- By Megan Pugh
- Entertainment
Print 
In the high stakes world of medical research there are many players and many agendas. When early career cancer researcher William Shumway’s work shows startling promise, the first to pounce is Dr. Robert Brock. His offer of a fully funded lab, move to New York City and the “best cancer research center in the country” thrusts Shumway into a world of politics and science. It’s a complicated business. Brock is at the top of his game as he fills the coffers to support the cutting-edge researchers he gathers from around the world. Older colleagues, like the venerable Saul Roth may get swept away in the tide when the latest, the newest, the most brilliant young minds are being cultivated by Brock. Mix in a smart, young, female Harvard undergraduate, Alice Curiton, with a passion for science, and the world of Secret Order comes alive. What will one risk for recognition? How many adjustments to the protocol before you throw in the towel? When does the fervor for an absolute proof get polluted with the desire for total ambition?
Secret Order by Bob Clyman shows us the zealous drive of the medical researcher and the obstacles, both scientific and personal, to winning the prize. The constant shifting of allegiances and the borderline of individual ethics is put under the microscope in this fast-paced play making its regional debut at the Kitchen Theatre Company.
Directed by Kitchen Theatre Company Artistic Director, Rachel Lampert, Secret Order opens the 2009-10 season. “I am delighted to be working on this play with this cast. It has an edge-of-your-seat feeling. If it were a book this would be a page-turner. A great way to start our nineteenth Main Stage Season.”
The cast of Secret Order includes long-time Kitchen Theatre Company veteran Greg Bostwick as Brock (Kitchen credits include: Old Times, After Ashley, Comfort Food, The Price among others). Coming from New York City are AEA actors Tony Roach (Shumway) and Roy Clary Roth). This will be Clary’s first appearance at the Kitchen. He is a 2009 nominee for the Innovative Theater Awards in NYC. Tony Roach, most recently appearing at Vermont Stage and the Shakespeare Theater, Washington, DC, appeared at the Kitchen in 1997 in Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? during Rachel Lampert’s debut outing as Artistic Director. Completing the cast is Kelly Galvin who returns to the area after a year at Shakespeare & Company, MA. Galvin was seen at the Kitchen in the Family Fare production of Emmett & Ella’s Big Apple Escapade. She is making her Main Stage debut in Secret Order.
The scenic design is by Kent Goetz whose Kitchen designs include A Marriage Minuet, STRANGERHORSE, I Become A Guitar among others. Costume design is by Hannah Kochman. Sound design is by Nate Richardson at Rep Studio. LaShawn Keyser is the Stage Manager.
Secret Order is underwritten by Viva Taqueria and sponsored by Cornell University. The media sponsor is WEOS.
Performance Dates:
Wed., August 26, 2009 at 7:30pm (preview 1 of 3)
Thurs., August 27, 2009 at 7:30pm (preview 2 of 3)
Fri., August 28, 2009 at 8:00pm (preview 3 of 3)
Sat., August 29, 2009 at 8:00pm (press opening)
Sun., August 30, 2009 at 4:00pm
Wed., September 2, 2009 at 7:30pm
Thurs., September 3, 2009 at 7:30pm
Fri., September 4, 2009 at 8:00pm
Sat., September 5, 2009 at 8:00pm
Sun., September 6, 2009 at 4:00pm
Wed., September 9, 2009 at 7:30pm
Thurs., September 10, 2009 at 7:30pm
Fri., September 11, 2009 at 8:00pm
Sat., September 12, 2009 at 8:00pm
Sun., September 13, 2009 at 4:00pm
Wed., September 16, 2009 at 7:30pm
Thurs., September 17, 2009 at 7:30pm
Fri., September 18, 2009 at 8:00pm
Sat., September 19, 2009 at 8:00pm
Sun., September 20, 2009 at 4:00pm (closing)
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