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New York Theatre Workshop Extends Lucas Hnath’s RED SPEEDO through April 3

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RED SPEEDO cast members Alex Breaux, Zoë Winters, Lucas Caleb Rooney and Peter Jay Fernandez. Photo by Lia Chang

RED SPEEDO cast members Alex Breaux, Zoë Winters, Lucas Caleb Rooney and Peter Jay Fernandez. Photo by Lia Chang

New York Theatre Workshop (NYTW) has announced an extension for RED SPEEDO, the third production of the New York Theatre Workshop (NYTW) 2015/16 Season. RED SPEEDO began previews on Wednesday, February 17, 2016 and officially opened on Thursday, March 3, 2016 at New York Theatre Workshop (79 E. 4th Street New York, NY 10003), and will now run through Sunday, April 3, 2016. Tickets for RED SPEEDO are on sale at www.nytw.org.

Hailed as “one of the brightest new voices of his generation” by The New York Times, Lucas Hnath (The Christians, …Walt Disney) makes his NYTW debut with RED SPEEDO, a muscular new play directed by NYTW Usual Suspect Lileana Blain-Cruz. Set on the eve of the Olympics swim trials, pressure builds as front-runner Ray confronts the lure of endorsements, the perils of mixing the personal and professional, and the unforgiving weight of success. Through Hnath’s signature dark wit and exacting language, RED SPEEDO is a captivating exploration of America’s obsession with winning at all costs.

The cast of RED SPEEDO features Alex Breaux (The Real Thing), Peter Jay Fernandez (All the Way), Lucas Caleb Rooney (Golden Boy), and Zoë Winters (Love and Information).

The production features scenic design by Riccardo Hernandez; costume design by Montana Blanco; lighting design by Yi Zhao; sound design by Matt Tierney; and fight direction by Thomas Schall.

Single tickets for RED SPEEDO are $65. In addition, season memberships are now on sale at www.nytw.org or 212-460-5475 and include RED SPEEDO along with the final production of the 2015/16 season, the world premiere of a new folk opera, HADESTOWN, by singer-songwriter Anaïs Mitchell, developed with and directed by Rachel Chavkin (Natasha, Pierre & the Great Comet of 1812); William Shakespeare’s OTHELLO, directed by Tony Award winner Sam Gold and featuring Daniel Craig (Betrayal, Spectre) as ‘Iago’ and David Oyelowo (Royal Shakespeare Company’s The Histories, Selma) in the title role; and three productions yet to be announced.

New York Theatre Workshop, now in its fourth decade of incubating important new works of theatre, continues to honor its mission to explore perspectives on our collective history and respond to the events and institutions that shape all our lives. Each season, from its home in New York’s East Village, NYTW presents four new productions, over 80 readings and numerous workshop productions for over 45,000 audience members. NYTW supports artists in all stages of their careers by maintaining a series of workshop programs, including work-in-progress readings, summer residencies and artist fellowships. Over the last three decades, NYTW has developed and produced over 100 new, fully staged works, including Jonathan Larson’s Rent; Tony Kushner’s Slavs! and Homebody/Kabul; Doug Wright’s Quills; Claudia Shear’s Blown Sideways Through Life and Dirty Blonde; Paul Rudnick’s The Most Fabulous Story Ever Told and Valhalla; Martha Clarke’s Vienna: Lusthaus; Caryl Churchill’s Mad Forest, Far Away, A Number and Love and Information; Jessica Blank and Erik Jensen’s Aftermath; Rick Elice’s Peter and the Starcatcher; Enda Walsh’s Once; and seven acclaimed productions directed by Ivo van Hove. NYTW’s productions have received a Pulitzer Prize, seventeen Tony Awards and assorted Obie, Drama Desk and Lucille Lortel Awards.

Peter Jay Fernandez, Alex Breaux, Lucas Caleb Rooney and Zoë Winters Celebrate Opening Night of NYTW’s RED SPEEDO by Lucas Hnath 

Lia Chang. Photo by Garth Kravits

Lia Chang. Photo by Garth Kravits

Lia Chang is an award-winning filmmaker, a Best Actress nominee, a photographer, and an award-winning multi-platform journalist. Lia has appeared in the films Wolf, New Jack City, A Kiss Before Dying, King of New York, Big Trouble in Little China, The Last Dragon, Taxman and Hide and Seek, which will screen at the Disorient Film Festival in Eugene Oregon in April. She is profiled in Examiner.comJade Magazine and Playbill.com.

Click here for the Lia Chang Articles Archive and here for the Lia Chang Photography Website.



Drama Desk Award Winner Jose Llana’s Debut American Solo Album, ALTITUDE, Drops in May

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jose-cover-altitudeLast year, Drama Desk Award-winning theatre star Jose Llana received critical acclaim for his concert at the Lincoln Center American Songbook Series, which celebrated his 20 years on Broadway and featured a savvy collection of songs that he has performed on and off the main stem, in addition to pop favorites.

The first thing I asked Llana after the concert was whether there was going to be an album. Lucky for us, on Friday, May 13th, YELLOW SOUND LABEL is releasing Altitude, his debut American solo album, featuring many of the songs that he performed in concert. Tony Award winner Ruthie Ann Miles, his co-star in the Off-Broadway smash Here Lies Love, is featured as a special guest. Altitude is produced by Michael Croiter with Kimberly Grigsby serving as Music Director. Pre-order the album at www.YellowSoundLabel.com.

Jose Llana and Ruthie Ann Miles backstage at the Vivian Beaumont Theater after The Actors Fund Special Performance of The King and I on September 20, 2015. Photo by Lia Chang

Jose Llana and Ruthie Ann Miles backstage at the Vivian Beaumont Theater after The Actors Fund Special Performance of The King and I on September 20, 2015. Photo by Lia Chang

Llana will return to the starring role in Lincoln Center Theater’s production of Rodgers & Hammerstein’s The King & I from April 19 to May 1, directed by Bartlett Sher. His two week return will be a reunion with his Here Lies Love co-star Ruthie Ann Miles. Llana appeared in the title role for the first time last season and made his Broadway debut as “Lun Tha” in the 1996 Revival of the show opposite Donna Murphy and Lou Diamond Phillips. Advance copies of Altitude will be exclusively available at the Vivian Beaumont during this time.

Jose llana as The King of Siam in The King and I. Photo by Paul Kolnik

Jose llana as The King of Siam in The King and I. Photo by Paul Kolnik

Altitude follows Llana through show-stopping highlights of his accomplished Broadway career. When this program debuted last year at Lincoln Center, a rave review from Flavorpill praised Llana as “an exceptionally versatile performer, thrilling the audience with contemporary pop songs and Broadway standards alike.” The album features several numbers from The King & I, including his personal arrangement of “A Puzzlement.” “Child of the Philippines” and “A Perfect Hand” come from Here Lies Love, the smash hit musical at the Public Theater which helped him explore his own Filipino roots. Ben Brantley of The New York Times said “he should have been nominated” for a Tony Award in his the role of Marcos. Other highlights include “Chip’s Lament” from William Finn’s Spelling Bee – in which Llana was called a “standout” by The Washington Post – and selections are from Adam Guettel’s song cycle Saturn Returns. The album is rounded out by numbers from classic musicals Company and On the Town, pop hits from Billy Joel and Ed Sheeran, and a contribution from Pretty Dead Girl, a musical adaptation of the cult short film.

Joohee Choi (Tuptim) and Jose Llana (Lun Tha) in the 1996 Broadway revival of The King and I. Photo by Joan Marcus

Joohee Choi (Tuptim) and Jose Llana (Lun Tha) in the 1996 Broadway revival of The King and I. Photo by Joan Marcus

“Twenty years ago – in the Broadway Revival of The King & I – I began an amazing, messy, unpredictable journey,” says Llana. “Since then, I’ve gotten to sail on Adam Guettel’s rolling waves, misspell words in Bill Finn’s adolescent gymnasium, and rule with an iron fist in David Byrne’s presidential palace. And two decades after I arrived in New York, when I took the stage as the King in the new Broadway production of The King and I, I knew I’d come full circle. At my concert for Lincoln Center’s American Songbook Series, I got the chance to honor the composers who’ve kept me gainfully employed, and who make me want to keep reaching for higher altitudes. This album was inspired by that night, and the astonishing music I’ve been lucky enough to get to sing.”

(Front row): Celia Keenan-Bolger, Dan Fogler, Sarah Saltzberg; (back row): Jose Llana, Deborah S. Craig, Jesse Tyler Ferguson, the young spellers in ``The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee,'' Circle in the Square. Photo by Joan Marcus

(Front row): Celia Keenan-Bolger, Dan Fogler, Sarah Saltzberg; (back row): Jose Llana, Deborah S. Craig, Jesse Tyler Ferguson, the young spellers in “The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee,” Circle in the Square. Photo by Joan Marcus

Jose Llana starred on Broadway as “Chip Tolentino” in William Finn’s The 25th Annual Putnam Country Spelling Bee (Drama Desk Award, directed by James Lapine), “El Gato” in Wonderland, “Wang Ta” in David Henry Hwang’s adaptation of Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Flower Drum Song, “Angel” in Rent (directed by Michael Greif) and “Jessie-Lee” in Street Corner Symphony.

Kate Suber, Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Lea Delaria, Jose Llana, Robert Montalvo in On The Town (1997). Photo by Michal Daniel

Kate Suber, Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Lea Delaria, Jose Llana, Robert Montalvo in On The Town (1997). Photo by Michal Daniel

His Off-Broadway appearances include “Marcos” in David Byrne and Fat Boy Slim’s Here Lies Love at The Public Theater (directed by Alex Timbers) garnering a Lucille Lortel Award nomination for Best Actor in a Musical. “Adam” in Falling For Eve (York), “Gabey” in On the Town (directed by George C. Wolfe, Delacorte) and Adam Guettel’s Saturn Returns (directed by Tina Landau, Public Theater). Regional appearances include “Bill Sikes” in Oliver! (Papermill), “Guillaume” in Cameron Mackintosh’s Martin Guerre (Guthrie Theater), “Tin Man” in Ballad of Little Jo (Steppenwolf Theater, directed by Tina Landau, Jefferson Nomination – Best Supporting Actor) and the title role in Candide (Prince Theater, Barrymore Nomination – Best Actor).

Jose Llana as Ferdinand Marcos in Here Lies Love at The Public Theater. Photo by Joan Marcus Lea Salonga and Jose Llana in the opening night curtain call of David Henry Hwang's revisal of Flower Drum Song at the Virginia Theater in 2002. Photo by Lia Chang Jose Llana as Guillaume and Erin Dilly as Bertrande in Martin Guerre. Photo by Michal Daniel Jose Llana and Michael McElroy in Rent. Photo by Fiyero

Llana’s TV and Film appearances include HBO’s “Sex and the City” opposite Margaret Cho and Hitch with Will Smith. He appears on numerous cast albums and is also a best-selling recording artist on the VIVA Philippines label. Trained at Manhattan School of Music, Jose is an advocate for Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS and serves on the Advisory Committee for Broadway Impact for Marriage Equality.

www.JoseLlana.com        @TheJoseLlana

Yellow Sound Label is a Grammy Award-nominated, cutting-edge record company that produces both established performers and up-and-coming artists. The boutique label takes a hands-on approach in nurturing and producing passionate, focused performers and composers who create quality, noteworthy recordings. The label has featured the best of Broadway (MatildaThe VisitBig Fish), Off Broadway (Heathers: The MusicalThe Burnt Part BoysMurder Ballad), theater luminaries (Chita Rivera, Alan Cumming, Telly Leung, Christopher Jackson), and rising songwriter/composers (Marcy & Zina, Kerrigan & Lowdermilk, Lance Horne, Michael Patrick Walker).  www.YellowSoundLabel.com.

JOSE LLANA “ALTITUDE” TRACK LIST

  • 1. Saturn Returns – Written by Adam Guettel, from Saturn Returns: A Concert
  • 2. Icarus – Written by Adam Guettel, from Saturn Returns: A Concert
  • 3. We Kiss in a Shadow/I Have Dreamed –

Music by Richard Rodgers / Lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein, from The King & I

  • 4. Lonely Town – Music by Leonard Bernstein / Lyrics by Betty Comden & Adolph Green, from On the Town
  • 5. Chip’s Lament (M. U. E.) – Written by William Finn, from The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee
  • 6. Marry Me a Little – Written by Stephen Sondheim, from Company
  • 7. She is More – Written by AnnMarie Milazzo, from Pretty Dead Girl
  • 8. Child of the Philippines – Written by David Byrne and Fat Boy Slim, from Here Lies Love
  • 9. Hero and Leander – Written by Adam Guettel, from Saturn Returns: A Concert
  • 10. Thinking Out Loud – Written by Ed Sheeran
  • 11. Lullabye (Goodnight, My Angel) – Written by Billy Joel
  • 12. A Puzzlement– Music by Richard Rodgers, Lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein, from The King & I
  • 13. A Perfect Hand – Written by David Byrne and Fat Boy Slim, from Here Lies Love

Related Articles:
Broadway’s ‘The King and I’ Will Feature a Succession of Kings- Ken Watanabe Returns (Mar. 17 – Apr. 17), Jose Llana (Apr. 19- May 1), and Hawaii Five-O’s Daniel Dae Kim (May 3 – Jun. 26)
THE KING AND I’s Lainie Sakakura Ushers in the Year of the Monkey at P.S. 87 with Broadway Pals Ann Harada, Jose Llana, Telly Leung, Amaya Braganza, Sam Tanabe, Belinda Allyn, James Ignacio and YoonJeong Seong
Photos: Celebrating with Jose Llana, Ruthie Ann Miles, Kelli O’Hara and Company after THE KING AND I’s Special Performance for The Actors Fund 
Q & A with Jose Llana, the new King of Siam in LCT’s Tony Award-Winning Revival of The King and I 
Photos: Late Night at HERE LIES LOVE with Jaygee Macapugay, David Byrne, Jose Llana, Conrad Ricamora, Melody Butiu and More 
Photos: Jose Llana, Stephanie Umoh & cast of Falling for Eve
The Making of the Flower Drum Song Cast Album 
Flower Drum Song, An American Story
Click here  for the Lia Chang Articles Archive and here for the Lia Chang Photography Website.

Lia Chang. Photo by Garth Kravits

Lia Chang. Photo by Garth Kravits

Lia Chang is an award-winning filmmaker, a Best Actress nominee, a photographer, and an award-winning multi-platform journalist. Lia has appeared in the films Wolf, New Jack City, A Kiss Before Dying, King of New York, Big Trouble in Little China, The Last Dragon, Taxman and Hide and Seek, which will screen at the Disorient Film Festival in Eugene Oregon in April. She is profiled in Examiner.comJade Magazine and Playbill.com.


Kenneth Lonergan’s HOLD ON TO ME DARLING, Starring Timothy Olyphant, Adelaide Clemens, Jonathan Hogan, Jenn Lyon, Keith Nobbs and C.J. Wilson, Extends through April 17 at Atlantic Theater

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C.J. Wilson and Timothy Olyphant . Photo by Doug Hamilton

C.J. Wilson and Timothy Olyphant . Photo by Doug Hamilton

Due to popular demand, Atlantic Theater Company is extending the critically-acclaimed world premiere production of Academy Award nominee and Pulitzer Prize finalist Kenneth Lonergan’s play Hold On To Me Darling, directed by Neil Pepe, for two additional weeks.

Hold On To Me Darling will now play a limited engagement through Sunday, April 17, 2016 Off Broadway at the Linda Gross Theater (336 West 20 Street). Click here to purchase tickets.

Timothy Olyphant and Jenn Lyon. Photo by Doug Hamilton

Timothy Olyphant and Jenn Lyon. Photo by Doug Hamilton

Hold On To Me Darling stars Adelaide Clemens (“Rectify”), Tony Award nominee Jonathan Hogan (As Is), Jenn Lyon (Fish in the Dark), Keith Nobbs (Lombardi), Emmy Award nominee Timothy Olyphant (“Justified”) and C.J. Wilson (Bronx Bombers).

On learning of his mother’s death, world famous country and western star Strings McCrane (Olyphant) begins questioning the meaning of his life and what it all adds up to. Determined to abandon his celebrity and career, he moves back to his hometown in Tennessee. It doesn’t go well.

What the critics are saying: 

★★★★ 
Critics’ Pick, Time Out New York

Timothy Olyphant and Jenn Lyon. Photo by Doug Hamilton

Timothy Olyphant and Jenn Lyon. Photo by Doug Hamilton

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“A WRITER WITH ONE OF THE BEST EARS AROUND for the language of the morally challenged. What makes these observations so fresh is how Mr. Lonergan’s dialogue and THE MARVELOUS CAST ENDOWS THEM WITH SPONTANEOUS LIFE! ‘Darling’ is a POIGNANT COMIC STUDY given VIBRANT LIFE by director Neil Pepe.”
 The New York Times

“SPLENDID, ROLLICKING, AND THOUGHTFUL!
With Kenneth Lonergan in full focus, this is far from your typical theatergoing fare!”
 The New York Observer

“THE LONERGAN WE’VE ALWAYS LOVED!
Poet laureate of verbose losers, his dialogue is SHARP AND FUNNY. 
Neil Pepe’s PERFECTLY BALANCED production gets
RICH, FIRMLY GROUNDED WORK FROM THE ENSEMBLE!”
 Time Out New York

“OLYPHANT IS A STUNNER, STRIKING JUST THE RIGHT NOTES!
Directed with finesse by Neil Pepe, the play is 
ENTERTAINING AND ENGAGING,
performed by a TOP-RATE ENSEMBLE!” 
 Variety

“LONERGAN’S ABSOLUTELY UPROARIOUS SCRIPT WITH A PITCH-PERFECT CAST! A-”  Entertainment Weekly

“A MARVELOUS COMEDY!!
Lonergan writes GORGEOUSLY! 
TIMOTHY OLYPHANT IS IRRESISTIBLE and
THE CAST IS SPECTACULAR!
All directed with gentle mercilessness by Neil Pepe.” 
 Newsday

Adelaide Clemens and Keith Nobbs. Photo by Doug Hamilton

Adelaide Clemens and Keith Nobbs. Photo by Doug Hamilton

Adelaide Clemens makes her Off Broadway debut, stars in the Sundance series “Rectify” and was featured in the Baz Luhrmann film The Great Gatsby. Tony Award nominee Jonathan Hogan has appeared on Broadway in Comedians, Otherwise Engaged, Fifth of July, The Caine Mutiny Court Martial, As Is, Burn This, Taking Steps and The Homecoming. Jenn Lyon appeared on Broadway in Fish in the Dark and The Coast of Utopia trilogy and Off Broadway in the Drama Desk Award winning production of The Wayside Motor Inn. Keith Nobbs’ Broadway credits include Lombardi, Bronx Bombers and Lion in Winter and returns to Atlantic after appearing in Romance and Dublin Carol. Emmy Award nominee Timothy Olyphant returns Off Broadway for the first time in twenty years following starring in The Santaland Diaries and The Monogamist. He is best known for his starring role on all six seasons of the hit FX series “Justified.” C.J. Wilson appeared in the Atlantic productions of Dying for It, Our New Girl, Offices and The Voysey Inheritance and on Broadway in Bronx Bombers, The Big Knife, Festen, Henry IV and The Best Man.

C.J. Wilson, Keith Nobbs, Timothy Olyphant and Jenn Lyons. Photo by Doug Hamilton

C.J. Wilson, Keith Nobbs, Timothy Olyphant and Jenn Lyons. Photo by Doug Hamilton

Prolific playwright and screenwriter Kenneth Lonergan makes his Atlantic Theater Company debut following last season’s Tony Award nominated hit Broadway revival of This is Our Youth. His plays include the Pulitzer Prize finalist The Waverly Gallery; Olivier, Drama Desk, Outer Critics Circle Award nominated play Lobby Hero; The Starry Messenger and Medieval Play. His debut feature film, You Can Count on Me, which he wrote and directed, was an Academy Award and Golden Globe nominee for Best Screenplay and won the Sundance Grand Jury Prize. He co-wrote the screenplays for Analyze This and Gangs of New York, for which he received an Academy Award nomination for Best Original Screenplay.

Jonathan Hogan and Timothy Olyphant. Photo by Doug Hamilton

Jonathan Hogan and Timothy Olyphant. Photo by Doug Hamilton

Atlantic Theater Company Artistic Director Neil Pepe recently staged the American premiere of Moira Buffini’s Dying For It and the acclaimed world premiere production of John Guare’s 3 Kinds of Exile at Atlantic and the Broadway productions of the new musical Hands on a Hardbody, the hit revival of David Mamet’s Speed-the-Plow and Mamet’s A Life in the Theatre. Off-Broadway highlights include Jez Butterworth’s Parlour Song, Mojo and The Night Heron; Ethan Coen’s Happy Hour, Offices and Almost an Evening; Harold Pinter’s Celebration and The Room and Adam Rapp’s Dreams of Flying Dreams of Falling.

Timothy Olyphant and C.J. Wilson. Photo by Doug Hamilton

Timothy Olyphant and C.J. Wilson. Photo by Doug Hamilton

Hold On To Me Darling features scenic design by Walt Spangler, costume design by Suttirat Larlarb, lighting design by Brian MacDevitt, sound design and original music by David Van Tieghem, dialects by Stephen Gabis and casting by Telsey + Company.

Adelaide Clemens is appearing with the permission of Actors’ Equity Association. The Producers gratefully acknowledge Actors’ Equity Association for its assistance of this production.

Atlantic Theater Company’s Linda Gross Theater is located at 336 West 20 Street (between 8 and 9th Avenues).

Click here  for the Lia Chang Articles Archive and here for the Lia Chang Photography Website.

Lia Chang. Photo by Garth Kravits

Lia Chang. Photo by Garth Kravits

Lia Chang is an award-winning filmmaker, a Best Actress nominee, a photographer, and an award-winning multi-platform journalist. Lia has appeared in the films Wolf, New Jack City, A Kiss Before Dying, King of New York, Big Trouble in Little China, The Last Dragon, Taxman and Hide and Seek, which will screen at the Disorient Film Festival in Eugene Oregon in April. She is profiled in Examiner.comJade Magazine and Playbill.com.


Pork Filled Productions Presents World Premiere of Maggie Lee’s A HAND OF TALONS at the Theatre Off Jackson, April 29 to May 21

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Pork Filled Productions presents the world premiere of A Hand of Talons by Maggie Lee (The Clockwork Professor, The Tumbleweed Zephyr), directed by Amy Poisson (These Streets, Fast Company, The Tumbleweed Zephyr), at the Theatre Off Jackson (409 7th Ave. S., Seattle), April 29 to May 21, 2016.

A Yao clan portrait, with brother Anders (Sean Schroeder) sitting in front, the sisters Wilhemina (Stephanie Kim-Bryan) and Delphine (Mariko Kita) in the middle and Kenzo (Tim Gagne) in back. But how long can the peace last? Photo by Roger Tang

A Yao clan portrait, with brother Anders (Sean Schroeder) sitting in front, the sisters Wilhemina (Stephanie Kim-Bryan) and Delphine (Mariko Kita) in the middle and Kenzo (Tim Gagne) in back. But how long can the peace last? Photo by Roger Tang

A Hand of Talons features Ben Burris, Tim Gagne, Kenna Kettrick, Stephanie Kim-Bryan, Mariko Kita, Abhijeet Rane, Jenn Ruzumna and Sean Schroeder.

For generations, the Yao clan has ruled the criminal underworld in New Providence with an iron fist. But as the family empire threatens to crumble, Wilhelmina Yao must do whatever it takes to win at in a high-stakes game of power and betrayal. Descend into the hazy underground gambling den of the Fortuna Mews to explore the dark world of steampunk noir in this thrilling third installment of the New Providence series.

Performances are Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays at 8pm, with two Pay-What-You-Can Industry Nights on May 2 and 9 (Mondays at 8 pm) and one matinee on Sunday, May 15, 2 pm.

“”It’s a bit of a departure from our usual light-hearted action adventures, ” says PFP Executive Director Roger Tang. “But we feel that audiences will really enjoy this new dark look at the New Providence steampunk universe.”

A Hand of Talons is a prequel of sorts, exploring a young woman’s path to power, and what she sacrifices along the way to become a strong leader. And we’re still doing what we love to do by mixing and matching genres, this time with a strong dose of The Godfather, Jules Verne, and that unique New Providence twist.”

A Hand of Talons is produced by Maggie Lee, May Nguyen and Roger Tang.

Designers include Brandon Estrella (Sets/Props), Jocelyne Fowler (Costumes), Tess Malone (Lighting), Joseph Swartz (Sound), Daniel Rector (Dramaturge), May Nguyen (Fight Choreography) and Michael Massey (Stage Manager).

Advance tickets are $15 General and $12 Student/Senior/TPS at Brown Paper Tickets. There is a Double Date Deal (four General Admissions for $50). At the door, tickets are $18 General, $15 Student/Senior/TPS. PFP participates in Teen Tix. A Hand of Talons is rated PG-13 for intense situations and stage violence. For more info, email PFP at info@porkfilled.com.

Spinning off from the long running sketch comedy group the Pork Filled Player, Pork Filled Productions stretches the boundaries of Asian American theatre. Reflecting the imagination and creativity of modern Asian American artists, Pork Filled Products reworks traditional Asian American theatre to embrace the full spectrum of genres, from steampunk (The Clockwork Professor) to supernatural comedies (Big Hunk o’ Burnin’ Love by Prince Gomolvilas), to mistaken race farces (Yellow Face by David Henry Hwang) to crime family con games (Fast Company by Carla Ching) and yes, even Kung-fu zombie Shakespeare (Living Dead in Denmark by Qui Nguyen).

A Hand of Talons is supported by 4Culture and the Office of Arts & Culture Seattle and is an Associated Project of Shunpike. Shunpike is the 501(c)(3) non-profit agency that provides independent arts groups in Washington with the services, resources and opportunities they need to forge their own paths to sustainable success.

Click here  for the Lia Chang Articles Archive and here for the Lia Chang Photography Website.

Lia Chang. Photo by Garth Kravits

Lia Chang. Photo by Garth Kravits

Lia Chang is an award-winning filmmaker, a Best Actress nominee, a photographer, and an award-winning multi-platform journalist. Lia has appeared in the films Wolf, New Jack City, A Kiss Before Dying, King of New York, Big Trouble in Little China, The Last Dragon, Taxman and Hide and Seek, which will screen at the Disorient Film Festival in Eugene Oregon in April. She is profiled in Examiner.comJade Magazine and Playbill.com.


Anita Durst and Nicky Paraiso to be honored at Movement Research’s 2016 Spring Gala at Judson Memorial Church on April 11

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Photos by Victoria Sendra

Photos by Victoria Sendra

Movement Research, one of the world’s leading laboratories for the investigation of dance and movement-based forms, is honoring Anita Durst and Nicky Paraiso at its 2016 Spring Gala at Judson Memorial Church, 55 Washington Square South in New York on Monday, April 11, 2016. Click here to purchase tickets, and here for more information.

This year’s honorary co-chairs are Jessica Hagedorn and Sarah Michelson. The evening kicks off with cocktails at 6pm, dinner at 7pm, and performances at 8:30pm featuring Mark Bennett, David Cale, Yoshiko Chuma, Simon Courchel, Robert Een, Marjani Forté, Lance Gries, Taryn Griggs and Chris Yon, Patricia Hoffbauer, Raja Feather Kelly, Jon Kinzel, Jodi Melnick, Meredith Monk, Julie Atlas Muz, Despina Stamos, Dane Terry, David Thomson, Edisa Weeks…and other surprise guests!

followed by Dance Party with DJ LVJjay (Larissa Velez-Jackson).
Anita Durst

Anita Durst

Anita Durst is the founder and Executive Director of chashama. Her passion for renovating space began in 1989 through her collaborations with Annie Hamburger of EnGardeArts, and Reza Abdoh of Dar a Luz. Anita has assisted more than 12,000 artists through space grants, production stipends, and administrative and technical support. She has produced and presented over 2,500 productions and has transformed over 85 temporarily vacant buildings into multi-arts complexes. She was awarded a “Young Visionary Award” by The Alliance of New York State Arts Organizations, and was honored by A.R.T./New York in 2008. Anita has taught theater workshops in the Balkan Region, as well as created an original musical that toured Croatia, Slovenia, and Macedonia. At chashama, Anita is responsible for the vision and direction of the organization.

Nicky Paraiso. Photo by Lia Chang

Nicky Paraiso. Photo by Lia Chang

Nicky Paraiso is an actor, musician, writer, performance artist and curator. He has been Director of Programming for The Club at La MaMa since 2001, and is responsible for its surge of theater, performance, dance and cabaret programming. He is also Curator for the annual La MaMa Moves! Dance Festival, celebrating its eleventh season in May 2016. Nicky is a graduate of Oberlin College/Conservatory and holds an M.F.A. from New York University’s Graduate Acting Program. He has been a prolific actor at La MaMa, and in New York downtown theater and performance, since 1979. He has worked as an actor and musical director with playwright/actor/director Jeff Weiss and his partner Carlos Ricardo Martinez since 1979. He has also been a member of Meredith Monk/The House and Vocal Ensemble (1981-1990), touring extensively throughout the US, Europe and Japan, and he has performed with, and been a member of, Yoshiko Chuma and the School of Hard Knocks since 1988. Paraiso has also enjoyed working as a performer with artists/creators as diverse as Anne Bogart, Laurie Carlos, Richard Elovich, Dan Froot, Jessica Hagedorn, Fred Holland, Dan Hurlin, John Jesurun, Jeffrey M. Jones, Robbie McCauley, Susan Mosakowski, Ralph Peña, Mary Shultz, Theodora Skipitares, and many others. Nicky is also a critically-acclaimed solo performance artist, whose one-man shows Asian Boys, Houses and Jewels, and House/Boy have been presented at La MaMa Experimental Theatre Club, Dixon Place, Performance Space 122, Dance Theater Workshop, and on tour in the US, Europe and Asia. House/Boy was presented at the Dublin Theatre Festival in October 2007, and subsequently at the Initiation International Festival 2007 in Singapore. Paraiso’s awards include a 1987 New York Dance & Performance BESSIE Award, a 2004 Spencer Cherashore Fund grant for mid-career actors, and a 2005 New York Innovative Theater Award for his performance in Theodora Skipitares’ Iphigenia.

Nicky has served on various theater, dance and music panels, including the Village Voice OBIE Judges Panel in season 2013-2014, as well as being a long-standing member of the New York Dance and Performance Awards “Bessies” Selection Committee since 2006. He is serving on the “Bessies” Steering Committee for the current season 2015-2016. Nicky is a recipient of the 2012 BAX (Brooklyn Arts Exchange) Arts & Artists in Progress Arts Management Award. His writing appears in the anthology Love, Christopher Street: Reflections of New York City (Vantage Point, 2012), edited by Thomas Keith. Paraiso will present a new dance-theater work, now my hand is ready for my heart, to premiere at La MaMa’s Ellen Stewart Theatre in Fall 2017.

movement research is one of the world’s leading laboratories for the investigation of dance and movement-based forms. Valuing the individual artist, their creative process and their vital role within society, Movement Research is dedicated to the creation and implementation of free and low-cost programs that nurture and instigate discourse and experimentation. Movement Research strives to reflect the cultural, political and economic diversity of its moving community, including artists and audiences alike.

Click here  for the Lia Chang Articles Archive and here for the Lia Chang Photography Website.

Lia Chang. Photo by Garth Kravits

Lia Chang. Photo by Garth Kravits

Lia Chang is an award-winning filmmaker, a Best Actress nominee, a photographer, and an award-winning multi-platform journalist. Lia has appeared in the films Wolf, New Jack City, A Kiss Before Dying, King of New York, Big Trouble in Little China, The Last Dragon, Taxman and Hide and Seek, which will screen at the Disorient Film Festival in Eugene Oregon in April. She is profiled in Examiner.comJade Magazine and Playbill.com.

All text, graphics, articles & photographs: © 2000-2016 Lia Chang Multimedia. All rights reserved. All materials contained on this site are protected by United States copyright law and may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, displayed, published or broadcast without the prior written permission of Lia Chang. You may not alter or remove any trademark, copyright or other notice from copies of the content. For permission, please contact Lia at lia@liachangphotography.com


Meet Playwright Rajiv Joseph at Cleveland Play House on April 2; Joseph’s MR. WOLF Runs April 2-24

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Rajiv Joseph. Photo by Lia Chang

Rajiv Joseph. Photo by Lia Chang

Playwright Rajiv Joseph and his director Giovanna Sardelli on the set of his new play, "Describe the Night" at the Shubert Theatre in New York on November 21, 2014. Photo by Lia Chang

Playwright Rajiv Joseph and his director Giovanna Sardelli on the set of his new play, “Describe the Night” at the Shubert Theatre in New York on November 21, 2014. Photo by Lia Chang

Cleveland Play House’s Centennial Season continues with MR. WOLF, an intense and compelling drama about faith, hope and healing. Written by Cleveland native Rajiv Joseph, the production explores the complex family dynamic between parents and the missing child with whom they have recently been reunited. MR. WOLF will take place in the Outcalt Theatre from April 2 – 24. Tickets range in price from $20-$90 each. To order single tickets please call 216-241-6000 or visit clevelandplayhouse.com. Groups of 10+ save up to 40% off single ticket prices; call 216-400-7027.

A Pulitzer Prize finalist for Bengal Tiger at the Baghdad Zoo, Cleveland audiences may remember Mr. Joseph as the co-screenwriter of the 2014 Cleveland-based film Draft Day.

MR. WOLF will be directed by Mr. Joseph’s frequent collaborator, Giovanna Sardelli (CPH’s The Whipping Man), and will serve as the centerpiece production of the 2016 New Ground Theatre Festival, CPH’s annual showcase of new theatrical works.

The cast features Juliet Brett, Rebecca Brooksher, Todd Cerveris, John de Lancie and Jessica Dickey.

“Rajiv Joseph’s MR. WOLF contains extraordinary writing about faith, belief and survival” stated CPH’s Artistic Director Laura Kepley. Kepley continued, “One of the strengths of theatre is that it lets us experience the unimaginable and the terrifying without us actually getting hurt. It allows us to compassionately imagine other human being’s lives by putting ourselves into their shoes and experiences. MR. WOLF empathetically shows us the incredible resilience of the human spirit. I know audiences will leave this production feeling very full and I am delighted that Rajiv Joseph’s extraordinary play is a part of our 100th Season.”

MR. WOLF deals with unimaginable circumstances. In the blink of an eye, in a matter of seconds, your whole world could change. For Michael, it happened when his daughter Theresa went missing. For Theresa, it was when she was found. MR. WOLF tells the story of a family’s desperate and determined attempt to heal each other and rebuild their world. MR. WOLF is a hauntingly beautiful and mysterious tale of adaptation and survival.


MR. WOLF CAST:

JULIET BRETT (Theresa) is making her Cleveland Play House debut. She was most recently seen off-Broadway in Desire, a collection of plays adapted from Tennessee Williams’ short stories, by playwrights such as Beth Henley, John Guare and Rebecca Gilman. Other New York credits include What I Did Last Summer at the Signature Theatre and Beth Henley’s The Jacksonian at The New Group with Ed Harris, Amy Madigan and Bill Pullman. Film credits include Mistress America, A Most Violent Year and Admission. On the web, Juliet plays Amy in Redheads Anonymous. Television credits include Law & Order, Deadbeat and CSI:NY. Instagram and Twitter: @JulietBrett

REBECCA BROOKSHER (Julie) New York credits include: The Real Thing (Roundabout Theatre Company), Loot (Red Bull Theater), Dying City (Lincoln Center, Lortel nomination Best Actress), Love’s Labor’s Lost (The Public Theater), The Scariest (Bleecker Street Theater) and White People (Atlantic Stage 2). Recent regional credits include: Golden Age (John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts), She Stoops to Conquer and Twelfth Night (McCarter Theatre Center), Monster at the Door (Alley Theatre), Period of Adjustment and Anna Christie (Berkshire Theatre Festival), Romeo and Juliet (Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey) and All My Sons (Barrington Stage Company). TV: Elementary, Love Monkey, Ugly Betty, The Confession; recurring roles on Happyish, The Good Wife, Canterbury’s Law and One Life to Live. Film: Cold Souls and The Muse. Juilliard graduate (Group 34).

TODD CERVERIS (Michael) has toured Cleveland, and many other cities, in the national tours of Twelve Angry Men, Spring Awakening and War Horse. New York credits include the Broadway productions of South Pacific and Twentieth Century, as well as the Off-Broadway premieres of Almost, Maine, Southern Comfort, The Butcherhouse Chronicles, Somewhere, Someplace Else and Dick In London. Regional experience includes Arena Stage, La Jolla Playhouse, The Old Globe, Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park, Portland Stage and Actors’ Theater of Louisville. Film & television credits include Allegiance, One Bad Choice, White Collar, Nurse Jackie, One True Thing, Living and Dining and Law & Order. He joined London’s Actors Touring Company in Iphigenia: A Rave Fable at the Euripides Now! Festival in Greece and is co-author and lead performer of The Booth Variations (NYC/Edinburgh Festival Fringe). His work as a writer/director for The Woods, providing creative content for non-profits, has received three national Telly Awards, two ADDY awards, and a PRIME award.

JOHN de LANCIE (MR. WOLF) Mr. de Lancie’s film credits include, in part: The Hand that Rocks the Cradle, The Fisher King, The Onion Field, Taking Care of Business, Fearless, Multiplicity, Women on Top, The Big Time, Reign on Me and Pathology. John has appeared in numerous television shows including; The Librarians, Torchwood, Breaking Bad, West Wing, Star Trek and Legend. He has been a member of American Shakespeare Company, The Seattle Repertory Theatre Company, South Coast Repertory, Mark Taper Forum and The Old Globe. In the world of music, Mr. de Lancie has performed with most of the major symphony orchestras in America, Canada and Australia. He was the host of the L.A. Philharmonic “Symphonies for Youth” as well as writer/director of “First Nights”, a concert series at Walt Disney Concert Hall. Mr. de Lancie was co-owner, with Leonard Nimoy, of Alien Voices; a production company devoted to the dramatization of classic Sci-Fi. Mr. de Lancie has directed a number of operas as well as produced the Netflix documentary on the wonderful phenomenon of Bronies. John is an avid sailor, having recently completed a 12,000 mile voyage of the South Pacific in his own boat.

JESSICA DICKEY (Hana) is an award-winning actor and playwright most known for her one woman show The Amish Project, which opened at Rattlestick Playwrights Theater to great acclaim from audiences and critics alike and continues to be produced around the country, just completing a run at Guthrie Theatre. Selected recent acting credits include Sam Hunter’s play Pocatello at Playwrights Horizons, the Broadway production of Wit, Proof at McCarter Theatre Center, Hit The Wall at Barrow Street Theatre and the Bekah Brunstetter premiere of Miss Lilly Gets Boned with Studio 42. On television she was recently seen on Shades of Blue, The Big C, Law & Order and the Lifetime movie Amish Grace. She is a proud new member of the exclusiveNew Dramatists (a playwright residency in NYC) and a board member of The New Harmony Project. jessicadickey.com

MR. WOLF CREATIVE TEAM:
RAJIV JOSEPH (Playwright) is the author of the Broadway play Bengal Tiger at the Baghdad Zoo, which was a 2010 Pulitzer Prize finalist for Drama and was also awarded a grant for Outstanding New American Play by the National Endowment for the Arts. His other plays include Guards at the Taj, The North Pool, Gruesome Playground Injuries, Animals Out of Paper and The Lake Effect. His plays have been translated and produced world-wide. Rajiv has written for television and film and is the librettist for the upcoming opera, Shalimar the Clown, adapted from the novel of the same name by Salman Rushdie, which will have its premiere at the Opera Theatre of Saint Louis in 2016. He has been awarded artistic grants from the Whiting Foundation, United States Artists and the Harold & Mimi Steinberg Charitable Trust. Rajiv is a graduate of Cleveland Heights High School (class of ’92) and he received his B.A. in Creative Writing from Miami University and his M.F.A. in Dramatic Writing from New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts. He served for three years in the Peace Corps in Senegal and now lives in Brooklyn, NY.

GIOVANNA SARDELLI (Director) is happy to return to CPH where she directed the critically acclaimed production of The Whipping Man by Matthew Lopez. Sardelli is an award-winning director who has worked on numerous plays by Rajiv Joseph (over 10 productions) including the recent West Coast Premiere of his play Guards at the Taj which was selected by TheatreMania as one of its Favorite Regional Productions of 2015. Sardelli has also directed world premieres of plays by Theresa Rebeck, Lynn Rosen, Joe Gilford, Jeff Augustine, Lauren Yee and Zoe Kazan among others. She has worked Off-Broadway at Cherry Lane Theatre, Second StageTheatre, Vineyard Theatre, The Playwrights Realm, Women’s Project Theater, Ensemble Studio Theatre and Roundabout Theatre Company. She has directed numerous productions for Dorset Theatre Festival, where she is the Resident Director, Barrington Stage Company, Actors’ Theatre of Louisville, The Old Globe, Hartford Stage, Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park, Hudson Stage Company, San Francisco Playhouse and TheatreWorks Silicon Valley. Sardelli works extensively with new plays and has been part of The Lark Play Development Center since it was first formed. She has also developed plays at the Sundance Theatre Lab, The O’Neill Theater Center, Playwrights’ Center, New York Stage & Film, Ensemble Studio Theatre and many other places. Giovanna spent several years on the faculty of the Dance Department and the Graduate Acting Program of NYU, the program from which she received her MFA. She is also a graduate of their Director’s Lab. Though she is based in NYC, Sardelli is the Director of New Works for TheatreWorks Silicon Valley.

The Design Team for MR. WOLF also includes: TIM MACKABEE (Scenic Designer), AMY CLARK (Costume Designer), GINA SCHERR (Lighting Designer), DAN KLUGER (Sound Designer and Composer), WIGS AND WHISKERS (Wig Design). The Stage Manager for this production is JOHN GODBOUT.

MR. WOLF Special Events – All FREE:
Behind-the-Scenes: A Visit with MR. WOLF Playwright Rajiv Joseph on April 2 from 11 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. Cleveland Heights native Rajiv Joseph and the author of MR. WOLF is a nationally recognized playwright (Bengal Tiger at the Baghdad Zoo, The Lake Effect) and co-screenwriter (Draft Day). Join us as we get a unique opportunity to gain perspective into Rajiv’s life and how it has shaped his art. Rajiv is a proud Clevelander, and his insights will make you glad to see that this locally grown award-winning playwright “has done good.” RSVP at www.clevelandplayhouse.com.

TalkBacks: MR. WOLF April 10 from 4:30 – 5 p.m. April 12 from 9 – 9:30 p.m. April 17 from 4:30 – 5 p.m. Stay after the show to continue the conversation our plays start! TalkBacks offer the chance to interact with the cast and CPH Artistic Staff in an open and lively Q&A about the play and the questions it raises.

Pre-Show Conversations begin 45 minutes prior to the start of each performance.

Cleveland Play House, recipient of the 2015 Regional Theatre Tony Award and founded in 1915, is America’s first professional regional theatre. Throughout its rich history, CPH has remained dedicated to its mission to inspire, stimulate and entertain diverse audiences in Northeast Ohio by producing plays and theatre education programs of the highest professional standards. CPH has produced more than 100 world and/or American premieres, and over its long history more than 12 million people have attended over 1,600 productions. Today, Cleveland Play House celebrates its centennial while performing in three state-of-the art venues at Playhouse Square in downtown Cleveland.

Opera Theatre of Saint Louis to present World Premiere of Jack Perla and Rajiv Joseph’s Shalimar the Clown, June 11 – 25 

Click here for more articles on Rajiv Joseph.

Click here  for the Lia Chang Articles Archive and here for the Lia Chang Photography Website.

Lia Chang. Photo by Garth Kravits

Lia Chang. Photo by Garth Kravits

Lia Chang is an award-winning filmmaker, a Best Actress nominee, a photographer, and an award-winning multi-platform journalist. Lia has appeared in the films Wolf, New Jack City, A Kiss Before Dying, King of New York, Big Trouble in Little China, The Last Dragon, Taxman and Hide and Seek, which will screen at the Disorient Film Festival in Eugene Oregon in April. She is profiled in Examiner.comJade Magazine and Playbill.com.

All text, graphics, articles & photographs: © 2000-2016 Lia Chang Multimedia. All rights reserved. All materials contained on this site are protected by United States copyright law and may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, displayed, published or broadcast without the prior written permission of Lia Chang. You may not alter or remove any trademark, copyright or other notice from copies of the content. For permission, please contact Lia at lia@liachangphotography.com


Denise Burse, Chinaza Uche, Vanessa Kai and Tyler Trerise set for Kimber Lee’s brownsville song (b-side for tray) at Seattle Rep, March 25-April 24

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Denise Burse. Photo by Lia Chang

Denise Burse. Photo by Lia Chang

Seattle Repertory Theatre is presenting Kimber Lee’s vivid and stirring play, brownsville song (b-side for tray) directed by Juliette Carrillo (Seattle Rep’s The Brothers Size). brownsville song (b-side for tray) runs March 25-April 24, 2016 in the Leo K. Theatre is located at Seattle Center at the corner of Second Ave. and Mercer St., Seattle, Washington. Tickets start at $17 and are available now through the Seattle Rep Box Office at (206) 443-2222 and online at seattlerep.org.

The cast features award-winning actor Denise Burse as Lena (Tyler Perry’s “House of Payne”; Seattle Rep’s The Piano Lesson and Radio Golf); Chinaza Uche as Tray (Off-Broadway Sojourners; Film Ricki and the Flash; TV “Blue Bloods”); Vanessa Kai as Merrell (TV “Blacklist” and “Orange is the New Black”; New York The Architecture of Becoming); and Tyler Trerise as Junior (Taproot Theatre The Whipping Man). The production also features emerging artists Leah DeLynn Dual (fourth grader) and Catherine Ting Karman (fifth grader) in the shared role of Devine.

After a senseless act of violence, a high schooler’s family must pick up the pieces and find hope and resilience within their tight-knit Brooklyn borough.

The legacy of violence in America begs a question for people to consider – what do we do with the absence left behind by the young men and women of color who leave us unnecessarily early? “With every loss, we are all diminished,” writes playwright Kimber Lee. “The effects of our collective failure to stem the tide of gun violence has spread beyond the borders of any particular neighborhood,” she continues, expressing that the life and legacy of one young man, who is more than what he may seem, belongs to us all and should not simply be treated as another tragic statistic.

With a premiere at the Humana Festival of New American Plays in 2014 followed by a well-received off-Broadway run at Lincoln Center, brownsville song (b-side for tray) has repeatedly been lauded for its vitality as an important new play and for the contributions it offers to the national conversation on urban communities experiencing trauma. Seattle Rep is pleased to present this beautifully rhythmic, contemporary play told in the past and the present, which provides a snapshot of a tightknit American family who must find a way to move forward after the sudden loss of a loved one.

Denise Burse lives and works in New York. Miss Burse is happy to be at Seattle Repertory Theatre for the third time. Her first show here was The Piano Lesson directed by Lloyd Richards. Next was Radio Golf directed by Kenny Leon. Both plays were written by August Wilson. Some of Miss Burse’s most recent credits include an episode of “Black Mirror,” a Netflix series; the newly released independent film Anesthesia by Tim Blake Nelson; a workshop of Nathan Alan Davis’ The Refuge Plays Trilogy directed by Patricia McGregor; and a workshop of Dominique Morisseau’s Autumn Harvest. You can still catch Miss Burse in the recurring role of Claretha Jenkins on Tyler Perry’s “House of Payne.” Denise is a Theatre World Award winner and an Audelco Award nominee and winner for acting.

Chinaza Uche –  Off-Broadway: Sojourners (Playwrights Realm, Playwrights Horizons), Three Days To See (Transport Group, New York Theatre Workshop). Off-Off: Daily Life Everlasting (Witness Relocation, La Mama), The Last Saint on Sugar Hill (National Black Theatre, AUDELCO nomination: Outstanding Ensemble), Othello (Kinetic Theatre Company), Hearts Like Fists (Flux Theatre Ensemble, NYT Critic’s Pick), Bintou (Movement Theatre Company), Obskene (Talking Band). Regional: The Brothers Size (Everyman Theatre), Flipside (Hartbeat Ensemble). Film: Ricki and the Flash, Mother Of George (Sundance), Terry Richardson’s Last Hours (Cannes), Threading Needles. TV: “Golden Boy” (CBS), “Deception” (NBC), “Blue Bloods” (CBS). Training: NYU.

Vanessa Kai – Seattle Repertory Theatre Debut! Favorite New York Theatre: The Architecture of Becoming (Women’s Project Theater) and What We Know (One Year Lease Theater). Regional: Far East (Lucille Lortel Award for Outstanding Debut by Connecticut Critics Circle) and An Infinite Ache (both Stamford Theatreworks). Kai has also helped develop new works at the Lark Play Development Center, The Civilians, The Working Theater, Center Stage Baltimore, TheatreWorks USA, and Flux Theatre Ensemble. TV: “The Blacklist,” “Gotham,” “The Mysteries of Laura,” “Orange Is The New Black,” “The Leftovers,” “Law & Order: SVU.” Upcoming: Seen/By Everyone at HERE Arts Center, NY in June, 2016. www.vanessakai.com.

Tyler Trerise attended the Cornish College of the Arts and is now an actor in Seattle. He has appeared in productions in Seattle since 2012, including The Whipping Man (Taproot Theatre), Broke-ology (Seattle Public Theater), Mwindo (Seattle Children’s Theatre), The Flick (NCTC), and John Baxter is a Switch Hitter and Bootycandy (Intiman), as well as appearing in the 2012 film Fat Kid Rules the World, and starring in the 2015 indie flick Star Leaf.

Leah DeLynn Dual is an emerging artist and her credits include Can I Get A Witness Volume II (First African Methodist Episcopal Church in Partnership with Langston Hughes Performing Arts Institute, Steve Sneed, Artistic Director); and Rooted: An Anti-Bullying Play (Langston Hughes Performing Arts Institute, Pre-Teen Summer Academy), a musical that Director Olisa Enrico-Johnson devised collaboratively with the cast. Leah has proudly declared to her family, “I was born to be an actor.” Leah is in 4th grade in the Renton School District.

Catherine Ting Karman is making her first appearance on a professional stage. She is currently attending 5th grade at Greenwood Elementary, and has been involved with its musical theater group for the last four years. She is at the top of her class and loves school. Catherine also enjoys going to performing arts shows around town, playing the piano, singing, playing basketball, biking, and swimming. At the age of nine months, she was adopted from China and joined her forever family here in Seattle. She is very grateful to Seattle Rep for this incredible opportunity, and describes this play as “very heartwarming, it grabs your attention and doesn’t let go.”

About The Playwright

Kimber Lee

Kimber Lee

Kimber Lee’s plays include to the yellow house, tokyo fish story (South Coast Repertory, The Old Globe), brownsville song (b-side for tray) (Humana Festival/ATL, LCT3/ Lincoln Center, Long Wharf Theatre, Philadelphia Theatre Company, Seattle Repertory Theatre, Moxie Theatre), and different words for the same thing (Center Theatre Group/Kirk Douglas Theatre). Her work has also been presented by Lark Play Development Center, Page 73, Hedgebrook, Seven Devils Playwrights Conference, Bay Area Playwrights Festival, The Old Globe, and Magic Theatre. Under commission at LCT3, South Coast Rep, Denver Center, Hartford Stage, Center Theatre Group, and Bush Theatre. Lark Playwrights Workshop Fellow, Dramatists Guild Fellow, Ma-Yi Writers Lab, and recipient of the Ruby Prize, PoNY Fellowship, Hartford Stage New Voices Fellowship, and inaugural 2015 PoNY/Bush Theatre Playwright Residency in London. MFA: UT Austin.

Director Juliette Carrillo returns to Seattle Repertory Theatre, where she previously directed The Cook by Eduardo Machado and The Brothers Size by Tarell Alvin McCraney. A graduate of the Yale School of Drama, Juliette has directed critically-acclaimed premiere and revival productions in theatres across the country, including Oregon Shakespeare Festival, Mark Taper Forum, South Coast Repertory, Yale Repertory, Denver Center Theatre Company, and Goodman Theatre. As a member of the Cornerstone Theater Company ensemble, she has developed work for and with various communities such as the Los Angeles River community, the addiction and recovery community, the Hindu community, and seniors and their caregivers. She was an Artistic Associate and Director of the Hispanic Playwright’s Project at South Coast Repertory for seven years. She is a recipient of several awards, including the NEA/TCG Directing Fellowship and the Princess Grace Award, and was recently named finalist for the Zelda Fichandler Award.

The creative team includes Mikiko Suzuki MacAdams, scenic design; Constanza Romero, costume design; Geoff Korf, lighting design; Matt Starritt, sound design; Kathryn Bostic, composer; Kristin Leahey, dramaturg.

Performance times: Wednesday-Sunday and select Tuesdays at 7:30 p.m.

Select Saturday, Sunday, and Wednesday matinees at 2:00 p.m. (no matinees during previews) Opening Night: Wednesday, March 30 at 7:30 p.m.

Discounted tickets for groups of 10+ may be purchased by calling (206) 443-2224. For ticket reservations, call the Seattle Repertory Theatre Box Office at (206) 443-2222 or toll-free at (877) 900-9285, or go online at seattlerep.org

Seattle Rep was founded in 1963 and is currently led by Artistic Director Braden Abraham and Managing Director Jeffrey Herrmann. One of America’s premier not-for-profit resident theatres, Seattle Repertory Theatre has achieved international renown for its consistently high production and artistic standards, and was awarded the 1990 Tony Award for Outstanding Regional Theatre. With an emphasis on entertaining plays of true dramatic and literary worth, Seattle Rep produces a season of plays along with educational programs, new play workshops, and special presentations.

Q & A: Denise Burse talks ‘Anesthesia’, Netflix’s ‘Black Mirror’, and ‘Brownsville Song (B-Side for Tray)’
Denise Burse, André Holland, Jerome Preston Bates, Amanda Warren, Jocelyn Bioh, and More in Reading of Nathan Alan Davis’ THE REFUGE PLAYS TRILOGY
Denise Burse Fernandez, Peter Jay Fernandez, MaameYaa Boafo, Alana Barrett-Adkins and more celebrate 30th Anniversary of Beth-Hark Christian Counseling Center, Inc. at Terrace on The Park

Click here for the Lia Chang Articles Archive and here for the Lia Chang Photography Website.

Lia Chang. Photo by Garth Kravits

Lia Chang. Photo by Garth Kravits

Lia Chang is an award-winning filmmaker, a Best Actress nominee, a photographer, and an award-winning multi-platform journalist. Lia has appeared in the films Wolf, New Jack City, A Kiss Before Dying, King of New York, Big Trouble in Little China, The Last Dragon, Taxman and Hide and Seek, which will screen at the Disorient Film Festival in Eugene Oregon in April. She is profiled in Examiner.comJade Magazine and Playbill.com.

All text, graphics, articles & photographs: © 2000-2016 Lia Chang Multimedia. All rights reserved. All materials contained on this site are protected by United States copyright law and may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, displayed, published or broadcast without the prior written permission of Lia Chang. You may not alter or remove any trademark, copyright or other notice from copies of the content. For permission, please contact Lia at lia@liachangphotography.com


Photos: Phylicia Rashad, John Earl Jelks, Robert Joy, J. Bernard Calloway, Francois Battiste and More in Tarell Alvin McCraney’s HEAD OF PASSES at The Public

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John Earl Jelks, Arnetia Walker, Phylicia Rashad, and Francois Battiste. Photo by Joan Marcus

John Earl Jelks, Arnetia Walker, Phylicia Rashad, and Francois Battiste. Photo by Joan Marcus

Tina Landau is at the helm of The Public Theater’s New York premiere of Head of Passes, written by Tarell Alvin McCraney, which began previews on March 17, in the Newman Theater and runs through Sunday, April 17. The official press opening is on Monday, March 28.

Arnetia Walker, Phylicia Rashad, and Robert Joy. Photo by Joan Marcus

Arnetia Walker, Phylicia Rashad, and Robert Joy. Photo by Joan Marcus

The Head of Passes cast features features Alana Arenas (Cookie), Francois Battiste (Aubrey), Kyle Beltran (Crier), J. Bernard Calloway (Spencer), Robert Joy (Dr. Anderson), John Earl Jelks (Creaker Johnson), Phylicia Rashad (Shelah), and Arnetia Walker (Mae).

Phylicia Rashad and Francois Battiste. Photo by Joan Marcus

Phylicia Rashad and Francois Battiste. Photo by Joan Marcus

Tarell Alvin McCraney, MacArthur Award-winning playwright of the acclaimed Brother/Sister Plays, has written a poetic and contemporary parable inspired by the Book of Job. At the mouth of the Mississippi River, Shelah’s family and friends have come to celebrate her birthday and save her from a leaking roof but unexpected events turn the reunion into the ultimate test of faith and love. As her world seems to collapse around her, Shelah must fight to survive the rising flood of life’s greatest challenges. Head of Passes is a co-production with Berkeley Repertory Theatre.

Phylicia Rashad and Kyle Beltran. Photo by Joan Marcus

Phylicia Rashad and Kyle Beltran. Photo by Joan Marcus

Head of Passes features scenic design by G.W. Mercier; costume design by Toni-Leslie James; lighting design by Jeff Croiter; sound design by Rob Milburn and Michael Bodeen; and wig and hair design by Robert-Charles Vallance.

Company. Photo by Joan Marcus

Company. Photo by Joan Marcus

Single tickets for can be purchased by calling (212) 967-7555, www.publictheater.org, or in person at the Taub Box Office at The Public Theater at 425 Lafayette Street. The Library at The Public is open nightly for food and drinks, beginning at 5:00 p.m., and Joe’s Pub at The Public continues to offer some of the best music in the city.

John Earl Jelks, Kyle Beltran, and Phylicia Rashad. Photo by Joan Marcus

John Earl Jelks, Kyle Beltran, and Phylicia Rashad. Photo by Joan Marcus

Robert Joy and Phylicia Rashad. Photo by Joan Marcus

Robert Joy and Phylicia Rashad. Photo by Joan Marcus

J. Bernard Calloway and Phylicia Rashad. Photo by Joan Marcus

J. Bernard Calloway and Phylicia Rashad. Photo by Joan Marcus

Alana Arenas and Phylicia Rashad. Photo by Joan Marcus

Alana Arenas and Phylicia Rashad. Photo by Joan Marcus

TARELL ALVIN McCRANEY (Playwright) was last seen at The Public with his edit of Antony and Cleopatra, a co-production with The Public, the Royal Shakespeare Company, and Miami’s GableStage; The Brother/Sister Plays, and The Brothers Size at the Under the Radar Festival. His additional credits include Head of Passes (Steppenwolf); Choir Boy (Royal Court/Manhattan Theatre Club); and Wig Out! (Sundance Theatre Lab/Vineyard Theatre/Royal Court). McCraney was the International Writer in Residence for the Royal Shakespeare Company from 2009 to 2011 where he remains an associate artist. He is an ensemble member at Steppenwolf Theatre Company in Chicago and a founding member of Teo Castellanos/D-Projects in Miami. In 2013, McCraney received the prestigious MacArthur “Genius” Grant. He also is the recipient of the Doris Duke Artist Award, Whiting Award, Steinberg Playwright Award, London’s Evening Standard Award for Most Promising Playwright, the inaugural New York Times Outstanding Playwright Award, the inaugural Paula Vogel Playwriting Award, and the inaugural Windham Campbell Award from Yale University.

TINA LANDAU (Director) collaborates frequently with McCraney, having directed his In the Red Brown Water (The Public, Alliance, and McCarter theaters), Wig Out (Vineyard Theatre), The Brother/Sister Plays (Steppenwolf), and Head of Passes (Steppenwolf, Berkeley Rep). She is an ensemble member at Steppenwolf in Chicago where she’s directed 18 productions including The Wheel, The Tempest, The Time of Your Life, Cherry Orchard, Ballad of Little Jo, Berlin Circle, and her own play Space (also The Public). Landau’s other New York directing credits include Chuck Mee’s Big Love and Iphigenia 2.0, and Bill Irwin/David Shiner’s Old Hats (all Signature Theatre); Paula Vogel’s A Civil War Christmas (New York Theatre Workshop); Dream True with Ricky Ian Gordon (for which she also wrote book and lyrics; Vineyard Theatre); and Floyd Collins with Adam Guettel (for which she also wrote Book and Additional Lyrics;Playwrights Horizons). On Broadway, Landau’s directed the revival of Bells Are Ringing and Tracy Letts’ Superior Donuts, and will direct the upcoming The SpongeBob Musical. She teaches regularly and has co-authored, with Anne Bogart, The Viewpoints Book.

ALANA ARENAS (Cookie) joined the Steppenwolf Theatre Company ensemble in 2007 and created the role of Pecola Breedlove for its Young Adults production of The Bluest Eye, which also played at the New Victory Off-Broadway. Her credits include Marie Antoinette, Tribes, Belleville, Head of Passes, Good People, Three Sisters, The March, Man in Love, Middletown, The Hot L Baltimore, The Etiquette of Vigilance, The Brother/Sister Plays; The Tempest, The Crucible, Spare Change, The Sparrow Project (Steppenwolf); Disgraced (ATC); The Arabian Nights (Lookingglass, Berkeley Rep, Kansas City Rep); Black Diamond (Lookingglass); Eyes (eta Creative Arts); SOST (MPAACT); WVON (Black Ensemble Theater); Hecuba, A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Chicago Shakespeare Theater); and Eclipsed (Northlight Theatre). Television and film credits include Crisis, Boss, The Beast, Kabuku Rides, and Lioness of Lisabi.

FRANCOIS BATTISTE (Aubrey) has been seen at The Public in Detroit ’67; The Good Negro, for which he received an OBIE Award and Lortel Award nomination; and The Merchant of Venice and The Winter’s Tale at the Delacorte Theater. He has been seen on Broadway in Bronx Bombers at Circle in the Square; Prelude to a Kiss at Roundabout; and Magic/Bird at the Longacre. His additional Off-Broadway credits Broke-ology at Lincoln Center, 10 Things to do Before I Die at Second Stage, and Bronx Bombers at Primary Stages. He has worked regionally at Williamstown, Sundance, Chicago Shakespeare, The Goodman, Victory Gardens, Lookingglass, and Dallas Theater Center. His film and television credits include Men in Black III, You Bury Your Own, Delivering the Goods, One Week, HBO’s “The Normal Heart,” ABC’s “The Family,” “Person of Interest,” “The Good Wife,” and “Are We There Yet?”

KYLE BELTRAN (Crier) has previously been seen at The Public in The Fortress of Solitude. His Broadway credits include In the Heights; and his additional Off-Broadway credits include The Flick at Barrow Street, Gloria at the Vineyard, Choir Boy at MTC, and 10 Things To Do Before I Die at 2ST. He has performed in the national tour of In the Heights and has been seen regionally in The Fortress of Solitude at Dallas Theater Center, Head of Passes at Steppenwolf, Good Goods at Yale Rep, Kingdom at Old Globe, and Aida at WVPT. His television credits include “The Big C” and “Unforgettable.” He can be seen in the upcoming film Equity.

J. BERNARD CALLOWAY (Spencer) is returning to The Public after appearing as “Henry Evans” in The Good Negro. He recently was starred as the Grinch in How the Grinch Stole Christmas at The Old Globe Theater, the first African American actor to play the role. His Broadway credits include “Delray” in the 2010 Tony Award-winning Best Musical Memphis, and “Ralph Abernathy” in the 2014 Tony Award-winning Best Play All The Way. His film and televisions credits include the series “The Breaks” on VH1; “Blue Bloods”; “Elementary”; and “Law & Order: SVU.”

JOHN EARL JELKS (Creaker Johnson) returns to The Public, having appeared in Lemon Andersen’s Toast. He was nominated for a Tony Award for his role as Sterling in August Wilson’s Radio Golf on Broadway. He also appeared as Citizen opposite Phylicia Rashad on Broadway in Gem of the Ocean, which he won a NAACP and an Ovation Award. Other Broadway credits include the Tupac musical Holler If Ya Hear Me. Off-Broadway, Jelks won an AUDELCO Award for the Off-Broadway revival The First Breeze of Summer; starred in the off-Broadway play Fetch Clay, Make Man followed by Sunset Baby, and won OBIE’s for both; and played Lawyer/Detective in Neil LaBute’s The Break of Noon with David Duchovny.  His film and television credits include Spike Lee’s Miracle At St. Anna’s, A Powerful Thang, Enter the Dangerous Mind, “Blue Bloods,” and Law & Order: SVU. 

ROBERT JOY (Dr. Anderson) has appeared at The Public in The Death of Von Richthofen as Witnessed From Earth, Found a Peanut, Lenny and the Heartbreakers, The Taming of the Shrew, and As You Like It. On Broadway he has been seen in The Nerd, Abe Lincoln in Illinois, Side Show, among others. His Off-Broadway credits include Hyde in Hollywood and Life and Limb at Playwrights Horizons; Lydie Breeze at the American Place; June Moon at Variety Arts; Pigeon and No One Will Be Immune at Ensemble Studio Theater; among others. His regional credits include Baby Doll, Romeo and Juliet, Twelfth Night, Big River, The Nether, among others. His film and television credits include Atlantic City, Ragtime, Desperately Seeking Susan, The Hills Have Eyes, George A. Romero’s Land of the Dead, Fallen, Waterworld, Radio Days, “Resurrection,” and over 200 episodes and TV movies. For eight years he played “Sid Hammerback,” the medical examiner on “CSI: NY.”

PHYLICIA RASHAD (Shelah) was last seen at The Public in The Story by Tracey Scott Wilson in 2003, as well as in Helen in 2002, and Everybody’s Rudy in 1999. She is a versatile performer who became a household name when she portrayed “Claire Huxtable” on “The Cosby Show,” a character whose appeal has earned numerous honors and awards for over two decades. While television was a catalyst in the rise of Rashad’s career, she has also been a force on the stage, appearing both on and off Broadway, often in projects that showcase her musical talent such as Jelly’s Last Jam, Into The Woods, Dreamgirls, and The Wiz. As a dramatic actress, Rashad has appeared on Broadway in August Osage County, Cat on a Hot Tin Roof (also West End), Gem Of The Ocean (Tony nomination), A Raisin in the Sun (Drama Desk and Tony Awards) and Cymbeline. She appeared in Tyler Perry’s Good Deeds, and starred in Perry’s highly acclaimed film version of Ntozake Shange’s For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide When The Rainbow Is Enuf. She made her directorial debut at the Seattle Repertory Theater with August Wilson’s Gem of the Ocean and has directed works at The Ebony Repertory, Kirk Douglas Theatre, Westport County Playhouse, Mark Taper, Longwharf Theatre, and the McCarter Theatre. Rashad has received numerous honorary doctorate degrees and awards for excellence both in theater and television.

ARNETIA WALKER (Mae) began performing on Broadway at age 16 in such productions as Two Gentlemen of Verona, The Wiz, Raisin, and Dreamgirls. She is the only actress credited with portraying all three dreamgirls. Her television credit list includes “The Big House,” “Everybody Loves Raymond,” “NYPD Blues,” and “Nurses.” Among her feature film performances are College Road Trip, Love Crimes, and Scenes from the Class Struggle in Beverly Hills.

The Public Theater, under the leadership of Oskar Eustis and Executive Director Patrick Willingham, is the only theater in New York that produces Shakespeare, the classics, musicals, contemporary and experimental pieces in equal measure. Celebrating his 10th anniversary season at The Public, Eustis has created new community-based initiatives designed to engage audiences like Public Lab, Public Studio, Public Forum, Public Works, and a remount of the Mobile Shakespeare Unit. The Public continues the work of its visionary founder, Joe Papp, by acting as an advocate for the theater as an essential cultural force, and leading and framing dialogue on some of the most important issues of our day. Creating theater for one of the largest and most diverse audience bases in New York City for nearly 60 years, today the Company engages audiences in a variety of venues-including its landmark downtown home at Astor Place, which houses five theaters and Joe’s Pub; the Delacorte Theater in Central Park, home to free Shakespeare in the Park; and the Mobile Shakespeare Unit, which tours Shakespearean productions for underserved audiences throughout New York City’s five boroughs. The Public’s wide range of programming includes free Shakespeare in the Park, the bedrock of the Company’s dedication to making theater accessible to all; Public Works, an expanding initiative that is designed to cultivate new connections and new models of engagement with artists, audiences and the community each year; and audience and artist development initiatives that range from Emerging Writers Group and to the Public Forum series. The Public is located on property owned by the City of New York and receives annual support from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs; and in October 2012 the landmark building downtown at Astor Place was revitalized to physically manifest the Company’s core mission of sparking new dialogues and increasing accessibility for artists and audiences, by dramatically opening up the building to the street and community, and transforming the lobby into a public piazza for artists, students, and audiences. The Public is currently represented on Broadway by the Tony Award-winning Fun Home and Lin-Manuel Miranda’s acclaimed American musical Hamilton. The Public has received 47 Tony Awards, 167 Obie Awards, 52 Drama Desk Awards, 48 Lortel Awards, 31 Outer Critics Circle Awards, 13 New York Drama Critics Awards, and four Pulitzer Prizes.www.publictheater.org

Click here for the Lia Chang Articles Archive and here for the Lia Chang Photography Website.

Lia Chang. Photo by Garth Kravits

Lia Chang. Photo by Garth Kravits

Lia Chang is an award-winning filmmaker, a Best Actress nominee, a photographer, and an award-winning multi-platform journalist. Lia has appeared in the films Wolf, New Jack City, A Kiss Before Dying, King of New York, Big Trouble in Little China, The Last Dragon, Taxman and Hide and Seek, which will screen at the Disorient Film Festival in Eugene Oregon in April. She is profiled in Examiner.comJade Magazine and Playbill.com.

All text, graphics, articles & photographs: © 2000-2016 Lia Chang Multimedia. All rights reserved. All materials contained on this site are protected by United States copyright law and may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, displayed, published or broadcast without the prior written permission of Lia Chang. You may not alter or remove any trademark, copyright or other notice from copies of the content. For permission, please contact Lia at lia@liachangphotography.com



Bill Irwin and David Shiner’s OLD HATS featuring Shaina Taub, at Signature through April 3

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Bill Irwin, Shaina Taub and David Shiner. Photo by Kevin Berne

Bill Irwin, Shaina Taub and David Shiner. Photo by Kevin Berne

Bill Irwin and David Shiner are back together again for Signature Theatre’s wildly successful, award-winning, critically-acclaimed production of Old Hats, which has performances through April 3 at The Irene Diamond Stage at The Pershing Square Signature Center (480 West 42nd Street between 9th and 10th Avenues). Preview performances began January 26, opened on February 18 and received a four-week extension. Tickets start at $45. To purchase tickets for all Signature productions, call Ticket Services at 212-244-7529 (Tues. – Sun., 11am – 6pm) or visit signaturetheatre.org.

Bill Irwin and David Shiner at the opening night party of OLD HATS at The Pershing Square Signature Center in New York on March 4, 2013. Photo by Lia Chang

Bill Irwin and David Shiner at the opening night party of OLD HATS at The Pershing Square Signature Center in New York on March 4, 2013. Photo by Lia Chang

After an extended, sold out run in 2013, Signature welcomes back Irwin and Shiner in  Old Hats, called “one of the funniest shows of the past few years” by the New York Post, and selected as a Critics’ Pick by The New York Times and Time Out New York. This production reunites the clowns with original director Tina Landau and introduces their new songstress and comic foil Shaina Taub, hailed as “a young Judy Garland meets grown-up Lisa Simpson” by the San Francisco Chronicle. Using music, technology, and movement, Irwin and Shiner combine their inimitable magic and slapstick to create an unforgettable outing that’s fun for the whole family.

The design team includes G.W. Mercier (Scenic and Costume Design), Scott Zielinski (Lighting Design), John Gromada (Sound Design), Wendall K. Harrington (Projection Design). David H. Lurie is the Production Stage Manager. Casting by Telsey + Company, Will Cantler, CSA.

 “CRITICS’ PICK! THE BOYS ARE BACK IN TOWN! LIFTS EVERYONE’S SPIRITS!”

The New York Times

“DOWNRIGHT HYSTERICAL! THE RUBBER-LIMBED CLOWNS ARE AS IRRESISTIBLE AS EVER. TAUB IS RIGHT IN STEP WITH IRWIN AND SHINER’S WACKY SENSIBILITY!”

Entertainment Weekly

“BURSTING WITH COMIC FRESHNESS AND VITALITY!”

Hollywood Reporter 

RED CARPET REACTIONS TO OLD HATS

AUDIENCES LOVE OLD HATS

INTERVIEW WITH BILL IRWIN

INTERVIEW WITH DAVID SHINER

MEET SONGSTRESS SHAINA TAUB

Click here for the Lia Chang Articles Archive and here for the Lia Chang Photography Website.

Lia Chang. Photo by Garth Kravits

Lia Chang. Photo by Garth Kravits

Lia Chang is an award-winning filmmaker, a Best Actress nominee, a photographer, and an award-winning multi-platform journalist. Lia has appeared in the films Wolf, New Jack City, A Kiss Before Dying, King of New York, Big Trouble in Little China, The Last Dragon, Taxman and Hide and Seek, which will screen at the Disorient Film Festival in Eugene Oregon in April. She is profiled in Examiner.comJade Magazine and Playbill.com.

All text, graphics, articles & photographs: © 2000-2016 Lia Chang Multimedia. All rights reserved. All materials contained on this site are protected by United States copyright law and may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, displayed, published or broadcast without the prior written permission of Lia Chang. You may not alter or remove any trademark, copyright or other notice from copies of the content. For permission, please contact Lia at lia@liachangphotography.com


Dominique Morisseau’s SKELETON CREW starring Jason Dirden, Wendell B. Franklin, Lynda Gravatt, Nikiya Mathis and Adesola Osakalumi, transfers this spring Off Broadway to Atlantic’s Linda Gross Theater, May 13-June 19

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Atlantic Theater Company’s critically acclaimed, sold out world premiere production of Dominique Morisseau’s Skeleton Crew at Stage 2, directed by Ruben Santiago-Hudson, transfers this spring Off Broadway to Atlantic’s Linda Gross Theater (336 West 20 Street). Skeleton Crew will begin performances Friday, May 13; opens May 19 and plays a strictly limited engagement through Sunday, June 19. Click here for tickets and more information.

 

Jason Dirden and Nikiya Mathis in Atlantic Theater Company's Skeleton Crew. Photo by Ahron R. Foster

Jason Dirden and Nikiya Mathis in Atlantic Theater Company’s Skeleton Crew. Photo by Ahron R. Foster

Featuring the celebrated ensemble cast of Jason Dirden (A Raisin in the Sun), Wendell B. Franklin (Speak Truth to the Power), Lynda Gravatt (Cat on a Hot Tin Roof), Nikiya Mathis (Milk Like Sugar) and Adesola Osakalumi (Fela!).

Jason Dirden, Lynda Gravatt and Nikiya Mathis in Atlantic Theater Company's Skeleton Crew. Photo by Ahron R. Foster

Jason Dirden, Lynda Gravatt and Nikiya Mathis in Atlantic Theater Company’s Skeleton Crew. Photo by Ahron R. Foster

2015 Steinberg Award winner Dominique Morisseau attends the 2015 Steinberg Playwright Awards on November 16, 2015 in New York City. Photo by Lia Chang

2015 Steinberg Award winner Dominique Morisseau attends the 2015 Steinberg Playwright Awards on November 16, 2015 in New York City. Photo by Lia Chang

In Dominique Morisseau’s third play in her Detroit trilogy, a makeshift family of workers at the last exporting auto plant in the city navigate the possibility of foreclosure. Power dynamics shift and they are pushed to the limits of survival. When the line between blue collar and white collar gets blurred, how far over the lines are they willing to step?

Skeleton Crew began previews January 6 and opened to unanimous critical acclaim on January 19 Off Broadway at Atlantic Stage 2 (330 West 16 Street).

Playwright Dominique Morisseau is best known for her trilogy of plays about her hometown Detroit. The first installment, Detroit ’67 was staged Off Broadway in 2013 and won the 2014 Edward M. Kennedy Prize for Drama Inspired by American History. Her second play, Paradise Blue, debuted at the Williamstown Theater Festival last summer. Her play Sunset Baby had its world premiere at the Gate Theater in London in 2012 before transferring Off Broadway in 2013. In November, she received the prestigious 2015 Steinberg Playwright Award.

Ruben Santiago-Hudson. Photo by Lia Chang

Ruben Santiago-Hudson. Photo by Lia Chang

Tony and Obie Award winning actor and director Ruben Santiago-Hudson most recently staged the world premieres of Dominique Morriseau’s Paradise Blue and his own play Your Blues Ain’t Sweet Like Mine, and Encores! Cabin in the Sky. Off Broadway he has directed the Obie and Lortel Award winning production of The Piano Lesson and The Happiest Song Plays Last, My Children My Africa, Seven Guitars and The First Breeze of Summer. His Emmy and Golden Globe Award nominated screenplay adaptation of his autobiographical play Lackawanna Blues was awarded The Humanitas Prize, The National Board of Review Award and the NAACP Image Award.

Jason Dirden and Wendell B. Franklin in Atlantic Theater Company's Skeleton Crew. Photo by Ahron R. Foster

Jason Dirden and Wendell B. Franklin in Atlantic Theater Company’s Skeleton Crew. Photo by Ahron R. Foster

Jason Dirden appeared in A Raisin in the Sun and Fences on Broadway and received Obie and Theatre World awards for his performance in the Obie and Lortel Award winning production of The Piano Lesson Off Broadway. Wendell B. Franklin’s New York credits include Speak Truth to Power, The Desire and Brothers from the Bottom. He was featured in The Lark and Sundance Theatre Lab workshops of Skeleton Crew. Lynda Gravatt has appeared on Broadway in Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, King Hedley II and 45 Seconds from Broadway and recently Off Broadway in The Hummingbird’s Tour. Nikiya Mathis originated roles in the Off Broadway productions of Milk Like Sugar, Fidelis, Seed and co-starred in the Lortel Award winning production of The Brother Sister Plays trilogy. Adesola Osakalumi starred in the original Broadway cast, national and international tours of Fela!, appeared on Broadway in Equus and Off Broadway in Eyewitness Blues and Jam on the Groove.

Skeleton Crew features scenic design by Michael Carnahan, costume design by Paul Tazewell, lighting design by Rui Rita, original music and sound design by Rob Kaplowitz, original songs by Jimmy “J. Keys” Keys, choreography by Adesola Osakalumi and casting by Caparelliotis Casting.

Atlantic Theater Company’s Linda Gross Theater is located at 336 West 20 Street (between 8 and 9 Avenues).

Lynda Gravatt and Wendell B. Franklin in Atlantic Theater Company's Skeleton Crew. Photo by

Lynda Gravatt and Wendell B. Franklin in Atlantic Theater Company’s Skeleton Crew. Photo by Ahron R. Foster

★★★★ 
Critics’ Pick, Time Out New York

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“A VERY FINE NEW PLAY!
WARM-BLOODED, ASTUTE, and BEAUTIFULLY ACTED!
CLIFFORD ODETS’S dramas come to mind and so does the great
Pittsburgh cycle of AUGUST WILSON!
Squarely in the tradition of ARTHUR MILLER!

A DEEPLY MORAL and DEEPLY AMERICAN PLAY, 
directed with a slow hand and quick pulse by Ruben Santiago-Hudson!”
 The New York Times

Wendell B. Franklin, Lynda Gravatt, Jason Dirden and Nikiya Mathis in Atlantic Theater Company's Skeleton Crew. Photo by Ahron R. Foster

Wendell B. Franklin, Lynda Gravatt, Jason Dirden and Nikiya Mathis in Atlantic Theater Company’s Skeleton Crew. Photo by Ahron R. Foster

“ A PERFORMANCE SO POWERFUL THAT THE CHARACTER SEEMS TO RISE UP OUT OF THE PLAY!”
– Bergen Record

“MORISSEAU HAS HEART!
Her rough-edged dialogue has a touch of street poet.
Gravatt is FIERCE AND FINE!”
 Variety

Jason Dirden and Nikiya Mathis in Atlantic Theater Company's Skeleton Crew. Photo by Ahron R. Foster

Jason Dirden and Nikiya Mathis in Atlantic Theater Company’s Skeleton Crew. Photo by Ahron R. Foster

“A taut and VIBRANTLY ACTED drama with 
vivid characters, keen-eared dialogue, and inside insights into this working class world.
MORISSEAU’S FINAL CHAPTER IS BUILT TO LAST!”
– NY Daily News

Adesola Osakalumi in Atlantic Theater Company's Skeleton Crew. Photo by Ahron R. Foster

Adesola Osakalumi in Atlantic Theater Company’s Skeleton Crew. Photo by Ahron R. Foster

Like LORRAINE HANSBERRY and AUGUST WILSON,
Morisseau creates characters WHO SING WITH THE
VERNACULAR OF THEIR COMMUNITY! Rarely has
dialogue ever felt so much like eavesdropping on an actual conversation!”
 Theatermania

“UNQUESTIONABLY A STRONG, FORMIDABLE WORK!
All four leads are IMPECCABLE!
THEATERGOERS WON’T WANT TO MISS!”
 Huffington Post

Click here for the Lia Chang Articles Archive and here for the Lia Chang Photography Website.

Lia Chang. Photo by Garth Kravits

Lia Chang. Photo by Garth Kravits

Lia Chang is an award-winning filmmaker, a Best Actress nominee, a photographer, and an award-winning multi-platform journalist. Lia has appeared in the films Wolf, New Jack City, A Kiss Before Dying, King of New York, Big Trouble in Little China, The Last Dragon, Taxman and Hide and Seek, which will screen at the Disorient Film Festival in Eugene Oregon in April. She is profiled in Examiner.comJade Magazine and Playbill.com.

All text, graphics, articles & photographs: © 2000-2016 Lia Chang Multimedia, except otherwise indicated. All rights reserved. All materials contained on this site are protected by United States copyright law and may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, displayed, published or broadcast without the prior written permission of Lia Chang. You may not alter or remove any trademark, copyright or other notice from copies of the content. For permission, please contact Lia at lia@liachangphotography.com


Broadway Vet Gedde Watanabe and MISS SAIGON’s Jon Jon Briones Lead the Cast of East West Players’ Production of LA CAGE AUX FOLLES, May 12 – June 26

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Gedde Watanabe

Gedde Watanabe

Broadway, Film and TV Vet Gedde Watanabe (Broadway’s Pacific Overtures, Sixteen Candles, Gung Ho) and Jon Jon Briones (London Revival of Miss Saigon, EWP’s A Little Night MusicAllegiance at The Old Globe) lead the cast of East West Players’ production of the Tony Award-winning musical La Cage aux Folles for a six week engagement, at the David Henry Hwang Theater at the Union Center of the Arts at 120 Judge John Aiso Street, Los Angeles, CA 90012, May 12 – June 26. Opening Night for La Cage aux Folles is Wednesday, May 18 at 8pm and includes a 7pm pre-performance cocktail reception, and a post-show reception with the cast and creative team.

Jon Jon Briones as Georges

Jon Jon Briones as Georges

East West Players (EWP), the nation’s longest-running professional theatre of color in the country and the largest producing organization of Asian American artistic work, ends its extended two year 50th Anniversary Season with this musical.

La Cage aux Folles, book by Harvey Fierstein, lyrics and music by Jerry Herman, and based on the book by Jean Poiret, was originally produced on Broadway at the Palace Theatre in 1983. Helmed by Tim Dang in his final production as producing artistic director at East West Players, with musical direction by Marc Macalintal (EWP’s ChessKrunk Fu Battle BattleThe Who’s Tommy) and choreography by Reggie Lee (EWP’s FolliesA Little Night Music). Generous support for this production is provided by the S. Mark Taper Foundation Endowment for East West Players and is produced in association with the Los Angeles LGBT Center. Additional funding is provided by The Sheri and Les Biller Family Foundation and the OUT Fund.

“Working with a fantastic ensemble lead by Gedde Watanabe and Jon Jon Briones, this show represents the presence of Asian Americans in the industry. One is a Broadway veteran, the other is on his way to debut on Broadway with a cast of emerging talent ready to make their mark,” stated Tim Dang, outgoing Producing Artistic Director of East West Players. “Our 50th Anniversary is a closing of one memorable chapter of EWP but the beginning of another. Taking the lead from one of the most memorable songs from the show, these are indeed the ‘best of times’”.

This multiple Tony Award winner for Best Musical about a gay couple who own a glitzy drag club is given a fresh, sleek and racy look that only East West Players can deliver.

The charmed lives of Georges, the suave owner, and Albin, his high-strung star performer, are turned upside down when George’s son, Jean-Michel, returns with his fiancée, Anne. Cultures collide as Georges and Albin are introduced to Anne and her ultra-conservative parents in this jubilant musical that inspired the movie, The Birdcage.

Jon Jon Briones (Georges) just completed starring as the Engineer in the 2014 revival of Miss Saigon in London’s West End, a role for which he has won many awards and was nominated for the prestigious Lawrence Olivier Award for Leading Actor in a Musical. He has appeared in EWP’s production of A Little Night Music as Fredric and also the Old Globe Theatre’s production of Allegiance. He will be making his Broadway debut in 2017 with Miss Saigon.

Gedde Watanabe (Albin) originated the role of the Boy in a Tree in the Broadway musical Pacific Overtures by Stephen Sondheim and John Weidman. He is also best known for Sixteen Candles, Gung Ho and many more film and television projects.

Allen Lucky Weaver

Allen Lucky Weaver

Allen Lucky Weaver (Jacob) has performed Thuy in Miss Saigon and Angel in Rent in various regional productions across the country.

Other cast members include Michael Hagiwara as Edouard Dindon, Sharline Liu as Marie Dindon, Jinwoo Jung as Jean Michel, Audrey Cain as Anne, Grace Yoo as Jaqueline, and Cesar Cipriano as Francis.

The notorious Cagelles will be played by Christopher Aguilar, Carlos Chang, Jonathan Kim, DT Matias, and Alex Sanchez.

The design team includes: Set design by Victoria Petrovich, costume design by Anthony Tran, lighting design by Karyn D. Lawrence, and sound design by Cricket Myers. Props by Ken Takemoto. Stage Manager is Ondina V. Dominguez.

Previews are Thursday, May 12 through Saturday May 14 at 8pm and Sunday May 15 at 2pm. All preview seats are $28.

Opening Night for La Cage aux Folles is Wednesday, May 18 at 8pm and includes a 7pm pre-performance cocktail reception, and a post-show reception with the cast and creative team. Call theater for availability. “Pay-What-You-Can” Performance is on Thursday, May 19 at 8pm. A special talkback with the cast and creative team is on Sunday, May 29 immediately following the performance. The production runs until June 26.

Regular performances run Wednesdays through Saturdays at 8pm, and Sundays at 2pm. Tickets may be purchased online or by calling (213) 625-7000. Regular tickets range from $48-58. Student and Senior discounts available. Dates, prices and details are subject to change.

Special Event: Aloha Tim! Celebrate the final performances June 22-26 with outgoing artistic director Tim Dang with a Chinese buffet and drinks one hour before showtime Wednesday through Saturday night. At the closing performance Sunday matinee, the buffet and drinks will occur after the performance with the cast/crew.

Click here for the Lia Chang Articles Archive and here for the Lia Chang Photography Website.

Lia Chang. Photo by Garth Kravits

Lia Chang. Photo by Garth Kravits

Lia Chang is an award-winning filmmaker, a Best Actress nominee, a photographer, and an award-winning multi-platform journalist. Lia has appeared in the films Wolf, New Jack City, A Kiss Before Dying, King of New York, Big Trouble in Little China, The Last Dragon, Taxman and Hide and Seek, which will screen at the Disorient Film Festival in Eugene Oregon in April. She is profiled in Examiner.comJade Magazine and Playbill.com.

All text, graphics, articles & photographs: © 2000-2016 Lia Chang Multimedia, except otherwise indicated. All rights reserved. All materials contained on this site are protected by United States copyright law and may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, displayed, published or broadcast without the prior written permission of Lia Chang. You may not alter or remove any trademark, copyright or other notice from copies of the content. For permission, please contact Lia at lia@liachangphotography.com


The Old Globe Presents West Coast Premiere of CAMP DAVID with Hallie Foote, Khaled Nabawy & Richard Thomas Reprising Their Roles; Ned Eisenberg Joins Cast – May 13 – June 19

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Richard Thomas as Jimmy Carter and Hallie Foote as Rosalynn Carter in Camp David at Arena Stage, 2014. The West Coast premiere of the Arena Stage production of Lawrence Wright’s Camp David, directed by Molly Smith, runs May 13 – June 19, 2016 at The Old Globe. Photo by Teresa Wood.

Richard Thomas as Jimmy Carter and Hallie Foote as Rosalynn Carter in Camp David at Arena Stage, 2014. The West Coast premiere of the Arena Stage production of Lawrence Wright’s Camp David, directed by Molly Smith, runs May 13 – June 19, 2016 at The Old Globe. Photo by Teresa Wood.

The Old Globe is presenting the Arena Stage production of Pulitzer Prize winner Lawrence Wright’s thrilling new play CAMP DAVID, directed by Arena Stage’s artistic director, Molly Smith.

The West Coast premiere of CAMP DAVID will play May 13 – June 19, 2016 on the Donald and Darlene Shiley Stage in the Old Globe Theatre, part of the Conrad Prebys Theatre Center. Previews run May 13 – 19. Opening night is Friday, May 20 at 8:00 p.m. Tickets start at $29, currently available by subscription only, and will go on sale to the general public on Friday, April 8 at 12 noon.

Hallie Foote as Rosalynn Carter and Khaled Nabawy as Anwar Sadat in Camp David at Arena Stage, 2014. The West Coast premiere of the Arena Stage production of Lawrence Wright’s Camp David, directed by Molly Smith, runs May 13 – June 19, 2016 at The Old Globe. Photo by Teresa Wood.

Hallie Foote as Rosalynn Carter and Khaled Nabawy as Anwar Sadat in Camp David at Arena Stage, 2014. The West Coast premiere of the Arena Stage production of Lawrence Wright’s Camp David, directed by Molly Smith, runs May 13 – June 19, 2016 at The Old Globe. Photo by Teresa Wood.

From The Twenty-seventh Man to Golda’s Balcony to Allegiance, The Old Globe boasts a rich legacy of exploring significant moments in recent history on its stages. Now a new play, CAMP DAVID, offers a you-are-there view of a great historical achievement whose legacy continues to resonate nearly 40 years later. In the tumultuous 1970s, Middle East peace seemed as remote a prospect as it does today. Yet during 13 extraordinary days in 1978, two world leaders, Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin and Egyptian President Anwar Sadat, under the watchful and sometimes exasperated eyes of U.S. President Jimmy Carter and his wife Rosalynn, hammered out an agreement that inspired the entire world. Pulitzer Prize winner Lawrence Wright (The Looming Tower, HBO’s Going Clear) brings us a riveting and moving story filled with humor, insight, and surprises, as three very different men, each devoutly committed to his people and also to his faith, find that peace is possible and that hope is always the better choice.

Hallie Foote as Rosalynn Carter, Richard Thomas as Jimmy Carter and Khaled Nabawy as Anwar Sadat with Will Beckstrom and Will Hayes in Camp David at Arena Stage, 2014. The West Coast premiere of the Arena Stage production of Lawrence Wright’s Camp David, directed by Molly Smith, runs May 13 – June 19, 2016 at The Old Globe. Photo by Teresa Wood.

Hallie Foote as Rosalynn Carter, Richard Thomas as Jimmy Carter and Khaled Nabawy as Anwar Sadat with Will Beckstrom and Will Hayes in Camp David at Arena Stage, 2014. The West Coast premiere of the Arena Stage production of Lawrence Wright’s Camp David, directed by Molly Smith, runs May 13 – June 19, 2016 at The Old Globe. Photo by Teresa Wood.

Richard Thomas as Jimmy Carter in Camp David at Arena Stage, 2014. The West Coast premiere of the Arena Stage production of Lawrence Wright’s Camp David, directed by Molly Smith, runs May 13 – June 19, 2016 at The Old Globe. Photo by Teresa Wood.

Richard Thomas as Jimmy Carter in Camp David at Arena Stage, 2014. The West Coast premiere of the Arena Stage production of Lawrence Wright’s Camp David, directed by Molly Smith, runs May 13 – June 19, 2016 at The Old Globe. Photo by Teresa Wood.

CAMP DAVID had its world premiere at Washington, DC’s Arena Stage in 2014 and was seen in a special reading by its original cast in June 2016 as part of Carter Center Weekend in Vail, Colorado.

The cast includes Broadway veteran Ned Eisenberg (Awake and Sing!, Golden Boy) as Menachem Begin, Tony and Emmy Award nominee Hallie Foote (Dividing the Estate on Broadway and at the Globe) as Rosalynn Carter, award-winning Egyptian actor and activist Khaled Nabawy (Kingdom of Heaven, Fair Game) as Anwar Sadat, and Emmy Award winner Richard Thomas (Othello at the Globe, “The Waltons,” “The Americans”) as Jimmy Carter.

The creative team includes Walt Spangler (Scenic Design), Paul Tazewell (Costume Design),Pat Collins (Lighting Design), David Van Tieghem (Original Music and Sound Design), Jeff Sugg (Projection Design), David Huber (Vocal Coach), Geoff Josselson, CSA (Casting), Susan R. White and Peter Van Dyke (Production Stage Managers), and Gerald Rafshoon (Producer).

“CAMP DAVID tells a story that’s forty years old and at the same time is as fresh as this morning’s headlines,” said Artistic Director Barry Edelstein. “The issues that Carter, Begin, and Sadat wrestled with in 1978 still roil the Middle East today. Lawrence Wright’s exciting and moving play reminds us, in vividly theatrical terms, that peace is not some miracle but is instead the fruit of hard, risk-taking work by bold and visionary leaders. I am honored to have Wright at the Globe and to hold a public conversation with him. And I cannot wait to have the estimable Molly Smith’s extraordinary cast on our stage. In particular I’m delighted to introduce California audiences to a great international star in Khaled Nabawy, and I’m very, very happy to welcome my friend, the brilliant Richard Thomas, back to our stage. This is a special show, and I know San Diego will find it a powerful and entertaining evening in the theatre.”

The Old Globe will present a one-night-only event, Barry Edelstein In Conversation with Lawrence Wright, on Thursday, April 21 at 6:00 p.m. This sure-to-be-intriguing chat between Old Globe Artistic Director Barry Edelstein and CAMP DAVID playwright Lawrence Wright will explore the play; Wright’s research and book on CAMP DAVID; his work as a writer for stage, screen, and The New Yorker; and his insights into the contemporary Middle East.

Barry Edelstein In Conversation with Lawrence Wright will take place on the Donald and Darlene Shiley Stage in the Old Globe Theatre, part of the Conrad Prebys Theatre Center. Tickets are $7 for subscribers and full-time students and $10 for general audiences and can be purchased online at www.TheOldGlobe.org, by phone at (619) 23-GLOBE, or by visiting the Box Office at 1363 Old Globe Way in Balboa Park.

Tickets to CAMP DAVID start at $29; they are currently available by subscription only and will go on sale to the general public on Friday, April 8 at 12 noon. Tickets can be purchased online at www.TheOldGlobe.org, by phone at (619) 23-GLOBE, or by visiting the Box Office at 1363 Old Globe Way in Balboa Park. Performances begin on May 13 and continue through June 19. Performance times: Previews: Friday, May 13 at 8:00 p.m., Saturday, May 14 at 8:00 p.m., Sunday, May 15 at 7:00 p.m., Tuesday, May 17 at 7:00pm, Wednesday, May 18 at 7:00 p.m., and Thursday, May 19 at 8:00 p.m. Opening Night is Friday, May 20 at 8:00 p.m. Regular Performances: Tuesday and Wednesday evenings at 7:00 p.m., Thursday, Friday, and Saturday evenings at 8:00 p.m., Saturday and Sunday matinees at 2:00 p.m., and Sunday evenings at 7:00 p.m. There will be a Wednesday matinee performance on June 8 at 2:00 p.m. and no matinee performance on Saturday, June 11. Discounts are available for full-time students, patrons 29 years of age and under, seniors, military members, and groups of 10 or more.

Additional events taking place during the run of Rain include:

INSIGHTS SEMINAR: Tuesday May 17, at 5:30 p.m.

The seminar series features a panel selected from the current show. Reception at 5:00 p.m. FREE

SUBJECT MATTERS: Saturday, May 21

Following the 2:00 p.m. performance, explore the ideas and issues raised by the production through brief, illuminating post-show discussions with local experts. FREE

POST-SHOW FORUMS: Tuesday, May 24, Tuesday, May 31, and Wednesday, June 8

Discuss the play with members of the cast and crew following the performance. FREE

The Old Globe is located in San Diego’s Balboa Park at 1363 Old Globe Way. Through a special arrangement with the San Diego Zoo, Old Globe evening ticket-holders have the opportunity to pre-purchase valet parking in the Zoo’s new employee parking structure. With a drop-off point just a short walk to the Globe, theatregoers may purchase fast, easy, convenient valet parking for just $20 per vehicle per evening. Pre-paid only, available only by phone through the Old Globe Box Office. Call today at (619) 234-5623. For more information, go to www.theoldglobe.org/tickets/parkingvalet.aspx.

There are numerous free parking lots available throughout the park. Guests may also be dropped off in front of the Mingei International Museum. The Balboa Park valet is also available during performances, located in front of the Japanese Friendship Garden. For additional parking information visit www.BalboaPark.org. For directions and up-to-date information, visit www.TheOldGlobe.org/Directions.

To look up online or GPS directions to The Old Globe, do not use the Delivery Address above. There is only a 10-minute zone at that physical address. For GPS users, click here for the map coordinates, and here for written directions to The Old Globe and nearby parking in Balboa Park.

CAST & CREATIVE BIOGRAPHIES:

Ned Eisenberg (Menachem Begin) has appeared on Broadway in Rocky, Golden Boy, Awake and Sing! (Drama Desk and Tony Awards for Revival of a Play), and The Green Bird. His Off Broadway credits include Finks (Ensemble Studio Theatre), Iago in Othello (Lucille Lortel Award nomination), Fagin in Oliver Twist, and the title role in King John (Theatre for a New Audience), Rocket to the Moon (The Peccadillo Theater Company), and Meshugah (Naked Angels). His regional credits include Nathan Detroit in Guys and Dolls (Long Wharf Theatre), The Middle of Nowhere (Prince Music Theater), Street Scene and Six Degrees of Separation (Williamstown Theatre Festival), Piece of My Heart (New York Stage and Film), and Broadway: Three Generations (The Kennedy Center). Eisenberg has appeared in the films Experimenter, Won’t Back Down, Limitless, Flags of Our Fathers, World Trade Center, and Million Dollar Baby. His television credits include “Criminal Justice,” “The Good Wife,” “The Mysteries of Laura,” “Person of Interest,” “30 Rock,” “Blue Bloods,” “White Collar,” and “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit.” He is a member of Ensemble Studio Theatre and Naked Angels.

Hallie Foote (Rosalynn Carter) last appeared at the Globe in Horton Foote’s Dividing the Estate. She was most recently seen in Horton Foote’s The Old Friends at Alley Theatre and CAMP DAVID at Arena Stage. Her Broadway credits include Dividing the Estate (Tony Award nomination). For Signature Theatre Company, she appeared in The Old Friends, Horton Foote’s masterwork The Orphans’ Home Cycle (co-production with Hartford Stage), The Trip to Bountiful (Lucille Lortel Award), The Last of the Thorntons, and the 1994-1995 season of Horton Foote plays-Talking Pictures, Night Seasons, and Laura Dennis (Drama Desk Award). Her other Off Broadway credits include Daisy Foote’s Him and When They Speak of Rita and Horton Foote’s The Day Emily Married (Primary Stages), The Roads to Home (The Lamb’s Theatre Company, Obie Award), and The Widow Claire (Circle in the Square Downtown). She has appeared in the films Paranormal Activity 3, Paranormal Activity: The Ghost Dimension, On Valentine’s Day, 1918, Courtship, The Habitation of Dragons, and Alone. She served as producer of the Broadway revival of The Trip to Bountiful and the Showtime movie of Lily Dale, and she was executive producer of the Lifetime movie of The Trip To Bountiful.

Khaled Nabawy (Anwar Sadat), an Egyptian actor and activist, graduated with honors in acting from the Academy of Arts in Cairo. Nabawy burst onto the Egyptian cinema scene in legendary director Youssef Chahine’s film Al-mohager (The Emigrant), earning him the All African Film Award for Best Actor and garnering the attention of audiences and the respect of film critics. He went on to collaborate on two of Chahine’s subsequent films. Nabawy has won multiple awards for his work in Egypt including Best Supporting Actor at the Cairo International Film Festival in 1998 and Best Young Actor at the 100 Years of Cinema Film Festival in 1996. After great success in Egypt, starring in more than 20 films and 10 television series along with three theatrical plays, Nabawy earned his first Hollywood role in Ridley Scott’s 2005 blockbuster film Kingdom of Heaven, making him the first Arab leading actor to join Hollywood cinema since the great Omar Sharif. In 2010 he worked alongside Sean Penn and Naomi Watts in the critically acclaimed and award-winning film Fair Game. He made his theatrical debut in the U.S. last March in CAMP DAVID at Arena Stage in Wasghington, DC.

Richard Thomas. Photo by Lia Chang

Richard Thomas. Photo by Lia Chang

Richard Thomas (Jimmy Carter) recently starred as Iago in Othello for the Globe’s 2014 Summer Shakespeare Festival. He starred in the award-winning series “The Waltons,” for which he won an Emmy Award for Best Lead Actor in a Drama Series, and has continued to star in series, films, plays, and over 50 movies for television. His theatre career began at age seven in 1958 with Broadway’s Sunrise at Campobello and continued with Fifth of July, The Seagull, The Front Page, Tiny Alice, Peer Gynt, Richard II, Richard III, Hamlet, The Stendhal Syndrome, Democracy, A Naked Girl on the Appian Way, 12 Angry Men (national Broadway tour), Terrence McNally’s Unusual Acts of Devotion, and David Mamet’s Race, as well as Timon of Athens (The Public Theater), Standing on Ceremony: The Gay Marriage Plays (Minetta Lane Theatre), and An Enemy of the People (Manhattan Theatre Club). Thomas also starred in “Just Cause,” “It’s a Miracle,” and “The Adventures of Swiss Family Robinson.” His television films include Stephen King’s Nightmares & Dreamscapes and It, All Quiet on the Western Front, The Silence, The Red Badge of Courage, The Master of Ballantrae, Johnny Belinda, Berlin Tunnel 21, Living Proof: The Hank Williams, Jr. Story, Hobson’s Choice, Roots: The Next Generations, Go Toward the Light, In the Name of the People, The Christmas Secret, Beyond the Prairie: The True Story of Laura Ingalls Wilder, Annie’s Point, Wild Hearts, and Hallmark’s Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow. Thomas produced What Love Sees and For All Time for television, and he can currently be seen as Agent Frank Gaad on FX’s “The Americans.” He appeared in the films The Wonder Boys, Battle Beyond the Stars, The Todd Killings, Last Summer, Winning, Red Sky at Morning, Ang Lee’s Taking Woodstock, and Anesthesia. Thomas created the role of Jimmy Carter in CAMP DAVID at Arena Stage and was most recently seen in You Can’t Take It with You on Broadway and Incident at Vichy at Signature Theatre Company in New York.

Camp David playwright Lawrence Wright

Camp David playwright Lawrence Wright

Lawrence Wright (Playwright) is a longtime writer for The New Yorker and the author of nine books, including Going Clear: Scientology, Hollywood, and the Prison of Belief, which was recently adapted into an acclaimed HBO documentary. His most recent book, Thirteen Days in September, emerged from the play CAMP DAVID and was named by The New York Times as one of the 10 Best Books of 2014; listed as number 5 on Amazon.com’s Editors’ Picks for the Best Books of 2014; and made NPR’s list of 2014’s Great Reads, Entertainment Weekly’s 10 Best Nonfiction Books of 2014, and Publishers Weekly 10 Best Books of 2014. His book The Looming Tower: Al-Qaeda and the Road to 9/11 won the Pulitzer Prize and was named by Time magazine as one of the 100 best nonfiction books ever written. He was the co-writer of the screenplay for the 1998 movie The Siege starring Denzel Washington and Annette Bening, and he also wrote Noriega: God’s Favorite starring Bob Hoskins for television. He has written and performed two one-man shows: My Trip to Al-Qaeda, which he performed Off Broadway and at The Kennedy Center in 2007, and which was made into a movie for HBO; and The Human Scale, which Wright performed in New York and Tel Aviv. His play CAMP DAVID received its world premiere at Arena Stage in Washington, DC, in 2014, and in the year prior Fallaci was staged by Berkeley Repertory Theatre. Wright lives in Austin, Texas, where he plays the keyboards in a blues band, WhoDo.

Camp David director Molly Smith. Photo by Tony Powell.

Camp David director Molly Smith. Photo by Tony Powell.

Molly Smith (Director) has served as Artistic Director of Arena Stage since 1998. Her directing credits there include Oliver!, The Originalist, Fiddler on the Roof, CAMP DAVID, Mother Courage and Her Children, Oklahoma!, A Moon for the Misbegotten, My Fair Lady, The Great White Hope, The Music Man, Orpheus Descending, Legacy of Light, The Women of Brewster Place, Cabaret, An American Daughter, South Pacific, Agamemnon and His Daughters, Coyote Builds North America, All My Sons, and How I Learned to Drive. Her directorial work has also been seen at the Shaw Festival in Canada, Berkeley Repertory Theatre, Trinity Repertory Company, Tarragon Theatre in Toronto, Centaur Theatre in Montreal, and Perseverance Theater in Juneau, Alaska, which she founded and ran from 1979 to 1998. Smith has been a leader in new play development for over 30 years. She is a great believer in first, second, and third productions of new works and has championed projects like How I Learned to Drive; Passion Play, a cycle; and Next to Normal. She has worked alongside playwrights Sarah Ruhl, Paula Vogel, Wendy Wasserstein, Lawrence Wright, Karen Zacarías, John Murrell, Eric Coble, Charles Randolph-Wright, and many others. She led the reinvention of Arena Stage, focusing on the architecture and creation of the Mead Center for American Theater and positioning Arena Stage as a national center for American artists. During her time with the company, Arena Stage has workshopped more than 100 productions, produced 36 world premieres, staged numerous second and third productions, and been an important part of nurturing seven projects that went on to have a life on Broadway. In 2014, Smith made her Broadway debut directing The Velocity of Autumn following its critically acclaimed run at Arena Stage. She was awarded honorary doctorates from American University and Towson University.

The Tony Award-winning Old Globe is one of the country’s leading professional regional theatres and has stood as San Diego’s flagship arts institution for over 80 years. Under the leadership of Artistic Director Barry Edelstein and Managing Director Michael G. Murphy, The Old Globeproduces a year-round season of 15 productions of classic, contemporary, and new works on its three Balboa Park stages: the Donald and Darlene Shiley Stage in the 600-seat Old Globe Theatre and the 250-seat Sheryl and Harvey White Theatre, both part of The Old Globe’s Conrad Prebys Theatre Center, and the 605-seat outdoor Lowell Davies Festival Theatre, home of its internationally renowned Shakespeare Festival. More than 250,000 people attend Globe productions annually and participate in the theatre’s education and community programs. Numerous world premieres such as the 2014 Tony Award winner for Best Musical, A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder, Bright Star, Allegiance, The Full Monty, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, and the annual holiday musical Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas! have been developed at The Old Globe and have gone on to enjoy highly successful runs on Broadway and at regional theatres across the country.

Click here for the Lia Chang Articles Archive and here for the Lia Chang Photography Website.

Lia Chang. Photo by Garth Kravits

Lia Chang. Photo by Garth Kravits

Lia Chang is an award-winning filmmaker, a Best Actress nominee, a photographer, and an award-winning multi-platform journalist. Lia has appeared in the films Wolf, New Jack City, A Kiss Before Dying, King of New York, Big Trouble in Little China, The Last Dragon, Taxman and Hide and Seek, which will screen at the Disorient Film Festival in Eugene Oregon in April. She is profiled in Examiner.comJade Magazine and Playbill.com.

All text, graphics, articles & photographs: © 2000-2016 Lia Chang Multimedia, except otherwise indicated. All rights reserved. All materials contained on this site are protected by United States copyright law and may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, displayed, published or broadcast without the prior written permission of Lia Chang. You may not alter or remove any trademark, copyright or other notice from copies of the content. For permission, please contact Lia at lia@liachangphotography.com


Video: “Rajiv Joseph: Benefits of Self-Loathing,” A Keynote Address at the 40th Humana Festival of New American Plays at Actors Theatre of Louisville

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Rajiv Joseph. Photo by Lia Chang

Rajiv Joseph. Photo by Lia Chang

The 40th Humana Festival of New American Plays at Actors Theatre of Louisville presents Rajiv Joseph: Benefits of Self-Loathing—a keynote address livestreaming on the global, commons-based peer-produced HowlRound TVnetwork at howlround.tv Saturday, March 26 at 7:30am PDT (Los Angeles) / 9:30am CDT (Chicago) / 10:30am EDT (New York) / 14:30 GMT (London).

Click below to watch video:

http://cdn.livestream.com/embed/newplay?layout=4&clip=pla_50fc302f-c0d1-40fb-81ce-09c87949f1f3&height=340&width=560&autoplay=false

Watch live streaming video from newplay at livestream.com

On Twitter, use #HumanaFest and follow@ATLouisville and @HowlRoundTV.

About Rajiv Joseph:
Rajiv Joseph is the author of the Broadway play Bengal Tiger at the Baghdad Zoo, a 2010 Pulitzer Prize finalist for Drama, and was also awarded a grant for Outstanding New American Play by the National Endowment for the Arts. His other plays include Guards at the TajMr. WolfThe North PoolGruesome Playground InjuriesAnimals Out of Paper, and The Lake Effect. His plays have been translated and produced world-wide. Rajiv has written for television and film and is the librettist for the upcoming opera, Shalimar the Clown, adapted from the novel of the same name by Salman Rushdie, which will have its premiere at the Opera Theatre of Saint Louis in 2016. He has been awarded artistic grants from the Whiting Foundation, United States Artists and the Harold & Mimi Steinberg Charitable Trust. He received his B.A. in Creative Writing from Miami University and his M.F.A. in Dramatic Writing from New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts. He served for three years in the Peace Corps in Senegal and now lives in Brooklyn.

About the Humana Festival of New American Plays:
The Humana Festival is an internationally acclaimed event that has introduced nearly 450 plays into the American and international theatre’s general repertoire, including three Pulitzer Prize winners—The Gin Game by D. L. Coburn, Crimes of the Heart by Beth Henley, and Dinner with Friends by Donald Margulies—as well as Marsha Norman’s Getting Out, John Pielmeier’s Agnes of God, Charles Mee’s Big Love and The Glory of the World, Naomi Iizuka’s Polaroid Stories and At the Vanishing Point, Jane Martin’s Anton in Show Business, Rinne Groff’s The Ruby Sunrise, Theresa Rebeck’s The Scene, Gina Gionfriddo’s After Ashley and Becky Shaw, UNIVERSES’ Ameriville, Rude Mechs’ The Method Gun, Jordan Harrison’s Maple and Vine, Will Eno’s Gnit , Branden Jacobs-Jenkins’Appropriate, and Lucas Hnath’s Death Tax and The Christians.  More than 380 Humana Festival plays have been published in anthologies and individual acting editions, making Actors Theatre a visible and vital force in the development of new plays.

The Humana Festival is the premier event of its kind in the nation, drawing theatre lovers, journalists, and film and stage producers from around the world. About 36,000 patrons attend the five weeks of plays and associated events, including students from 40 colleges and universities. The Festival culminates in two industry weekends which bring together a collection of amazing new plays with one-of-a-kind panels, cocktail parties, discussions and networking events. It is the perfect opportunity to see new work, make new connections, and support the creation of new American theatre. The Humana Festival of New American Plays is made possible by the generosity of the Humana Foundation.

About Actors Theatre of Louisville:
Les Waters, Artistic Director
Now in its 52nd Season, Actors Theatre of Louisville, the State Theatre of Kentucky, is the flagship arts organization in the Louisville community. Under the leadership of Artistic Director Les Waters, Actors Theatre serves to unlock human potential, build community, and enrich quality of life by engaging people in theatre that reflects the wonder and complexity of our time.

Actors Theatre presents more than 350 performances annually and delivers a broad range of programming, including classics and contemporary work through the Brown-Forman Series, holiday plays, a series of free theatrical events produced by the Apprentice/Intern Company, and the Humana Festival of New American Plays—the premier new play festival in the nation, which has introduced nearly 450 plays into the American theatre repertoire over the past 40 years. In addition, Actors Theatre provides more than 15,000 arts experiences each year to students across the region through its Education Department, and boasts one of the nation’s most prestigious continuing pre-professional resident training companies, now in its 44th year.

Over the past half-century, Actors Theatre has also emerged as one of America’s most consistently innovative professional theatre companies, with an annual attendance of more than 140,000. Actors Theatre has been the recipient of some of the most prestigious awards bestowed on a regional theatre, including a Tony Award for Distinguished Achievement, the James N. Vaughan Memorial Award for Exceptional Achievement and Contribution to the Development of Professional Theatre, and the Margo Jones Award for the Encouragement of New Plays. Actors Theatre has toured to 29 cities and 15 countries worldwide, totaling more than 1,400 appearances internationally. Currently, there are more than 50 published books of plays and criticism from Actors Theatre in circulation—including anthologies of Humana Festival plays, volumes of ten-minute plays and monologues, and essays, scripts, and lectures from the Brown-Forman Classics in Context Festival. Numerous plays first produced at Actors Theatre have also been published as individual acting editions, and have been printed in many other anthologies, magazines, and journals—making an enduring contribution to American dramatic literature.

About HowlRound TV
HowlRound TV is a global, commons-based peer-produced, open access livestreaming and video archive project stewarded by HowlRound, a knowledge commons by and for the theatre, arts, and cultural community. The channel is at howlround.tv and is a free and shared resource for live events and performances relevant to the world’s performing arts fields. Its mission is to break geographic isolation, promote resource sharing, and to develop our knowledge commons collectively. Follow and use hashtag #howlround in Twitter to participate in a community of peers revolutionizing the flow of information, knowledge, and access in our field. Our community uses the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY 4.0). Become a producer and co-produce with them by contacting @HowlRoundTV on Twitter, emailing tv@howlround.com, or by calling Vijay Mathew at +(1) 917-686-3185. Click here to see past programming.

Click here for the Lia Chang Articles Archive and here for the Lia Chang Photography Website.

Lia Chang. Photo by Garth Kravits

Lia Chang. Photo by Garth Kravits

Lia Chang is an award-winning filmmaker, a Best Actress nominee, a photographer, and an award-winning multi-platform journalist. Lia has appeared in the films Wolf, New Jack City, A Kiss Before Dying, King of New York, Big Trouble in Little China, The Last Dragon, Taxman and Hide and Seek, which will screen at the Disorient Film Festival in Eugene Oregon in April. She is profiled in Examiner.comJade Magazine and Playbill.com.

All text, graphics, articles & photographs: © 2000-2016 Lia Chang Multimedia, except otherwise indicated. All rights reserved. All materials contained on this site are protected by United States copyright law and may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, displayed, published or broadcast without the prior written permission of Lia Chang. You may not alter or remove any trademark, copyright or other notice from copies of the content. For permission, please contact Lia at lia@liachangphotography.com


National Black Theatre Presents UN-TAMED Hair Body Attitude through March 28

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untamedCelebrate Women’s History Month at Dr.Barbara Ann Teer’s NATIONAL BLACK THEATRE with the limited engagement of UN-TAMED: Hair Body Attitude. Created by The New Black Fest (TNBF) and guest-curated by Dominique Morisseau (author of NY TIMES CRITICS’ PICK Skeleton Crew and Sunset Baby), UN-TAMED is a collection of five (5) short plays by Black Women that explore and dig into the national conversation surrounding Black womanhood and social perceptions of Black femininity. This production will be co-directed by award winning directors Kaia Calhoun and Elizabeth Van Dyke.

UN-TAMED: Hair Body Attitude runs for a limited engagement March 24 – 28. Performances are Thursday, Friday & Monday at 7:30pm; Saturday at 2pm & 7:30pm, and Sunday at 4pm. NATIONAL BLACK THEATRE is located in the heart of Harlem at 2031-33 National Black Theatre Way (at the corner of 125th Street and Fifth Avenue — accessible from the 2,3,4,5,6 trains at 125th Street). The regular ticket price is $25, available for purchase by calling 212 722 3800 or online at www.nationalblacktheatre.org. Group Sales are available. To learn more about this, please call 212 722 3800 and ask for the Box Office Manager.

“We are seeing the country shift from complacency to action around issues of black lives mattering, and a crucial part of that conversation is black women’s lives. Black womanhood has often been marginalized through perceptions of our Hair, Body and Attitude, and if anything is going to shift in our nation, we have to engage our artists in deconstructing these social prisons. So welcome to the dialogue and get ready to be a participant, because this is beyond a performance or a short play festival, this is the continuation of a movement.” – Dominique Morisseau – TNBF guest curator.

The UN-TAMED collection includes THE HAIR PLAY by Cori Thomas, MELANINTERVENTION by Chisa Hutchinson, PEACE OFFICER PRIVILEGE by Nikkole Salter, SAN FRANCISCO CAB by Lenelle Moise, and WHITE-N-LUSCIOUS by Jocelyn Bioh. The dynamic ensemble of actors includes Maame Yaa Boafo (New York I love You, When it All Falls Down, and An African City), Ben Chase (“Mysteries of Laura,” and Alice in Wonderland), Erin Cherry (Lines in the Dust, Stick Fly, and When We Were Young and Unafraid), Ronald Kirk (“Law & Order”), Nedra McClyde (“Jessica Jones,” “Blue Bloods,” and “30 Rock”), Sharina Martin, Ambien Mitchell (I Love You, Casting Session, and Smart Actress), Shelley Thomas (Jessica Jones, New Brooklyn, and The Immaculate Misconception), Debargo Sanyal (The Magic Belle Isle, Everybody’s Fine, and Sita Sings the Blues), Carolyn Michelle Smith (“House of Cards,” and He’s More Famous than You), and Jennifer Tsay (“The Blacklist,” Bored to Death, and “One Life to Live”).

Click here for the Lia Chang Articles Archive and here for the Lia Chang Photography Website.

Lia Chang. Photo by Garth Kravits

Lia Chang. Photo by Garth Kravits

Lia Chang is an award-winning filmmaker, a Best Actress nominee, a photographer, and an award-winning multi-platform journalist. Lia has appeared in the films Wolf, New Jack City, A Kiss Before Dying, King of New York, Big Trouble in Little China, The Last Dragon, Taxman and Hide and Seek, which will screen at the Disorient Film Festival in Eugene Oregon in April. She is profiled in Examiner.comJade Magazine and Playbill.com.

All text, graphics, articles & photographs: © 2000-2016 Lia Chang Multimedia, except otherwise indicated. All rights reserved. All materials contained on this site are protected by United States copyright law and may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, displayed, published or broadcast without the prior written permission of Lia Chang. You may not alter or remove any trademark, copyright or other notice from copies of the content. For permission, please contact Lia at lia@liachangphotography.com


Tarell Alvin McCraney’s HEAD OF PASSES Featuring Phylicia Rashad, John Earl Jelks, Robert Joy, J. Bernard Calloway, Francois Battiste and More, Extends at The Public through April 24

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John Earl Jelks, Arnetia Walker, Phylicia Rashad, and Francois Battiste. Photo by Joan Marcus

John Earl Jelks, Arnetia Walker, Phylicia Rashad, and Francois Battiste. Photo by Joan Marcus

Tina Landau is at the helm of The Public Theater’s New York premiere of Head of Passes, written by Tarell Alvin McCraney, which began previews on March 17, in the Newman Theater and has been extended by one week through April 24th. The official press opening is on Monday, March 28.

Arnetia Walker, Phylicia Rashad, and Robert Joy. Photo by Joan Marcus

Arnetia Walker, Phylicia Rashad, and Robert Joy. Photo by Joan Marcus

The Head of Passes cast features features Alana Arenas (Cookie), Francois Battiste (Aubrey), Kyle Beltran (Crier), J. Bernard Calloway (Spencer), Robert Joy (Dr. Anderson), John Earl Jelks (Creaker Johnson), Phylicia Rashad (Shelah), and Arnetia Walker (Mae).

Phylicia Rashad and Francois Battiste. Photo by Joan Marcus

Phylicia Rashad and Francois Battiste. Photo by Joan Marcus

Tarell Alvin McCraney, MacArthur Award-winning playwright of the acclaimed Brother/Sister Plays, has written a poetic and contemporary parable inspired by the Book of Job. At the mouth of the Mississippi River, Shelah’s family and friends have come to celebrate her birthday and save her from a leaking roof but unexpected events turn the reunion into the ultimate test of faith and love. As her world seems to collapse around her, Shelah must fight to survive the rising flood of life’s greatest challenges. Head of Passes is a co-production with Berkeley Repertory Theatre.

Phylicia Rashad and Kyle Beltran. Photo by Joan Marcus

Phylicia Rashad and Kyle Beltran. Photo by Joan Marcus

Head of Passes features scenic design by G.W. Mercier; costume design by Toni-Leslie James; lighting design by Jeff Croiter; sound design by Rob Milburn and Michael Bodeen; and wig and hair design by Robert-Charles Vallance.

Company. Photo by Joan Marcus

Company. Photo by Joan Marcus

Single tickets for can be purchased by calling (212) 967-7555, www.publictheater.org, or in person at the Taub Box Office at The Public Theater at 425 Lafayette Street. The Library at The Public is open nightly for food and drinks, beginning at 5:00 p.m., and Joe’s Pub at The Public continues to offer some of the best music in the city.

John Earl Jelks, Kyle Beltran, and Phylicia Rashad. Photo by Joan Marcus

John Earl Jelks, Kyle Beltran, and Phylicia Rashad. Photo by Joan Marcus

Robert Joy and Phylicia Rashad. Photo by Joan Marcus

Robert Joy and Phylicia Rashad. Photo by Joan Marcus

J. Bernard Calloway and Phylicia Rashad. Photo by Joan Marcus

J. Bernard Calloway and Phylicia Rashad. Photo by Joan Marcus

Alana Arenas and Phylicia Rashad. Photo by Joan Marcus

Alana Arenas and Phylicia Rashad. Photo by Joan Marcus

TARELL ALVIN McCRANEY (Playwright) was last seen at The Public with his edit of Antony and Cleopatra, a co-production with The Public, the Royal Shakespeare Company, and Miami’s GableStage; The Brother/Sister Plays, and The Brothers Size at the Under the Radar Festival. His additional credits include Head of Passes (Steppenwolf); Choir Boy (Royal Court/Manhattan Theatre Club); and Wig Out! (Sundance Theatre Lab/Vineyard Theatre/Royal Court). McCraney was the International Writer in Residence for the Royal Shakespeare Company from 2009 to 2011 where he remains an associate artist. He is an ensemble member at Steppenwolf Theatre Company in Chicago and a founding member of Teo Castellanos/D-Projects in Miami. In 2013, McCraney received the prestigious MacArthur “Genius” Grant. He also is the recipient of the Doris Duke Artist Award, Whiting Award, Steinberg Playwright Award, London’s Evening Standard Award for Most Promising Playwright, the inaugural New York Times Outstanding Playwright Award, the inaugural Paula Vogel Playwriting Award, and the inaugural Windham Campbell Award from Yale University.

TINA LANDAU (Director) collaborates frequently with McCraney, having directed his In the Red Brown Water (The Public, Alliance, and McCarter theaters), Wig Out (Vineyard Theatre), The Brother/Sister Plays (Steppenwolf), and Head of Passes (Steppenwolf, Berkeley Rep). She is an ensemble member at Steppenwolf in Chicago where she’s directed 18 productions including The Wheel, The Tempest, The Time of Your Life, Cherry Orchard, Ballad of Little Jo, Berlin Circle, and her own play Space (also The Public). Landau’s other New York directing credits include Chuck Mee’s Big Love and Iphigenia 2.0, and Bill Irwin/David Shiner’s Old Hats (all Signature Theatre); Paula Vogel’s A Civil War Christmas (New York Theatre Workshop); Dream True with Ricky Ian Gordon (for which she also wrote book and lyrics; Vineyard Theatre); and Floyd Collins with Adam Guettel (for which she also wrote Book and Additional Lyrics;Playwrights Horizons). On Broadway, Landau’s directed the revival of Bells Are Ringing and Tracy Letts’ Superior Donuts, and will direct the upcoming The SpongeBob Musical. She teaches regularly and has co-authored, with Anne Bogart, The Viewpoints Book.

ALANA ARENAS (Cookie) joined the Steppenwolf Theatre Company ensemble in 2007 and created the role of Pecola Breedlove for its Young Adults production of The Bluest Eye, which also played at the New Victory Off-Broadway. Her credits include Marie Antoinette, Tribes, Belleville, Head of Passes, Good People, Three Sisters, The March, Man in Love, Middletown, The Hot L Baltimore, The Etiquette of Vigilance, The Brother/Sister Plays; The Tempest, The Crucible, Spare Change, The Sparrow Project (Steppenwolf); Disgraced (ATC); The Arabian Nights (Lookingglass, Berkeley Rep, Kansas City Rep); Black Diamond (Lookingglass); Eyes (eta Creative Arts); SOST (MPAACT); WVON (Black Ensemble Theater); Hecuba, A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Chicago Shakespeare Theater); and Eclipsed (Northlight Theatre). Television and film credits include Crisis, Boss, The Beast, Kabuku Rides, and Lioness of Lisabi.

FRANCOIS BATTISTE (Aubrey) has been seen at The Public in Detroit ’67; The Good Negro, for which he received an OBIE Award and Lortel Award nomination; and The Merchant of Venice and The Winter’s Tale at the Delacorte Theater. He has been seen on Broadway in Bronx Bombers at Circle in the Square; Prelude to a Kiss at Roundabout; and Magic/Bird at the Longacre. His additional Off-Broadway credits Broke-ology at Lincoln Center, 10 Things to do Before I Die at Second Stage, and Bronx Bombers at Primary Stages. He has worked regionally at Williamstown, Sundance, Chicago Shakespeare, The Goodman, Victory Gardens, Lookingglass, and Dallas Theater Center. His film and television credits include Men in Black III, You Bury Your Own, Delivering the Goods, One Week, HBO’s “The Normal Heart,” ABC’s “The Family,” “Person of Interest,” “The Good Wife,” and “Are We There Yet?”

KYLE BELTRAN (Crier) has previously been seen at The Public in The Fortress of Solitude. His Broadway credits include In the Heights; and his additional Off-Broadway credits include The Flick at Barrow Street, Gloria at the Vineyard, Choir Boy at MTC, and 10 Things To Do Before I Die at 2ST. He has performed in the national tour of In the Heights and has been seen regionally in The Fortress of Solitude at Dallas Theater Center, Head of Passes at Steppenwolf, Good Goods at Yale Rep, Kingdom at Old Globe, and Aida at WVPT. His television credits include “The Big C” and “Unforgettable.” He can be seen in the upcoming film Equity.

J. BERNARD CALLOWAY (Spencer) is returning to The Public after appearing as “Henry Evans” in The Good Negro. He recently was starred as the Grinch in How the Grinch Stole Christmas at The Old Globe Theater, the first African American actor to play the role. His Broadway credits include “Delray” in the 2010 Tony Award-winning Best Musical Memphis, and “Ralph Abernathy” in the 2014 Tony Award-winning Best Play All The Way. His film and televisions credits include the series “The Breaks” on VH1; “Blue Bloods”; “Elementary”; and “Law & Order: SVU.”

JOHN EARL JELKS (Creaker Johnson) returns to The Public, having appeared in Lemon Andersen’s Toast. He was nominated for a Tony Award for his role as Sterling in August Wilson’s Radio Golf on Broadway. He also appeared as Citizen opposite Phylicia Rashad on Broadway in Gem of the Ocean, which he won a NAACP and an Ovation Award. Other Broadway credits include the Tupac musical Holler If Ya Hear Me. Off-Broadway, Jelks won an AUDELCO Award for the Off-Broadway revival The First Breeze of Summer; starred in the off-Broadway play Fetch Clay, Make Man followed by Sunset Baby, and won OBIE’s for both; and played Lawyer/Detective in Neil LaBute’s The Break of Noon with David Duchovny.  His film and television credits include Spike Lee’s Miracle At St. Anna’s, A Powerful Thang, Enter the Dangerous Mind, “Blue Bloods,” and Law & Order: SVU. 

ROBERT JOY (Dr. Anderson) has appeared at The Public in The Death of Von Richthofen as Witnessed From Earth, Found a Peanut, Lenny and the Heartbreakers, The Taming of the Shrew, and As You Like It. On Broadway he has been seen in The Nerd, Abe Lincoln in Illinois, Side Show, among others. His Off-Broadway credits include Hyde in Hollywood and Life and Limb at Playwrights Horizons; Lydie Breeze at the American Place; June Moon at Variety Arts; Pigeon and No One Will Be Immune at Ensemble Studio Theater; among others. His regional credits include Baby Doll, Romeo and Juliet, Twelfth Night, Big River, The Nether, among others. His film and television credits include Atlantic City, Ragtime, Desperately Seeking Susan, The Hills Have Eyes, George A. Romero’s Land of the Dead, Fallen, Waterworld, Radio Days, “Resurrection,” and over 200 episodes and TV movies. For eight years he played “Sid Hammerback,” the medical examiner on “CSI: NY.”

PHYLICIA RASHAD (Shelah) was last seen at The Public in The Story by Tracey Scott Wilson in 2003, as well as in Helen in 2002, and Everybody’s Rudy in 1999. She is a versatile performer who became a household name when she portrayed “Claire Huxtable” on “The Cosby Show,” a character whose appeal has earned numerous honors and awards for over two decades. While television was a catalyst in the rise of Rashad’s career, she has also been a force on the stage, appearing both on and off Broadway, often in projects that showcase her musical talent such as Jelly’s Last Jam, Into The Woods, Dreamgirls, and The Wiz. As a dramatic actress, Rashad has appeared on Broadway in August Osage County, Cat on a Hot Tin Roof (also West End), Gem Of The Ocean (Tony nomination), A Raisin in the Sun (Drama Desk and Tony Awards) and Cymbeline. She appeared in Tyler Perry’s Good Deeds, and starred in Perry’s highly acclaimed film version of Ntozake Shange’s For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide When The Rainbow Is Enuf. She made her directorial debut at the Seattle Repertory Theater with August Wilson’s Gem of the Ocean and has directed works at The Ebony Repertory, Kirk Douglas Theatre, Westport County Playhouse, Mark Taper, Longwharf Theatre, and the McCarter Theatre. Rashad has received numerous honorary doctorate degrees and awards for excellence both in theater and television.

ARNETIA WALKER (Mae) began performing on Broadway at age 16 in such productions as Two Gentlemen of Verona, The Wiz, Raisin, and Dreamgirls. She is the only actress credited with portraying all three dreamgirls. Her television credit list includes “The Big House,” “Everybody Loves Raymond,” “NYPD Blues,” and “Nurses.” Among her feature film performances are College Road Trip, Love Crimes, and Scenes from the Class Struggle in Beverly Hills.

The Public Theater, under the leadership of Oskar Eustis and Executive Director Patrick Willingham, is the only theater in New York that produces Shakespeare, the classics, musicals, contemporary and experimental pieces in equal measure. Celebrating his 10th anniversary season at The Public, Eustis has created new community-based initiatives designed to engage audiences like Public Lab, Public Studio, Public Forum, Public Works, and a remount of the Mobile Shakespeare Unit. The Public continues the work of its visionary founder, Joe Papp, by acting as an advocate for the theater as an essential cultural force, and leading and framing dialogue on some of the most important issues of our day. Creating theater for one of the largest and most diverse audience bases in New York City for nearly 60 years, today the Company engages audiences in a variety of venues-including its landmark downtown home at Astor Place, which houses five theaters and Joe’s Pub; the Delacorte Theater in Central Park, home to free Shakespeare in the Park; and the Mobile Shakespeare Unit, which tours Shakespearean productions for underserved audiences throughout New York City’s five boroughs. The Public’s wide range of programming includes free Shakespeare in the Park, the bedrock of the Company’s dedication to making theater accessible to all; Public Works, an expanding initiative that is designed to cultivate new connections and new models of engagement with artists, audiences and the community each year; and audience and artist development initiatives that range from Emerging Writers Group and to the Public Forum series. The Public is located on property owned by the City of New York and receives annual support from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs; and in October 2012 the landmark building downtown at Astor Place was revitalized to physically manifest the Company’s core mission of sparking new dialogues and increasing accessibility for artists and audiences, by dramatically opening up the building to the street and community, and transforming the lobby into a public piazza for artists, students, and audiences. The Public is currently represented on Broadway by the Tony Award-winning Fun Home and Lin-Manuel Miranda’s acclaimed American musical Hamilton. The Public has received 47 Tony Awards, 167 Obie Awards, 52 Drama Desk Awards, 48 Lortel Awards, 31 Outer Critics Circle Awards, 13 New York Drama Critics Awards, and four Pulitzer Prizes.www.publictheater.org

Click here for the Lia Chang Articles Archive and here for the Lia Chang Photography Website.

Lia Chang. Photo by Garth Kravits

Lia Chang. Photo by Garth Kravits

Lia Chang is an award-winning filmmaker, a Best Actress nominee, a photographer, and an award-winning multi-platform journalist. Lia has appeared in the films Wolf, New Jack City, A Kiss Before Dying, King of New York, Big Trouble in Little China, The Last Dragon, Taxman and Hide and Seek, which will screen at the Disorient Film Festival in Eugene Oregon in April. She is profiled in Examiner.comJade Magazine and Playbill.com.

All text, graphics, articles & photographs: © 2000-2016 Lia Chang Multimedia. All rights reserved. All materials contained on this site are protected by United States copyright law and may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, displayed, published or broadcast without the prior written permission of Lia Chang. You may not alter or remove any trademark, copyright or other notice from copies of the content. For permission, please contact Lia at lia@liachangphotography.com



Photos: Jojo Gonzalez, Mia Katigbak, James Yaegashi, Tina Chilip, Jeffrey Omura, Conrad Schott and Tiffany Villarin in MA-YI’s Off-Broadway NY Premiere of HOUSE RULES through Apr. 16

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James Yaegashi and Jojo Gonzalez. Photo by Web Begole

James Yaegashi and Jojo Gonzalez. Photo by Web Begole

MA-YI Theater Company is presenting the NY premiere of HOUSE RULES, a new play by A. Rey Pamatmat at HERE (145 Sixth Avenue, NYC). Currently in previews since March 25, opening night is on April 1 at 8:30pm. This limited-engagement will conclude on April 16, 2016. In HOUSE RULES, tradition and contemporary manners make strange bedfellows when the grown children of two Filipino-American families – neighbors in the same apartment building – come to realize their parents are not immortal, and that the rules of the many card and board games they play together are constantly renegotiated, as are the rules of living. In the mix are a tough-as-nails father, his sons, a physician and a comic book artist; a no-nonsense mother and her daughters, a doctor and a budding photographer; and another doctor who has mysteriously broken off his engagement with the old man’s son.

Tina Chilip, Jeffrey Omura, James Yaegashi and Tiffany Villarin. Photo by Web Begole

Tina Chilip, Jeffrey Omura, James Yaegashi and Tiffany Villarin. Photo by Web Begole

Helmed by Ma-Yi Theater Company’s Producing Artistic Director Ralph B. Peña, the HOUSE RULES cast features Tina Chilip (Golden Child), Jojo Gonzalez (MA-YI’s The Romance of Magno Rubio), Mia Katigbak (NAATCO’s Awake and Sing!), Jeffrey Omura (The Plant That Ate Dirty Socks), Conrad Schott (The Glory of the World, BAM), Tiffany Villarin (Peerless, Yale Repertory) and James Yaegashi (The Oldest Boy).

Tiffany Villarin and Conrad Schott. Photo by Web Begole

Tiffany Villarin and Conrad Schott. Photo by Web Begole

Scenic design for HOUSE RULES is by Reid Thompson; Lighting Designer: Oliver Wason; Costume Designer: Martin Schnellinger and Sound Design by Fabian Obispo.

Tiffany Villarin and Tina Chilip. Photo by Web Begole

Tiffany Villarin and Tina Chilip. Photo by Web Begole

This production is a part of SubletSeries@HERE: Co-op, HERE’s curated rental program, which provides artists with subsidized space and equipment, as well as technical support.

Mia Katigbak. Photo by Web Begole

Mia Katigbak. Photo by Web Begole

Scheduled through April 16th, HOUSE RULES will perform Tuesdays through Saturdays at 8:30; Saturday and Sundays matinees are at 4PM. Tickets are $30-$35. For tickets and information: visit here.org, or call 212-253-3101. Information is also available at www.ma-yitheatre.org.

A. Rey Pamatmat’s (playwright) newest play HOUSE RULES will premiere at Ma-Yi Theater Company, and his play AFTER ALL THE TERRIBLE THINGS I DO will be produced in About Face’s 25th Anniversary Season, both in Spring 2016. Recently, his work was celebrated in Boston where the Huntington and Company One Theatres presented AFTER ALL and EDITH CAN SHOOT THINGS AND HIT THEM concurrently in the Calderwood Pavilion. EDITH premiered at the Humana Festival, received the Steinberg/ATCA New Play Citation, and was nominated for GLAAD Media and Lambda Literary Awards. Rey’s plays A POWER PLAY; OR, WHAT’S-ITS-NAME and THUNDER ABOVE, DEEPS BELOW were developed at the O’Neill Playwrights Conference, and his shorts appeared in New Black Fest’s FACING OUR TRUTH, THE MYSTERIES at The Flea, and two Humana Festival anthologies. Other productions: THUNDER ABOVE, DEEPS BELOW (Second Generation), A SPARE ME (Waterwell), DEVIENT (Vortex), HIGH/LIMBO/HIGH (HERE); publication: Samuel French, Playscripts, Cambria Press, Vintage; awards: ’12/’13 Hodder Fellowship, ’11/’12 PoNY Fellowship, Princess Grace Award and Special Projects Grant, NYFA Playwriting Fellowship, E.S.T./Sloan Grant. Rey is Co-Director of the Ma-Yi Writer’s Lab and teaches at Primary Stages ESPA and SUNY Purchase. BFA: NYU, MFA: Yale School of Drama.

Ralph B. Peña (director) is the Producing Artistic Director of Ma-Yi Theater Company. Recent directing credits include THE ORPHAN OF ZHAO (Fordham Theatre), MACHO DANCER: A MUSICAL (Cultural Center of the Philippines), LIVIN’ LA VIDA IMELDA (Ma-Yi), Lloyd Suh’s THE WONG KIDS IN THE SECRET OF THE SPACE CHUPACABRA GO! (Children’s Theater Co., Ma-Yi, and Arts Emerson, Boston, winner of the Off Broadway Alliance Award), Joshua Conkel’s CURMUDGEONS IN LOVE (EST Marathon), Mike Lew’s MICROCRISIS (Youngblood, Ma-Yi), and HOUSE/BOY (Dublin and Singapore Theater Festivals). He received an Obie Award for his work on THE ROMANCE OF MAGNO RUBIO. Upcoming projects include the premiere of FELIX STARRO, a new musical by Jessica Hagedorn and Fabian Obispo. He is a member of the Ensemble Studio Theater.

MA-YI THEATER COMPANY recently enjoyed great critical and popular success with its double-bill last fall of LIVIN’ LA VIDA IMELDA and CHAIRS AND A LONG TABLE, and this past spring’s world premiere of SOLDIER X. The company won the Off-Broadway Alliance Award for its critically-acclaimed production of THE WONG KIDS IN THE SECRET OF THE SPACE CHUPACABRA GO! last season. Founded in 1989 and now celebrating its 27th season, MA-YI is a Drama Desk and OBIE Award-winning, Off-Broadway not-for-profit organization whose primary mission is to develop and produce new and innovative plays by Asian American writers.

Since its founding, Ma-Yi has distinguished itself as one of the country’s leading incubators of new work shaping the national discourse about what it means to be Asian American today. Its numerous acclaimed productions include Mike Lew’s BIKE AMERICA, Qui Nguyen’s THE INEXPLICABLE REDEMPTION OF AGENT G and SOUL SAMURAI (with Vampire Cowboys),Mike Lew’s MICROCRISIS and the revival of Ralph B. Peña’s FLIPZOIDS. Other productions include: RESCUE ME by Michi Barall, Lloyd Suh’s AMERICAN HWANGAP and THE CHILDREN OF VONDERLY and THE ROMANCE OF MAGNO RUBIO. Through successful programs such as the Writers Lab, Ma-Yi emboldens a new generation of Asian American artists to voice their experiences, while developing a steady stream of quality new works by Asian American playwrights for its own performing repertory. New works developed at the Writers Lab have gone on to successful productions around the country, at such theaters as Victory Gardens, Laguna Playhouse, Long Wharf Theater, Woolly Mammoth, and the Actors Theater of Louisville, to name a few. Ma-Yi Theater Company productions have earned 10 OBIE Awards, numerous Henry Hewes Award nominations, a Drama Desk nomination for Best Play and the Special Drama Desk Award for “more than two decades of excellence and for nurturing Asian-American voices in stylistically varied and engaging theater.”

Ma-Yi Theater is under the leadership of Producing Artistic Director Ralph B. Peña and Executive Director Jorge Z. Ortoll.

Click here for the Lia Chang Articles Archive and here for the Lia Chang Photography Website.

Lia Chang. Photo by Garth Kravits

Lia Chang. Photo by Garth Kravits

Lia Chang is an award-winning filmmaker, a Best Actress nominee, a photographer, and an award-winning multi-platform journalist. Lia has appeared in the films Wolf, New Jack City, A Kiss Before Dying, King of New York, Big Trouble in Little China, The Last Dragon, Taxman and Hide and Seek. She is profiled in Examiner.comJade Magazine and Playbill.com.

All text, graphics, articles & photographs: © 2000-2016 Lia Chang Multimedia. All rights reserved. All materials contained on this site are protected by United States copyright law and may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, displayed, published or broadcast without the prior written permission of Lia Chang. You may not alter or remove any trademark, copyright or other notice from copies of the content. For permission, please contact Lia at lia@liachang.com


Photos: Denise Burse, Chinaza Uche and More in Kimber Lee’s “brownsville song (b-side for tray)” at Seattle Rep through April 24

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Chinaza Uche and Denise Burse in "brownsville song (b-side for tray))" at Seattle Repertory Theatre. Photo by Chris Bennion.

Chinaza Uche and Denise Burse in “brownsville song (b-side for tray))” at Seattle Repertory Theatre. Photo by Chris Bennion.

Seattle Repertory Theatre is presenting Kimber Lee’s vivid and stirring play, brownsville song (b-side for tray) directed by Juliette Carrillo (Seattle Rep’s The Brothers Size) in the Leo K. Theatre, located at Seattle Center at the corner of Second Ave. and Mercer St., Seattle, Washington. The play began previews on March 25 and continues through April 24. Opening Night is Wednesday, March 30 at 7:30 p.m. Tickets start at $17 and are available now through the Seattle Rep Box Office at (206) 443-2222 and online at seattlerep.org.

Denise Burse and Chinaza Uche in "brownsville song (b-side for tray)" at Seattle Repertory Theatre. Photo by Chris Bennion.

Denise Burse and Chinaza Uche in “brownsville song (b-side for tray)” at Seattle Repertory Theatre. Photo by Chris Bennion.

The cast features award-winning actor Denise Burse as Lena (Tyler Perry’s “House of Payne”; Seattle Rep’s The Piano Lesson and Radio Golf); Chinaza Uche as Tray (Off-Broadway Sojourners; Film Ricki and the Flash; TV “Blue Bloods”); Vanessa Kai as Merrell (TV “Blacklist” and “Orange is the New Black”; New York The Architecture of Becoming); and Tyler Trerise as Junior (Taproot Theatre The Whipping Man). The production also features emerging artists Leah DeLynn Dual (fourth grader) and Catherine Ting Karman (fifth grader) in the shared role of Devine.

Leah Dual and Chinaza Uche in "brownsville song (b-side for tray)" at Seattle Repertory Theatre. Photo by Chris Bennion.

Leah Dual and Chinaza Uche in “brownsville song (b-side for tray)” at Seattle Repertory Theatre. Photo by Chris Bennion.

After a senseless act of violence, a high schooler’s family must pick up the pieces and find hope and resilience within their tight-knit Brooklyn borough.

Catherine Ting Karman and Chinaza Uche in "brownsville song (b-side for tray)" at Seattle Repertory Theatre. Photo by Chris Bennion.

Catherine Ting Karman and Chinaza Uche in “brownsville song (b-side for tray)” at Seattle Repertory Theatre. Photo by Chris Bennion.

The legacy of violence in America begs a question for people to consider – what do we do with the absence left behind by the young men and women of color who leave us unnecessarily early? “With every loss, we are all diminished,” writes playwright Kimber Lee. “The effects of our collective failure to stem the tide of gun violence has spread beyond the borders of any particular neighborhood,” she continues, expressing that the life and legacy of one young man, who is more than what he may seem, belongs to us all and should not simply be treated as another tragic statistic.

Chinaza Uche in "brownsville song (b-side for tray)" at Seattle Repertory Theatre. Photo by Chris Bennion.

Chinaza Uche in “brownsville song (b-side for tray)” at Seattle Repertory Theatre. Photo by Chris Bennion.

With a premiere at the Humana Festival of New American Plays in 2014 followed by a well-received off-Broadway run at Lincoln Center, brownsville song (b-side for tray) has repeatedly been lauded for its vitality as an important new play and for the contributions it offers to the national conversation on urban communities experiencing trauma. Seattle Rep is pleased to present this beautifully rhythmic, contemporary play told in the past and the present, which provides a snapshot of a tightknit American family who must find a way to move forward after the sudden loss of a loved one.

Denise Burse. Photo by Lia Chang

Denise Burse. Photo by Lia Chang

Denise Burse lives and works in New York. Miss Burse is happy to be at Seattle Repertory Theatre for the third time. Her first show here was The Piano Lesson directed by Lloyd Richards. Next was Radio Golf directed by Kenny Leon. Both plays were written by August Wilson. Some of Miss Burse’s most recent credits include an episode of “Black Mirror,” a Netflix series; the newly released independent film Anesthesia by Tim Blake Nelson; a workshop of Nathan Alan Davis’ The Refuge Plays Trilogy directed by Patricia McGregor; and a workshop of Dominique Morisseau’s Autumn Harvest. You can still catch Miss Burse in the recurring role of Claretha Jenkins on Tyler Perry’s “House of Payne.” Denise is a Theatre World Award winner and an Audelco Award nominee and winner for acting.

Chinaza Uche –  Off-Broadway: Sojourners (Playwrights Realm, Playwrights Horizons), Three Days To See (Transport Group, New York Theatre Workshop). Off-Off: Daily Life Everlasting (Witness Relocation, La Mama), The Last Saint on Sugar Hill (National Black Theatre, AUDELCO nomination: Outstanding Ensemble), Othello (Kinetic Theatre Company), Hearts Like Fists (Flux Theatre Ensemble, NYT Critic’s Pick), Bintou (Movement Theatre Company), Obskene (Talking Band). Regional: The Brothers Size (Everyman Theatre), Flipside (Hartbeat Ensemble). Film: Ricki and the Flash, Mother Of George (Sundance), Terry Richardson’s Last Hours (Cannes), Threading Needles. TV: “Golden Boy” (CBS), “Deception” (NBC), “Blue Bloods” (CBS). Training: NYU.

Vanessa Kai – Seattle Repertory Theatre Debut! Favorite New York Theatre: The Architecture of Becoming (Women’s Project Theater) and What We Know (One Year Lease Theater). Regional: Far East (Lucille Lortel Award for Outstanding Debut by Connecticut Critics Circle) and An Infinite Ache (both Stamford Theatreworks). Kai has also helped develop new works at the Lark Play Development Center, The Civilians, The Working Theater, Center Stage Baltimore, TheatreWorks USA, and Flux Theatre Ensemble. TV: “The Blacklist,” “Gotham,” “The Mysteries of Laura,” “Orange Is The New Black,” “The Leftovers,” “Law & Order: SVU.” Upcoming: Seen/By Everyone at HERE Arts Center, NY in June, 2016. www.vanessakai.com.

Tyler Trerise attended the Cornish College of the Arts and is now an actor in Seattle. He has appeared in productions in Seattle since 2012, including The Whipping Man (Taproot Theatre), Broke-ology (Seattle Public Theater), Mwindo (Seattle Children’s Theatre), The Flick (NCTC), and John Baxter is a Switch Hitter and Bootycandy (Intiman), as well as appearing in the 2012 film Fat Kid Rules the World, and starring in the 2015 indie flick Star Leaf.

Leah DeLynn Dual is an emerging artist and her credits include Can I Get A Witness Volume II (First African Methodist Episcopal Church in Partnership with Langston Hughes Performing Arts Institute, Steve Sneed, Artistic Director); and Rooted: An Anti-Bullying Play (Langston Hughes Performing Arts Institute, Pre-Teen Summer Academy), a musical that Director Olisa Enrico-Johnson devised collaboratively with the cast. Leah has proudly declared to her family, “I was born to be an actor.” Leah is in 4th grade in the Renton School District.

Catherine Ting Karman is making her first appearance on a professional stage. She is currently attending 5th grade at Greenwood Elementary, and has been involved with its musical theater group for the last four years. She is at the top of her class and loves school. Catherine also enjoys going to performing arts shows around town, playing the piano, singing, playing basketball, biking, and swimming. At the age of nine months, she was adopted from China and joined her forever family here in Seattle. She is very grateful to Seattle Rep for this incredible opportunity, and describes this play as “very heartwarming, it grabs your attention and doesn’t let go.”

About The Playwright

Kimber Lee

Kimber Lee

Kimber Lee’s plays include to the yellow house, tokyo fish story (South Coast Repertory, The Old Globe), brownsville song (b-side for tray) (Humana Festival/ATL, LCT3/ Lincoln Center, Long Wharf Theatre, Philadelphia Theatre Company, Seattle Repertory Theatre, Moxie Theatre), and different words for the same thing (Center Theatre Group/Kirk Douglas Theatre). Her work has also been presented by Lark Play Development Center, Page 73, Hedgebrook, Seven Devils Playwrights Conference, Bay Area Playwrights Festival, The Old Globe, and Magic Theatre. Under commission at LCT3, South Coast Rep, Denver Center, Hartford Stage, Center Theatre Group, and Bush Theatre. Lark Playwrights Workshop Fellow, Dramatists Guild Fellow, Ma-Yi Writers Lab, and recipient of the Ruby Prize, PoNY Fellowship, Hartford Stage New Voices Fellowship, and inaugural 2015 PoNY/Bush Theatre Playwright Residency in London. MFA: UT Austin.

Director Juliette Carrillo returns to Seattle Repertory Theatre, where she previously directed The Cook by Eduardo Machado and The Brothers Size by Tarell Alvin McCraney. A graduate of the Yale School of Drama, Juliette has directed critically-acclaimed premiere and revival productions in theatres across the country, including Oregon Shakespeare Festival, Mark Taper Forum, South Coast Repertory, Yale Repertory, Denver Center Theatre Company, and Goodman Theatre. As a member of the Cornerstone Theater Company ensemble, she has developed work for and with various communities such as the Los Angeles River community, the addiction and recovery community, the Hindu community, and seniors and their caregivers. She was an Artistic Associate and Director of the Hispanic Playwright’s Project at South Coast Repertory for seven years. She is a recipient of several awards, including the NEA/TCG Directing Fellowship and the Princess Grace Award, and was recently named finalist for the Zelda Fichandler Award.

The creative team includes Mikiko Suzuki MacAdams, scenic design; Constanza Romero, costume design; Geoff Korf, lighting design; Matt Starritt, sound design; Kathryn Bostic, composer; Kristin Leahey, dramaturg.

Performance times: Wednesday-Sunday and select Tuesdays at 7:30 p.m.

Select Saturday, Sunday, and Wednesday matinees at 2:00 p.m. (no matinees during previews)

Discounted tickets for groups of 10+ may be purchased by calling (206) 443-2224. For ticket reservations, call the Seattle Repertory Theatre Box Office at (206) 443-2222 or toll-free at (877) 900-9285, or go online at seattlerep.org

Seattle Rep was founded in 1963 and is currently led by Artistic Director Braden Abraham and Managing Director Jeffrey Herrmann. One of America’s premier not-for-profit resident theatres, Seattle Repertory Theatre has achieved international renown for its consistently high production and artistic standards, and was awarded the 1990 Tony Award for Outstanding Regional Theatre. With an emphasis on entertaining plays of true dramatic and literary worth, Seattle Rep produces a season of plays along with educational programs, new play workshops, and special presentations.

Q & A: Denise Burse talks ‘Anesthesia’, Netflix’s ‘Black Mirror’, and ‘Brownsville Song (B-Side for Tray)’
Denise Burse, André Holland, Jerome Preston Bates, Amanda Warren, Jocelyn Bioh, and More in Reading of Nathan Alan Davis’ THE REFUGE PLAYS TRILOGY
Denise Burse Fernandez, Peter Jay Fernandez, MaameYaa Boafo, Alana Barrett-Adkins and more celebrate 30th Anniversary of Beth-Hark Christian Counseling Center, Inc. at Terrace on The Park

Click here for the Lia Chang Articles Archive and here for the Lia Chang Photography Website.

Lia Chang. Photo by Garth Kravits

Lia Chang. Photo by Garth Kravits

Lia Chang is an award-winning filmmaker, a Best Actress nominee, a photographer, and an award-winning multi-platform journalist. Lia has appeared in the films Wolf, New Jack City, A Kiss Before Dying, King of New York, Big Trouble in Little China, The Last Dragon, Taxman and Hide and Seek, which will screen at the Disorient Film Festival in Eugene Oregon in April. She is profiled in Examiner.comJade Magazine and Playbill.com.

All text, graphics, articles & photographs: © 2000-2016 Lia Chang Multimedia. All rights reserved. All materials contained on this site are protected by United States copyright law and may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, displayed, published or broadcast without the prior written permission of Lia Chang. You may not alter or remove any trademark, copyright or other notice from copies of the content. For permission, please contact Lia at lia@liachangphotography.com


Sandra Oh, Sola Bamis, Corey Brill and Raymond Lee Star in South Coast Repertory’s World Premiere of Julia Cho’s OFFICE HOUR, April 10-30

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Sandra Oh

Sandra Oh

South Coast Repertory is presenting the world premiere of Office Hour by Julia Cho, directed by Neel Keller (April 10-30, Julianne Argyros Stage). The cast features stage, film and television actor Sandra Oh (“Grey’s Anatomy,” Sideways). Office Hour is part of the Pacific Playwrights Festival, the theatre’s annual new-play showcase. Tickets are available at www.scr.org.

Office Hour begins with three adjunct professors talking about the strange, troubling and troubled student they have in common. They express a sense of frustration, unease. But is the fear justified? The play sets out to answer that question by exploring what happens when Gina, the only professor who seems able to make a connection with the student, asks him to meet with her during her office hour.

“Julia Cho has crafted a tense and riveting drama that draws on the threat of campus violence and challenges audiences to empathize with both student and teacher,” said Artistic Director Marc Masterson. “She encourages us to try to understand complex perspectives and Office Hour lets us see today’s issues in a very real, personal way.”

Office Hour is the third SCR world premiere by Cho, after The Piano Teacher (2007) and The Language Archive (2009).

Julia Cho

Julia Cho

Cho’s plays include Aubergine, The Language Archive, The Piano Teacher, Durango, The Winchester House, BFE, The Architecture of Loss and 99 Histories. They have been produced in New York at Roundabout Theatre Company, The Public Theater, Vineyard Theatre, Playwrights Horizons and New York Theatre Workshop and regionally at Berkeley Repertory Theatre, Long Wharf Theatre and the Oregon Shakespeare Festival, among others. Her honors include the Susan Smith Blackburn Award, the National Theatre Conference’s Barrie Stavis Award, the Claire Tow Award for Emerging Artists and the L. Arnold Weissberger Award for Playwriting. She has been the recipient of a New York Foundation for the Arts grant and a Van Lier Fellowship from New York Theatre Workshop. She was also a Lila Acheson Wallace Playwriting Fellow at The Juilliard School and is an alumna of New Dramatists.

Oh’s theatre work includes Ariel Dorfman’s Death and the Maiden (Victory Gardens Theatre), Diana Son’s Stop Kiss (Theatre World award), Satellites(The Public Theatre) and The House of Bernarda Alba (Mark Taper Forum). Her film and television credits include “Grey’s Anatomy,” Sideways, Under the Tuscan Sun, Double Happiness and The Diary of Evelyn Lau.

The cast also includes Sola Bamis (“Mad Men;” Santa Monica Rep: The Tempest), Corey Brill (“The Walking Dead;” Broadway: Best Man) and Raymond Lee (“Modern Family;” South Coast Repertory: Vietgone).

The design and creative team includes Takeshi Kata and Se Oh, scenic design; Alex Jaeger, costume design; Elizabeth Harper, lighting design; Peter Bayne, composer and sound design; and Joanne DeNaut, CSA, casting. The production manager is Jackie S. Hill and the stage manager is Sue Karutz. The dramaturg is John Glore. 

Office Hour is generously supported by Honorary Producers Timothy and Marianne Kay. The media partner is the Orange County Register.

The Pacific Playwrights Festival is a three-day showcase of new plays, featuring five staged readings and two full productions. This is the festival’s 19th year.

Tickets start at $22 and are available online at www.scr.org or through the Box Office, (714) 708-5555

Discounts are available for full-time students, patrons 25 years of age and under, fulltime educators, seniors and groups of 10 or more. For complete information, visit: www.scr.org.

Performance Dates, Times: 

  • Previews

o    Sunday, April 10, at 2 p.m.

o    Tuesday-Thursday, April 12-14, at 7:45 p.m.

Note: Friday, April 15, is an invitation-only performance

  • Regular performances

Special note: There are no Monday performances.

Evenings:

o    Tuesdays-Sundays, April 19-24, and April 26-30, at 7:45 p.m.

Matinees:

o    Saturdays-Sundays, April 16-17; April 23-24; Saturday, April 30 at 2 p.m.

  • ASL-interpreted: Saturday, April 30, at 2 p.m.

Special Events:

  • Post-Show Discussions: Tuesday, April 19, and Wednesday, April 20. Discuss the play with cast members of Office Hour during free post-show discussions led by South Coast Repertory’s literary team. Julianne Argyros Stage.
  • Inside the Season: Saturday, April 30, from 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Led by members of SCR’s literary staff, this lively two-hour session features in-depth interviews with cast members and artists from SCR’s production staff, offering insights into SCR’s production of Office Hour.The morning includes a guided tour of the set. Julianne Argyros Stage. Tickets are $12 and may be purchased in advance or at the door. 

Location: South Coast Repertory is located at 655 Town Center Drive in Costa Mesa, at the Bristol Street/Avenue of the Arts exit off the San Diego (405) Freeway in the David Emmes/Martin Benson Theatre Center, part of the Segerstrom Center for the Arts. Parking is available on Park Center Drive, off Anton Boulevard.

ABOUT SOUTH COAST REPERTORY: Tony Award-winning South Coast Repertory, founded in 1964 by David Emmes and Martin Benson, is led by Artistic Director Marc Masterson and Managing Director Paula Tomei and is widely recognized as one of the leading professional theatres in the United States. While its productions represent a balance of classic and modern theatre, SCR is renowned for its extensive new-play development program, which includes the nation’s largest commissioning program for emerging and established writers. Of SCR’s 499 productions, one-quarter have been world premieres. SCR-developed works have garnered two Pulitzer Prizes and eight Pulitzer nominations, several Obie Awards and scores of major new-play awards. Located in Costa Mesa, Calif., SCR is home to the 507-seat Segerstrom Stage, the 336-seat Julianne Argyros Stage and the 94-seat Nicholas Studio. www.scr.org

Click here for the Lia Chang Articles Archive and here for the Lia Chang Photography Website.

Lia Chang. Photo by Garth Kravits

Lia Chang. Photo by Garth Kravits

Lia Chang is an award-winning filmmaker, a Best Actress nominee, a photographer, and an award-winning multi-platform journalist. Lia has appeared in the films Wolf, New Jack City, A Kiss Before Dying, King of New York, Big Trouble in Little China, The Last Dragon, Taxman and Hide and Seek, which will screen at the Disorient Film Festival in Eugene Oregon in April. She is profiled in Examiner.comJade Magazine and Playbill.com.

All text, graphics, articles & photographs: © 2000-2016 Lia Chang Multimedia. All rights reserved. All materials contained on this site are protected by United States copyright law and may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, displayed, published or broadcast without the prior written permission of Lia Chang. You may not alter or remove any trademark, copyright or other notice from copies of the content. For permission, please contact Lia at lia@liachangphotography.com


THE HUMANS, FUTURITY, GUARDS AT THE TAJ AND JOHN Lead in 2016 Lucille Lortel Nominations

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The 31st Annual Lucille Lortel Awards for Outstanding Achievement Off-Broadway were announced by The Broadway League today. The Lortel Awards will be presented on Sunday, May 1, 2016 at NYU Skirball Center beginning at 7:00 PM EST. This year’s event will once again benefit The Actors Fund.

The cast of Stephen Karam's 'The Humans. Photos by Joan Marcus

The cast of Stephen Karam’s ‘The Humans. Photos by Joan Marcus

Roundabout Theatre Company’s The Humans leads this year’s nominations with a total of 6, including acting nominations for Reed Birney and Jayne Houdyshell. FUTURITYGuards at the Taj and John all tied with 5 nominations. Actress Leslie Kritzer earned two nominations for Outstanding Featured Actress in a Musical for her performances in Gigantic and The Robber Bridegroom. This year’s Voting Committee chose to present the award for Outstanding Alternative Theatrical Experience to Signature Theatre’s Angel Reapers, as well as a special award to Peter Nigrini in recognition of his projection design for Grounded at The Public Theater.

James Houghton. Photo by Lia Chang

James Houghton. Photo by Lia Chang

As previously announced, Signature Theatre’s Founding Artistic Director James Houghton will be honored with the Lifetime Achievement Award and Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Suzan-Lori Parks will be inducted onto the famed Playwrights’ Sidewalk in front of the Lucille Lortel Theatre.

A breakfast reception honoring the nominees will take place on Wednesday, April 20, at Playwrights Horizons (416 West 42nd Street, New York).

The Off-Broadway League’s Lortel Awards Producing & Administration Committee (Terry Byrne, Denise Cooper, Margaret Cotter, Carol Fishman, George Forbes, Michael Page, Catherine Russell, Lindsey Sag, and Seth Shepsle) produces the Lortel Awards Ceremony. Acclaimed writer/director Michael Heitzman returns to direct the Lortel Awards for the seventh consecutive year. The Lucille Lortel Awards are produced by special arrangement with the Lucille Lortel Foundation. Additional support is provided by Theatre Development Fund.

Representatives of the Off-Broadway League, Actors’ Equity Association, Stage Directors & Choreographers Society, the Lucille Lortel Foundation, in addition to theatre journalists and academics and other Off-Broadway professionals, serve on the Voting Committee.

Members of the general public are welcome to view the 7:00 PM ceremony. Public tickets are $75.00 and will be available starting Thursday, March 31, 2016, via phone at 212.998.4941, online at www.nyuskirball.org and in person at the Skirball Center’s Shagan Box Office (556 LaGuardia) from Tuesday – Saturday from 12 – 6 PM, and two hours before showtime.

2016 LUCILLE LORTEL AWARDS NOMINATIONS
Outstanding Play
The Christians
Produced by Playwrights Horizons and Center Theatre Group
Written by Lucas Hnath

Linda Powell, Andrew Garmon, Larry Powell, Richard Henzel and the Choir in "The Christians." at the 38th Humana Festival of New American Plays at Actors Theatre of Louisville. (Photo by Michael Brosilow)

Linda Powell, Andrew Garmon, Larry Powell, Richard Henzel and the Choir in “The Christians.” at the 38th Humana Festival of New American Plays at Actors Theatre of Louisville. (Photo by Michael Brosilow)

Eclipsed
Produced by The Public Theater
Written by Danai Gurira

Pascale Armand, Saycon Sengbloh, and Lupita Nyong’o in "Eclipsed."

Pascale Armand, Saycon Sengbloh, and Lupita Nyong’o in “Eclipsed.”

Gloria
Produced by Vineyard Theatre
Written by Branden Jacobs-Jenkins

 Jeanine Serralles and Ryan Spahn in Gloria. Photo by Carol Rosegg

Jeanine Serralles and Ryan Spahn in Gloria. Photo by Carol Rosegg

Guards at the Taj
Produced by Atlantic Theater Company
Written by Rajiv Joseph

Omar Metwally and Arian Moayed in Atlantic Theater Company's world premiere of Rajiv Joseph's Guards at the Taj. Photo by Doug Hamilton

Omar Metwally and Arian Moayed in Atlantic Theater Company’s world premiere of Rajiv Joseph’s Guards at the Taj. Photo by Doug Hamilton

John
Produced by Signature Theatre
Written by Annie Baker

Georgia Engel, Christopher Abbott and Lois Smith in "John."Photo: Matthew Murphy

Georgia Engel, Christopher Abbott and Lois Smith in “John.”Photo: Matthew Murphy

Outstanding Musical
FUTURITY
Produced by Soho Rep. and Ars Nova in association with Carole Shorenstein Hays
Music by César Alvarez with The Lisps, Lyrics and Book by César Alvarez

Iowa
Produced by Playwrights Horizons
Written by Jenny Schwartz, Music by Todd Almond, Lyrics by Todd Almond and Jenny Schwartz

Southern Comfort
Produced by The Public Theater
Book and Lyrics by Dan Collins, Music by Julianne Wick Davis, Based on the Film by Kate Davis, Conceived for the Stage by Robert DuSold and Thomas Caruso

Tappin’ Thru Life
Produced by Leonard Soloway, Bud Martin, Riki Kane Larimer, Jeff Wolk, Phyllis and Buddy Aerenson, Darren P. DeVerna/Jeremiah J. Harris and the Shubert Organization
Written by Maurice Hines

Maurice Hines. Photo by Carol Rossegg

Maurice Hines. Photo by Carol Rossegg

The Wildness: Sky-Pony’s Rock Fairy Tale
Produced by Ars Nova in collaboration with The Play Company
Text by Kyle Jarrow & Lauren Worsham, Songs by Kyle Jarrow

Outstanding Revival
‘Tis Pity She’s a Whore
Produced by Red Bull Theater
Written by John Ford

Cloud Nine
Produced by Atlantic Theater Company
Written by Caryl Churchill

Clarke Thorell and Izzie Steele. Photo by Doug Hamilton

Clarke Thorell and Izzie Steele. Photo by Doug Hamilton

Mother Courage And Her Children
Produced by Classic Stage Company
Written by Bertolt Brecht, Translated by John Willett

The Robber Bridegroom
Produced by Roundabout Theatre Company in association with Daryl Roth
Book and Lyrics by Alfred Uhry, Music by Robert Waldman

Women Without Men
Produced by Mint Theater Company
Written by Hazel Ellis

Dael Orlandersmith

Dael Orlandersmith

Outstanding Solo Show
The Absolute Brightness of Leonard Pelkey
Produced by Darren Bagert, Daryl Roth, Co-Produced by Jane Dubin, Curtis Forsythe, Michael Mayer, Diane Procter, Seaview Productions and Minerva Productions/Joshua Goodman
Written and Performed by James Lecesne

Forever
Produced by New York Theatre Workshop
Created and Performed by Dael Orlandersmith

Grounded
Produced by The Public Theater
Written by George Brant
Performed by Anne Hathaway

Mike Birbiglia: Thank God For Jokes
Produced by Mike Berkowitz, Joseph Birbiglia, Ron Delsener and Mike Lavoie
Written and Performed by Mike Birbiglia

Outstanding Director
Rachel Chavkin, The Royale
Anne Kauffman, Marjorie Prime
Amy Morton, Guards at the Taj
Liesl Tommy, Eclipsed
Eric Tucker, Bedlam’s SENSE & SENSIBILITY

Outstanding Choreographer
Alexandra Beller, Bedlam’s SENSE & SENSIBILITY
Martha Clarke, Angel Reapers
Maurice Hines, Tappin’ Thru Life
Paul McGill, The Legend of Georgia McBride
David Neumann, FUTURITY

Outstanding Lead Actor in a Play
Denis Arndt, Heisenberg
Reed Birney, The Humans
Timothée Chalamet, Prodigal Son
Andrew Garman, The Christians
Ed Harris, Buried Child

Outstanding Lead Actress in a Play
Ito Aghayere, Familiar
Georgia Engel, John
Jayne Houdyshell, The Humans
Chinasa Ogbuagu, Sojourners
Phylicia Rashad, Head of Passes

John Earl Jelks, Arnetia Walker, Phylicia Rashad, and Francois Battiste. Photo by Joan Marcus

John Earl Jelks, Arnetia Walker, Phylicia Rashad, and Francois Battiste. Photo by Joan Marcus

Outstanding Lead Actor in a Musical
Gabriel Ebert, Preludes
Michael C. Hall, Lazarus
Maurice Hines, Tappin’ Thru Life
Michael Luwoye, Invisible Thread
Steven Pasquale, The Robber Bridegroom

Steven Pasquale and the company of Robber Bridegroom. Photo by Joan Marcus

Steven Pasquale and the company of Robber Bridegroom. Photo by Joan Marcus

Outstanding Lead Actress in a Musical
Sophia Anne Caruso, Lazarus
Alison Fraser, First Daughter Suite
Annette O’Toole, Southern Comfort
Mary Testa, First Daughter Suite
Sammy Tunis, FUTURITY

C.J. Wilson and Timothy Olyphant. Photo by Doug Hamilton

C.J. Wilson and Timothy Olyphant. Photo by Doug Hamilton

Outstanding Featured Actor in a Play
Sanjit De Silva, Dry Powder
Jonathan Hogan, Hold On To Me Darling
Matt McGrath, The Legend of Georgia McBride
Paul Sparks, Buried Child
C.J. Wilson, Hold On To Me Darling

Sanjit De Silva as Jeff Schrader, Claire Danes as Jenny and John Krasinski as Seth in Dry Powder. Photo by Joan Marcus

Sanjit De Silva as Jeff Schrader, Claire Danes as Jenny and John Krasinski as Seth in Dry Powder. Photo by Joan Marcus

Outstanding Featured Actress in a Play
Alana Arenas, Head of Passes
Lauren Klein, The Humans
Jeanine Serralles, Gloria
Lois Smith, John
Myra Lucretia Taylor, Familiar

Myra Lucretia Taylor, Roslyn Ruff, and Tamara Tunie star in Danai Gurira's ''Familiar' directed by Rebecca Taichman, at Playwrights Horizons.

Myra Lucretia Taylor, Roslyn Ruff, and Tamara Tunie star in Danai Gurira’s ”Familiar’ directed by Rebecca Taichman, at Playwrights Horizons. (© Joan Marcus)

Outstanding Featured Actor in a Musical
Greg Hildreth, The Robber Bridegroom
Jeffrey Kuhn, Southern Comfort
Or Matias, Preludes
Chris Sarandon, Preludes
Kevin Zak, Clinton the Musical

Outstanding Featured Actress in a Musical
Eisa Davis, Preludes
Karen Kandel, FUTURITY
Leslie Kritzer, Gigantic
Leslie Kritzer, The Robber Bridegroom
Annie McNamara, Iowa

 Leslie Kritzer and company in Robber Bridegroom. Photo by Joan Marcus

Leslie Kritzer and company in Robber Bridegroom. Photo by Joan Marcus

Outstanding Scenic Design
Mimi Lien, John
Timothy R. Mackabee, Guards at the Taj
G.W. Mercier, Head of Passes
Emily Orling and Matt Saunders, FUTURITY
David Zinn, The Humans

Outstanding Costume Design
Martha Hally, Women Without Men
Toni-Leslie James, First Daughter Suite
Clint Ramos, Eclipsed
Anita Yavich, The Legend of Georgia McBride
Donna Zakowska, Angel Reapers

Outstanding Lighting Design
Christopher Akerlind, Grounded
Mark Barton, John
Ben Stanton, The Legend of Georgia McBride
Justin Townsend, The Humans
David Weiner, Guards at the Taj

Outstanding Sound Design
Matt Hubbs, The Royale
Rob Milburn and Michael Bodeen, Guards at the Taj
Fitz Patton, The Humans
Will Pickens, Grounded
Bray Poor, Buzzer

Suzan-Lori Parks. Photo by Lia Chang

Suzan-Lori Parks. Photo by Lia Chang

SPECIAL AWARDS
Outstanding Alternative Theatrical Experience
Angel Reapers
By Martha Clarke and Alfred Uhry
Produced by Signature Theatre
Peter Nigrini, Projection Design, Grounded

HONORARY AWARDS
Lifetime Achievement Award
James Houghton

Playwrights’ Sidewalk Inductee
Suzan-Lori Parks

Click here for the Lia Chang Articles Archive and here for the Lia Chang Photography Website.

Lia Chang. Photo by Garth Kravits

Lia Chang. Photo by Garth Kravits

Lia Chang is an award-winning filmmaker, a Best Actress nominee, a photographer, and an award-winning multi-platform journalist. Lia has appeared in the films Wolf, New Jack City, A Kiss Before Dying, King of New York, Big Trouble in Little China, The Last Dragon, Taxman and Hide and Seek, which will screen at the Disorient Film Festival in Eugene Oregon in April. She is profiled in Examiner.comJade Magazine and Playbill.com.

 


Porchlight’s DREAMGIRLS, Starring Donica Lynn, Candace C. Edwards, Katherine Thomas and Evan Tyrone Martin, Extends through May 22

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Photo by Brandon Dahlquist

Photo by Brandon Dahlquist

Due to popular demand, Porchlight Music Theatre and Artistic Director Michael Weber have decided to extend the upcoming production of Dreamgirls, book and lyrics by Tom Eyen, music by Henry Krieger. This production is directed and choreographed by Porchlight Artistic Associate Brenda Didier and music directed by Porchlight Artistic Associate Doug Peck, now April 8 – May 22. Previews are Friday, April 8 at 8 p.m., Saturday, April 9 at 8 p.m., Sunday, April 10 at 2 p.m. and Monday, April 11 at 7:30 p.m. with opening night Tuesday, April 12 at 7:30 p.m. at Stage 773, 1225 W. Belmont Ave. The regular performance times are Thursdays at 7:30 p.m., Fridays at 8 p.m., Saturdays at 4 and 8 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m., with no Thursday performances on April 14 with added performances Thursday, May 5, 12 and 19 at 1:30 p.m. and Sunday, May 8 at 7 p.m. Single tickets may be purchased at porchlightmusictheatre.org or 773.327.5252. Groups of ten or more may receive discounts on tickets purchased via Group Theater Tix at 312.423.6612 or grouptheatertix.com.

“We are excited to see that the audiences’ anticipation of this iconic production is as great as ours,” said Weber. “Several performances have already sold out and we are adding these performances to meet the demand. The cast, crew and everyone at Porchlight are looking forward to sharing this very special performance with Chicago. Come April all of Chicago will be wanting to experience the drama, the music and the magic of Dreamgirls.”

Full of on-stage joy and backstage drama, Dreamgirls is the story of an up-and-coming 1960s all-female singing group from Chicago and the triumphs and tribulations that come on the road to fame and fortune, and features unforgettable hits including, “And I Am Telling You I’m Not Going,” “One Night Only” and “Listen.” With a story that lives through the journey of popular music in America, and presented in Porchlight’s signature intimate and up-close style, this Tony Award and Academy Award-winning musical will receive an intense and illuminating interpretation by Chicago’s leading talents.

Making her Porchlight Music Theatre debut, Donica Lynn stars as “Effie Melody White” with Candace C. Edwards, recently seen in Porchlight’s critically acclaimed Far From Heaven, as “Deena Jones,” Katherine Thomas, making her Porchlight debut as “Lorrell Robinson” and Evan Tyrone Martin, recently in Porchlight’s Chicago premieres of Far From Heaven and Side Show, as “Curtis Taylor Jr.”

The full cast of Dreamgirls includes Caleb Baze (Cadillac Boy/Stage Manager), Michelle Bester (Ensemble), Dawn Bless(Ensemble), Kyrie Courter (Ensemble), Gilbert Domally (C.C. White),Jared Grant (Ensemble), Matthew Hunter (Ensemble),Reneisha Jenkins (Ensemble), J. Michael Jones (Marty), Eric Lewis (Jimmy Early), Andrew Malone (Ensemble), Brian Nelson Jr. (Ensemble), Trequon Tate (Ensemble) and Cherise Thomas (Ensemble).

The Dreamgirls production team includes: Porchlight Artistic Associate Christopher Pazdernik assistant director); Chris Carter (associate choreographer); Porchlight Artistic Associate Bill Morey (costume designer); Porchlight Artistic Associate Jeff Kmiec (co-scenic designer); Greg Pinsoneault (co-scenic designer); Denise Karczewski (lighting designer); Kevin Barthel (wig designer);Mealah Heidenreich (properties designer); Robert Hornbostel (sound designer), Sara Gammage (stage manager) and Porchlight Artistic Associate Aaron Shapiro (production manager).

Donica Lynn, Candace C. Edwards, Katherine Thomas, Evan Tyrone Martin and More Set for Porchlight Music Theatre’s ‘Dreamgirls’, April 8 – May 15 

Lia Chang. Photo by Garth Kravits

Lia Chang. Photo by Garth Kravits

Lia Chang is an award-winning filmmaker, a Best Actress nominee, a photographer, and an award-winning multi-platform journalist. Lia has appeared in the films Wolf, New Jack City, A Kiss Before Dying, King of New York, Big Trouble in Little China, The Last Dragon, Taxman and Hide and Seek. She is profiled in Examiner.comJade Magazine and Playbill.com.

All text, graphics, articles & photographs: © 2000-2016 Lia Chang Multimedia. All rights reserved. All materials contained on this site are protected by United States copyright law and may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, displayed, published or broadcast without the prior written permission of Lia Chang. You may not alter or remove any trademark, copyright or other notice from copies of the content. For permission, please contact Lia at lia@liachang.com


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