting that fosters the vital relationship between author, actor and audience. As the cornerstone of The Arts Exchange at the Pawtucket Armory, The Gamm seeks to engage and enrich the community through affordable entertainment and educational programming. The Gamm is a member of New England Area Theatre (NEAT), a bargaining unit of the Actors Equity Association.

Set Design by Dan Bilodeau, Costume Design by David T. Howard, Lighting Design by Matt Terry, Sound Design by Charles Cofone, Technical Direction by Normand Beauregard and Stage Management by Stef Work. Assistant Director is Chris Byrnes, FX Coordinator is Normand Beauregard; Dialect Coach is Wendy Overly; Assistant Technical Direction by Andrew Morissette, Props Master is Marc Dante Mancini, Master Electrician is Kathy Crowley, Dramaturge is Jennifer Madden, and Production Dramaturges are Mike Sablone and Pannill Camp. Assistant Stage Manager is Mark McClure and Production Assistant is Alex Maynard.

Steve Kidd plays Henry Dale, Tanya Anderson plays Gina Dale, Tony Estrella plays Al Gregory, Alyn Carlson plays Marilyn Gregory & Voices, Richard Donelly plays Dr. James Bentham and Voices, Tom Gleadow plays Freddie, Josh Short plays Chris and Voices, Amanda Ruggiero plays Carrie and Voices, and Karen Carpenter plays Voices.

The Wild Duck (original Norwegian title: Vildanden) is an 1884 play by the Norwegian playwright Henrik Ibsen and is considered by many to be Ibsen's finest work. In The Wild Duck there is an "idealist," Gregers Werle, who continually talks as though he had been reading Ibsen's previous plays. He returns to his hometown after an extended exile and meddles in the affairs of a strange family, producing disastrous results. Living in a house whose closets are chock-full of skeletons. Over the course of the play the many secrets that lie behind the Ekdals' apparently happy home are revealed to Gregers, who insists on pursuing the absolute truth, or the "Summons of the Ideal". This family has achieved a tolerable modus vivendi by ignoring the skeletons (among the secrets: Gregers' father impregnated his servant Gina then married her off to Hjalmar to legitimize the child, and Hjalmar's father has been disgraced and imprisoned for a crime the elder Werle committed.) and by permitting each member to live in a dreamworld of his own—the feckless father believing himself to be a great inventor, the grandfather dwelling on the past when he was a mighty sportsman, and little Hedvig, the child, centering her emotional life around an attic where a wounded wild duck leads a crippled existence in a make-believe forest.

To the idealist all this appears intolerable. To him as to other admirers of Ibsen it must seem that the whole family is leading a life "based on a lie"; all sorts of evils are "growing in the dark". The remedy is obviously to face facts, to speak frankly, to let in the light. However, in this play the revelation of the truth is not a happy event because it rips up the foundation of the Ekdal family. When the skeletons are brought out of the closet, the whole dreamworld collapses; the weak husband thinks it is his duty to leave his wife, and the little girl, having sacrificed the wild duck, shoots herself with the same gun. One of the famous quotes from the doctor Relling who built up and maintained the lies the family is founded on is "If you take away the lie of life from an average human, you take away his happiness at the same time."

Radio Free Emerson runs through June 17 at The Gamm Theatre, 172 Exchange St., Pawtucket, RI. Tickets $19-$31, all previews (May 17- 21) ONLY $19. Discounts for subscribers, groups of 10 or more, seniors and students. For single ticket sales, call 401-723-4266. Or purchase tickets at www.arttixri.com. More information at www.gammtheatre.org. - -

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