Westfield Community Players To Perform 'A Man For All Seasons'

WESTFIELD, NJ — A local theater group is putting on a tragic historical drama this weekend in Westfield, with a performance of "A Man For All Seasons."

Westfield Community Players are set to take the stage on Sunday, Jan. 29 for a 2 p.m. matinee at the theater on 1000 North Avenue West.

"A Man For All Seasons" was originally a film directed by Fred Zinnemann, released in 1966, and was later adapted into a play by Robert Bolt. The play depicts a portrait of Sir Thomas More in his last years as Lord Chancellor of England during the reign of Henry VIII.

"When Henry fails to obtain papal approval for a divorce from Catherine of Aragon to marry Anne Boleyn, he mandates his subjects to sign an "Act of Supremacy" making him both spiritual and temporal leader of England," a description of the play states. "Sir Thomas cannot in good conscience comply. Cromwell, Cardinal Wolsey, his family, and the King himself are all unable to convince More otherwise, as he maintains his integrity and belief in silence. Ultimately accused of high treason, this very silence leads the man to his execution, and later his canonization in 1935."

The film won several academy awards, including Best Picture, as well as Golden Globe awards and more.

The local production is directed by Jeanne Johnston, produced by Kay Macrae and stage managed by Peter Curley.

Tickets cost $25 and can be purchased here.

Check out the cast list below:

• The Common Man- Rachelle Mandik
• Sir Thomas More- John Correll
• Master Richard Rich- Danielle Levitt
• The Duke of Norfolk- Carlos Valdes-Dapena
• Lady Alice More- Mary O'Connor-Kelley
• Lady Margaret More- Rachel Brennan
• Cardinal Wolsey- Eric Williams
• Thomas Cromwell- Marc LeBlanc
• Signor Chapuys- David Ciampichini
• William Roper- Chuck Worthington
• King Henry VIII- Brian Madden
• A Woman- Jean Kuras
• Thomas Cranmer- David Baker
• Attendant- James McArthur

Find out more details about the production on the Westfield Community Players website.