FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Cindy Moran, Public Relations
Director, 414-224-1761
February 28, 2008
Glorious World Premiere Production
THE NIGHT IS A CHILD
By Charles Randolph-Wright
Directed by Timothy Douglas
Generously supported by
National Endowment for the Arts
And made possible in part by the generous support
of:
Northwestern Mutual Foundation
The Lynde and Harry Bradley Foundation
QUADRACCI POWERHOUSE THEATER
Previews: March 12 & 13, 2008 Opens: March
14, 2008 Closes: April 13, 2008
Harriet, a mother who lost her son in a horrific act of violence,
runs away from home to find respite and courage in her “dreamland,” Brazil.
Mixed with fantasy and realism, and fueled by the lilting sounds
of Brazilian music, this glorious new drama takes us on
a journey of discovery, forgiveness and understanding in the land
of the Samba. Tickets
can be purchased in person at The Rep Ticket Office at 108 East
Wells Street, or by telephone at 414-224-9490. Tickets can also
be purchased online 24/7 at milwaukeerep.com.
The sounds of Samba resound in Charles Randolph-Wright’s
THE NIGHT IS A CHILD. Harriet Easton, a suburban housewife from
Massachusetts, fulfills her lifetime fantasy of traveling to Brazil.
After her son is involved in a terrible tragedy, she unexpectedly
packs her bags and leaves without telling soul. While on a beach,
practicing her Portuguese and singing Brazilian songs, Harriet
meets the mystifying Bia, who convinces her that Impanena is paradise
in Brazil. After checking into a new hotel in Impanena, Harriet
becomes enthralled with the culture and people of the country.
With Bia and a cheerful hotelier as her guides, she explores the
fantasy land she thought she would never see. But when Candomble,
an enigmatic native ritual practice, brings Harriet face-to-face
with her past, Harriet realizes she cannot escape it and must return
to her children in the present.
Meanwhile, Brian and Jane, Harriet’s two remaining children,
track her down in Brazil with the sole intention of assuring her
safety. With the help of a fast-driving detective, they search
the beaches of Brazil for their mother. The two argue as only siblings
can do. Brian wants to speak Portuguese and find “the girl
from Impanena,” while Harriet wants to keep her eye on the
detective and locate her mother. As the trip progresses, they too
are forced to confront Michael’s wrongdoing and adjust their
lives accordingly. The Easton family’s journey of absolution
teaches them that “sadness
never ends, but happiness does,” but “mais que nada – that’s
how it is.”
Playwright Charles Randolph-Wright has built a
dynamic and diversified career in directing, writing and producing
for theater, television and film. Charles recently wrote and directed
the film Mama, I Want To Sing! for Fox Films. Starring
Lynn Whitfield, Ciara, Patti LaBelle, Juanita Bynum, Hill Harper
and Billy Zane, the film premieres in theaters this fall. Charles
also directed the film Preaching
to the Choir. Charles’ screenplay credits include The
Emmett Till Story for Showtime, Shades of Grey for
HBO, Fool’s Hill for Walt Disney Pictures, Raw
Passion for Tim Reid Productions and Homework (with
Kim Coles) for 20th Century Fox. He also co-wrote the screenplay White
Chocolate (with John Leguizamo). He was the co-producer of
the Angela Davis Story for Castle Rock Entertainment
and developed the short film Family Tree (Disney). Charles’ next
film projects are Dream Merchant (based on the acclaimed
novel by Erroll Bailey) and Sanctuary (written by the
legendary Budd Schulberg). For TV, Charles’ credits include
directing episodes of the current hit series South of Nowhere,
producing and writing the acclaimed Showtime series Linc’s,
and directing many videos and commercials, including the European “Freestyle” campaign
for Nike. For the theater, Charles’ play BLUE, starring Phylicia
Rashad, broke box office records at Arena Stage, the Roundabout
Theatre in NYC and Pasadena Playhouse (also starring Diahann
Carroll and Clifton Davis) and has had many productions throughout
the US. He also wrote CUTTIN’ UP (based upon the
best selling book by Craig Marberry), which also had productions
around the country. Charles most recently directed the classic
Athol Fugard play BLOOD KNOT at American Conservatory Theater.
Charles directed the 50th Anniversary national tour of GUYS AND
DOLLS (starring Maurice Hines), Brian Stokes Mitchell in his acclaimed
solo show LOVE/LIFE at Lincoln Center and the world premiere of
SENOR DISCRETION HIMSELF, (winner of the Helen Hayes Award for
Best Musical, the last musical written by Frank Loesser, based
on a story by Budd Schulberg, and now co-written with Culture Clash).
Charles also collaborated on BEA ARTHUR, JUST BETWEEN FRIENDS,
which toured internationally, including a Tony nominated run on
Broadway. Other theater credits include productions at the Roundabout
Theatre, Lincoln Center for the Arts, New York Shakespeare Festival,
New York Theater Workshop, Manhattan Theatre Club, Carnegie Hall,
Williamstown Theatre Festival, Alliance Theatre, Pasadena Playhouse
and Broadway. Charles is an honor graduate of Duke University where
he was an A.B. Duke Scholar and a pre-med student. He studied with
the Royal Shakespeare Company in London and the Alvin Ailey School
in New York City. Charles is an associate artist at Arena Stage
and American Conservatory Theater, serves on the Board of Directors
of the Roundabout Theatre, the artistic board at Duke University
and is a founding member of the Wright Family Foundation of South
Carolina. Charles established the workshop series “Different
Voices” at the Roundabout and “Create
Carolina”, a new arts festival at Winthrop University in
South Carolina.
On why he wants his newest play to premiere in Milwaukee, Randolph-Wright
says, “I wanted to premiere this play in a place that also
has a collision of cultures . . . a city that understands the mixtures
of various worlds. I fell in love with Milwaukee Rep and the incredible
artistic team there, led by Joe Hanreddy, who enticed me to discover
your magic and beauty.” He invites the Milwaukee Rep audience
to “dance,” and continues, “perhaps we should
have Samba lessons in the lobby. Actually, based on what I’ve
already experienced in your wonderful city, perhaps dancing in
the lobby is not too much of a stretch.”
Director Timothy Douglas returns to The Rep after
having directed last season’s sucessful production of GEM
OF THE OCEAN. He most recently directed the critically
acclaimed West Coast premiere of Sarah Treem’s A FEMININE
ENDING in a co-production for South Coast Repertory and Portland
Center Stage; and he directed the world premiere of August Wilson’s
RADIO GOLF, (the final installment of the August Wilson cycle),
for Yale Repertory Theatre. For Oslo Elsewhere he directed the
premiere production of a new translation/adaptation of Ibsen’s
ROSMERSHOLM Off-Broadway, as well as the workshop at Norway’s
National Theatret (Oslo). He served as the Associate Artistic Director
for Actors Theatre of Louisville (2001 – 2004) where, in
addition to facilitating the Humana Festival of New American Plays
in partnership with artistic director, Marc Masterson, he staged
A.M. SUNDAY, ALL MY SONS, ‘ART’, BLUE ORANGE, BLUES
FOR AN ALABAMA SKY, CRIMES OF THE HEART, FENCES, JITNEY, THE LIVELY
LAD and THE PIANO LESSON. Representative directing assignments
include productions of AH, WILDERNESS!, ANNA IN THE TROPICS, ASSASSINS,
BOCON, COWBOYS #2, THE CRIPPLE OF INISHMAAN, CROWNS, THE CRUCIBLE,
FENCES, THE GAME OF LOVE AND CHANCE, GEM OF THE OCEAN, IN THE BLOOD,
INSURRECTION: HOLDING HISTORY, INTIMATE APPAREL, JOE TURNER’S
COME AND GONE, LA: X, A LESSON BEFORE DYING, LOVE’S LABOUR’S
LOST, THE MARRIAGE OF FIGARO, MULES, PERICLES, PORTIA COUGHLIN,
THREE SISTERS, RAISED IN CAPTIVITY, A RAISIN IN THE SUN, RICHARD
III, SHAKESPEARE’S R&J, SORROWS AND REJOICINGS, VALLEY
SONG and the world premieres of THE LAST ORBIT OF BILLY MARS and
VENICE for American Conservatory Theater, Arden Theatre Company,
ASK Theatre Projects, Berkeley Rep, Berkshire Theatre Festival,
City Theatre, Crossroads Theatre Company, Downstage (New Zealand), Folger
Shakespeare Library, Guthrie Theatre, Indiana Repertory Theatre,
The Juilliard School, Magic Theatre, Mark Taper Forum, O’Neill
National Playwright’s Conference, Pittsburgh Irish & Classical
Theatre (Associate Artist), Pittsburgh
Public Theatre, Portland Center Stage, Round House Theatre, San
Jose Repertory, Shakespeare & Company, Syracuse Stage, Toi
Whakaari (New Zealand), Utah Shakespearean Festival and Woolly
Mammoth Theatre Company. Timothy is a graduate of Yale School of
Drama.
Included in the cast for THE NIGHT IS A CHILD are Resident Acting
Company Members Jonathan Gillard Daly (Todd) and Lanise
Antoine Shelley (Bia).
In addition, Bruno Irizarry (Henrique); Monette
Magrath (Jane); Elizabeth Norment (Harriet); Tyler
Pierce (Michael/Brian) and Antonio Edwards Suarez (Joel)
will be joining the cast as guest actors.
Members of The Reps’s 2007/08 Artistic Intern Company who
are in the cast are Jonathan Dickson (Bartender)
and Shelley Wilson (Drunk/Taxi Driver).
(To learn more about our Resident Acting Company, Guest Actors
or our Artistic Intern Company, please visit www.milwaukeerep.com.)
The Production/Design team for THE NIGHT IS A CHILD includes: Tony
Cisek (Scenic Designer);
Tracy Dorman (Costume Designer); Michael Gilliam (Lighting
Designer); Ray Nardelli (Sound Designer); Hannah J.
Crowell (Associate Scenic Designer); Stephanie Klapper (Casting); Jennifer
Pardilla and Carrie Virginia Lee (Casting Assistants); Fabio
Pires (Dialect Coach); Simone Ferro (Choregrapher);
Kristin Crouch (Literary Director), Richelle Harrington
Calin
(Stage Manager), Melissa L. Wanke (Assistant
Stage Manager) and Tim Nicolai (Assistant Director).
Tickets to THE NIGHT IS A CHILD range in price
from $9.00 – $56.00. Students and senior citizens may purchase
half-price RUSH TICKETS with proper identification 60 minutes before
curtain time for all Quadracci Powerhouse performances at The Rep
Ticket Office. For more information or to charge tickets, call 414-224-9490. Tickets
can be purchased online 24/7 at milwaukeerep.com.
For group sales of 20 or more, call The Rep Ticket Office at 414-224-9490.
Special Events for THE NIGHT IS A CHILD
•Join us for The Rep in Depth, which begins 45
minutes before curtain time before every performance in the Quadracci
Powerhouse Theater. This Rep in Depth will be led by Actor Jonathan
Gillard Daly.
•On Thursday, March 13 and Tuesday, April 8 at
7:30 p.m. there will be an Audio-Described Performance for
patrons who are blind or have low vision.
•A performance interpreted in American Sign Language is
scheduled for Thursday, April 10 at 7:30 p.m.
•Captioned Theater will take place on Sunday,
April 13 at 2:00 p.m. Lines from the script running concurrently with
the actors’ lines will be projected on the house left wall of the theater.
This is a perfect way for patrons who are deaf or hard of hearing to enjoy
the performance.
•The Rep Talkbacks will be held after the Tuesday evening
performances on March 18, March 25, April 1 and April
8. The Rep Talkbacks are offered immediately after select performances
and offer an opportunity for audience members to ask questions about the play
to Rep company members and actors in the production. For more information on
The Rep Talkbacks, please contact the Ticket Office at 414-224-9490.
• Friday, March 14 - Opening Night Event - Quadracci Powerhouse
Lobby, 7:30 – 8:00 p.m. and post-show until 11:30 p.m.
Caché and Rumba Caliente Dance Troop will
perform in the Quadracci Powerhouse lobby. Caché (class/classy) is
an exuberant Latin Music Ensemble that has been performing under the direction
of Cecil Negron in the Midwest for the past five years. Caché’s
music offers a wide variety of traditional, contemporary and original Latin
Music. Rumba Caliente Dance Troop, a Latin dance group, will
be performing to Caché’s collection of Samba music. Rumba Caliente
features several styles of Latin dance including: Salsa, Merengue, Bachta,
Samba, Chacha and Rumba and have performed at festivals, concerts and events
around Milwaukee. They will feature Brazil’s famous Samba and offer a
free lesson after the Opening Night Performance.
•A Theater Thursday event will be held on Thursday,
March 20 beginning at 5:45 p.m. Theater Thursdays
are held on the second Thursday of each Quadracci Powerhouse performance and
include a pre-show reception with complimentary appetizers from a downtown
restaurant. This is a subscription-only event, but a limited number of additional
guests can attend, based on availability. Cost for the event is $5.00 per person
at the door. (Patrons must purchase theater tickets separately.) For more information
on Theater Thursdays, please contact Kristy Studinski at kstudinski@milwaukeerep.com or
414-290-0710. Maders will be the
next Theater Thursday restaurant partner.
Glorious World Premiere Production
THE NIGHT IS A CHILD
By Charles Randolph-Wright
Directed by Timothy Douglas
Generously supported by
National Endowment for the Arts
And made possible in part by the generous support
of:
Northwestern Mutual Foundation
The Lynde and Harry Bradley Foundation
DESCRIPTION: Harriet, a mother who lost
her son in a horrific set of violence, runs away from home to find
respite and courage in her “dreamland,” Brazil. Mixed
with fantasy and realism, and fueled by the lilting sounds of Brazilian
Sergio Mendez, this glorious new drama takes us on a journey of
discovery, forgiveness and understanding in the land of the Samba.
PERFORMANCES:
Wednesday, 3/12/08 - 7:30 p.m. - Preview
Thursday, 3/13/08 - 7:30 p.m. - Preview/Audio Description
Friday, 3/14/08 - 8:00 p.m. - Opening
Saturday, 3/15/08 - 4:00/8:00 p.m.
Sunday, 3/16/08 -2:00/7:00 p.m.
Tuesday, 3/18/08 - 7:30 p.m. – Talkback
Wednesday, 3/19/08 - 1:30/7:30 p.m. – 1:30/Bus Matinee, 7:30/Talkback
Thursday, 3/20/08 - 7:30 p.m. - Theater Thursday
Friday, 3/21/08 - 8:00 p.m.
Saturday, 3/22/08 - 4:00/8:00 p.m.
Sunday, 3/23/08 - 7:00 p.m.
Tuesday, 3/25/08 - 7:30 p.m. - Talkback
Wednesday, 3/26/08 - 7:30 p.m.
Thursday, 3/27/08 - 7:30 p.m.
Friday, 3/28/08 - 8:00 p.m.
Saturday, 3/29/08 - 4:00/8:00 p.m.
Sunday, 3/30/08 - 2:00/7:00 p.m.
Tuesday, 4/01/08 - 6:30 p.m. - Talkback
Wednesday, 4/02/08 - 7:30 p.m.
Thursday, 4/03/08 - 7:30 p.m.
Friday, 4/04/08 - 8:00 p.m.
Saturday, 04/05/08 - 4:00/8:00 p.m.
Sunday, 04/06/08 - 2:00/7:00 p.m. - 2:00/Smoke-Free/Family Sunday
Tuesday, 04/08/08 - 7:30 p.m. - Audio Description/Talkback
Wednesday, 04/09/08 - 1:30/7:30 p.m.
Thursday, 04/10/08 - 7:30 p.m. – American Sign Language
Friday, 04/11/08 - 8:00 p.m.
Saturday, 04/12/08 - 4:00/8:00 p.m.
Sunday, 04/13/08 - 2:00 p.m. - Captioned Theater
TICKET PRICES:
PREVIEWS: $9.00 - $39.00
WEEKDAY/SUNDAY: $12.00 - $44.00
FRIDAY/SATURDAY: $15.00 - $56.00
TICKETS/INFORMATION: 414-224-9490 or buy tickets online
at milwaukeerep.com
TICKET OFFICE LOCATION: 108 East Wells Street in Milwaukee’s
Downtown Theater District
TICKET OFFICE HOURS: Mon - Fri, 12 pm - 6 pm on phones, 12
pm - curtain for window
Sat/Sun 12 pm - 6 pm on phones, 12 pm - curtain for window
###
Open to the public before and after all evening performances, Milwaukee
Repertory Theater’s Stackner Cabaret, located on the second
floor of the Milwaukee Center, is our own full-service, smoke-free
bar and restaurant. Featuring delicious dinners, as well as late
night cocktails, coffee, and desserts, the Cabaret is the ideal
meeting place for patrons attending Rep performances. For dinner
reservations, call 414-224-9490.
Milwaukee Repertory Theater is a nationally recognized
theater company that presents a critically-acclaimed selection of
compelling dramas, powerful classics, award-winning contemporary
works and lively Cabaret shows on three stages from September through
May. The Rep also produces an annual production of A CHRISTMAS CAROL.
The Rep's home, the Patty and Jay Baker Theater Complex, accommodates
the Quadracci Powerhouse Theater, the Stiemke Theater and the Stackner
Cabaret. The Rep is also home to a Resident Acting Company of 13
actors who perform with The Rep throughout the season.
The Rep is proud to be a member of the United
Performing Arts Fund (UPAF), which provides major annual financial
support. The Rep is a member of the League
of Resident Theatres (LORT), a management association of some
of the nation's largest non-profit professional theaters that collectively
bargains with the unions that represent the actors, directors and
designers that work at The Rep; a constituent of Theatre
Communications Group (TCG), the national organization for the
nonprofit professional theater; and a member of Theatre
Wisconsin, the statewide association of non-profit professional
theaters. This theater operates under an agreement between the League
of Resident Theatres and Actors'
Equity Association, the union of professional actors and stage
managers in the United States. The set, costume and lighting designers
are members of United Scenic Artists,
a national labor union. This theater is an equal opportunity employer.
Except in plays where race itself is an issue, casting is decided
based on ability, not race.
Milwaukee
Repertory Theater, 108 E Wells St Milwaukee, WI 53202
Ticket Office: 414-224-9490 Ticket Office Fax: 225-5490
Administrative: 414-224-1761 Fax: 414-224-9097
http://www.milwaukeerep.com |
