Cape May Stage Presents the New Jersey Premiere of Uncle Jacques’ Symphony

CAPE MAY – Cape May Stage is pleased to present the New Jersey premiere of Uncle Jacques’ Symphony: the inaugural production of their 2012 Main Stage season. Featuring music by Branford Marsalis, this tour-de-force performance about the life of a Chicago jazz drummer stars double Ovation Award winner Dominic Hoffman in his self-penned masterpiece. This Equity production opens Friday, May 11 at 8 p.m. at the Robert Shackleton Playhouse on Bank and Lafayette Streets.
Hailed by Variety as “humorous, insightful and an often affecting one-man show,” Uncle Jacques’ Symphony tells the tale of seven diverse characters who shared in the friendship of drummer Jacques Hoffman. Facing the responsibilities of raising a family, Hoffman chooses to leave the late night jazz clubs of the 50s. The music torn from his soul, he spends the remainder of his days absorbing the sounds of humanity, orchestrating the lessons of life into an opus of success and failure, of exultation and degradation, of the pursuit of passion, and, ultimately, of the desperation to stay alive.
In this verbal jazz concert, Hoffman’s nephew, Dominic, celebrates humanity as a musical metaphor, performing each singular character himself. Men and women, both young and old, of differing cultures and creeds come alive onstage for ninety minutes, the melodies of their lives in perfect counterpoint with one another, forming a symphony of life.
About Dominic Hoffman
Dominic Hoffman is a graduate of UC Santa Cruz, where he received his BA in English Literature. He received his formal training at American Conservatory Theatre, The London Academy of Music and Dramatic Arts, and NYU Film School.
His stage appearances include his solo show, Last Fare at The Hayworth Theatre (NAACP Best Actor), The Electric Lodge, and The San Francisco Fringe Festival. He was Lupus Albus Secundus in David Mamet’s, Keep Your Pantheon at the Kirk Douglas Theatre, Michael in Lee Blessing’s play Two Rooms, and the role of the Magus in the world premiere of Dr. Faustus, written and directed by David Mamet at San Francisco’s Magic Theatre. Dominic was invited to perform his critically acclaimed solo piece, Uncle Jacques’ Symphony, at the same venue. Uncle Jacques’ Symphony was also performed at the Edinburgh Festival (Highlight Award for Best Play), The San Francisco Fringe (Best of the Fringe), and in Los Angeles (Ovation Awards: Best writer of a World premiere Play and Best Lead Actor in a Play). Regional credits include Taming of the Shrew and Tamer Tamed in repertory at the Santa Cruz Shakespeare Festival. Dominic played both Oberon and Theseus in Midsummer Nights Dream at New Jersey Shakespeare Festival, Willie in Master Harold and the Boys at New Mexico Rep, the title role in the world premiere of Noah Johnson Had a Whore at South Coast Repertory, Flyin’ West at San Diego Rep, That Serious He-Man Ball at Los Angeles Theatre Center, Gabe Gabriel in No Place to Be Somebody at San Francisco’s Victoria Theatre, Mantequilla Decima in Blade to the Heat at the Mark Taper Forum, Mortimer in Circle X’s production of Brecht’s Edward II, and Valerio in Buchner’s Leonce and Lena. His television appearances have included roles on 24, Lie To Me, and recurring roles on The Mentalist, The Unit, and The Shield. He can also be seen in the upcoming HBO Phil Spector project starring Al Pacino as Phil Spector and Helen Mirren as his defense attorney.
His directorial credits include an all African American production of Macbeth, A Soldier’s Play, and Dave Roberson in the award winning solo show, Ali.
As a writer he has penned episodic television, (A Different World) radio, Wells Fargo Presents: The JP Beckwourth Story. He has written two solo plays, Uncle Jacques’ and Last Fare, for which he won an NAACP BEST ACTOR Award. His play, No Gavel, was commissioned by South Coast Repertory and workshopped by NYC’s Labyrinth Theatre. Saving America and The Meet-Up are his latest two full-length plays. Inside Out and Unfinished Business are his two original screenplays. Dominic has adapted two novels for the screen; Fearless Jones by Walter Mosley and an autobiography of Dorothy Dandridge.
Performance Information
Uncle Jacques’ Symphony will run from Friday, May 11 to Saturday, June 15 at the Robert Shackleton Playhouse at the corner of Bank & Lafayette Streets in downtown Cape May. Performances are Thursdays through Saturdays at 8 p.m. with Saturday and Sunday matinees at 3 p.m. Beginning June 4, performances run Wednesdays through Saturdays at 8 p.m. and matinees on Sundays at 3p.m. through June 15. Tickets are $35 adults, $30 seniors, and $15 students. Fri., May 11 is a half-price preview, official opening/press night is May 12, and the Sun., May 27, 3 p.m. performance will be half-price for senior citizens. Call (609) 884-1341 for reservations and information or visit the theatre’s website, www.capemaystage.org.
Uncle Jacques’ Symphony is presented through the gracious support of The Original Fudge Kitchen.