FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT: Cindy Moran, Public Relations Director, 414-224-1761

September 7, 2005

A RWANDAN REFUGEE POIGNANTLY COMES TO TERMS WITH THE PAST
I HAVE BEFORE ME A REMARKABLE DOCUMENT GIVEN TO ME
BY A YOUNG LADY FROM RWANDA

Stiemke Theater
Previews: September 16 - 17, 2005 Opens: September 18, 2005 Closes: October 16

In this beautifully written contemporary play, playwright Sonja Linden takes her experiences working with Rwandan refugees at the Medical Foundation for the Care of Victims of Torture in London and transforms them into a story of hope and healing. Tickets for this production can be purchased in person at The Rep Ticket Office at 108 East Wells Street, or by phone at 414-224-9490. Tickets can also be purchased online 24/7 at www.milwaukeerep. com.

Juliette, a young Rwandan refugee of the 1994 anti-Tutsi genocide, finds solace through writing a book about her experiences as a survivor with the help of Simon, a middle-aged writer and poet, in London, England. While Juliette attempts to deal with intense flashbacks that she must face in order to finish her writing project, Simon, believing in her and her work, mentors her and gives
her direction. The two embark on a touching, heartfelt journey where each helps the other by connecting through the written word. Juliette learns how self-expression through writing can be a healing therapy to a victim of a horrific tragedy. Simon discovers that through helping a young writer learn to express herself, his own creative spark has been rekindled.

Playwright Sonja Linden grew up as a child of refugee parents of Nazi Germany. She is Writer-in-Residence at the Medical Foundation for Victims of Torture in London, the co-editor of anthologies of contemporary poetry, short stories and plays, and the Artistic Director of iceandfire theatre company in London. Other plays she has written include: PRESENT CONTINUOUS (1985), NOW AND AT THE HOUR OF OUR DEATH (1988) and THE STRANGE PASSENGER (1995), winner of an Edinburgh, Scotland, Fringe First Award.

In 1997 she started working at the Medical Foundation and began writing plays inspired by the refugees. The first play of this kind was THE JEWISH WIFE (1997). I HAVE BEFORE ME A REMARKABLE DOCUMENT GIVEN TO ME BY A YOUNG LADY FROM RWANDA (2002), winner of the Time Out and Metro Critic’s Choice, made its world premiere at the Burton-Taylor Studio Theatre in Oxford, London, during the Oxford Africa Week Festival in 2002. Recently, Linden completed a play titled CROCODILE SEEKING REFUGE (2005) and is working on the screenplay for I HAVE BEFORE ME A REMARKABLE DOCUMENT GIVEN TO ME BY A YOUNG LADY FROM RWANDA. Linden’s plays have been performed in the United Kingdom, America and Australia.

Director Laura Gordon has been a Resident Acting Company member at Milwaukee Repertory Theater for 13 years where she has appeared in over 50 productions. I HAVE BEFORE ME A REMARKABLE DOCUMENT GIVEN TO ME BY A YOUNG LADY FROM RWANDA is Gordon’s directing debut at The Rep. Some of her most memorable acting roles include Chris in DANCING AT LUGHNASA, Mamah Cheney in WORK SONG, Hannah Jarvis in ARCADIA, Elena in THE MAGIC FIRE, Mary in THE MEMORY OF WATER, Margrethe Bohr in COPENHAGEN, Molly in MOLLY SWEENY, Elizabeth in ESCAPE FROM HAPPINESS, Maureen in THE BEAUTY QUEEN OF LEENANE, Elizabeth Proctor in THE CRUCIBLE and Queen Elizabeth in MARY STUART. Last year she directed Renaissance Theaterworks’ production of SKIN TIGHT. Gordon is a member of the Board of Trustees of Ten Chimneys Foundation.

Resident Acting Company Members in I HAVE BEFORE ME A REMARKABLE DOCUMENT GIVEN TO ME BY A YOUNG LADY FROM RWANDA include Lee E. Ernst (Simon) and Lanise Antoine Shelley (Juliette).

(To learn more about our Resident Acting Company, Guest Actors and The Rep’s Artistic Internship Program, please visit our web site at www.milwaukeerep. com.)

The production/design team for I HAVE BEFORE ME A REMARKABLE DOCUMENT GIVEN TO ME BY A YOUNG LADY FROM RWANDA includes: Vicki R. Davis (Scenic & Costume Design); Darren W. McCroom (Lighting Design); Michael Keck (Composer); Whitney Frazier (Stage Manager); and Brian Cichocki (Assistant Director).

Tickets for I HAVE BEFORE ME A REMARKABLE DOCUMENT GIVEN TO ME BY A YOUNG LADY FROM RWANDA are $20, $30 and $40. Students and senior citizens may purchase half-price RUSH TICKETS with proper identification 30 minutes before curtain time for all Stiemke 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 tickets of 20 or more, call The Rep Ticket Office at 414-224-9490.

Special Events

-Join actor Lee E. Ernst for The Rep In Depth, which begins 45 minutes before curtain time before every performance in the Stiemke Theater.

-Join Director Laura Gordon on Monday, September 19 at 7:00 pm at the Downer Schwartz Bookshop. Laura will share her insights about this contemporary, beautifully written play. Bring your questions and join the discussion! The Schwartz Bookshop is located at 2559 N. Downer Avenue. For more info call: 414-332-1181.

-There will be low-priced preview performances at 8:00 on Friday, September 16 and 8:30 on Saturday, September 17.

-Talkbacks, post-performance discussions with the cast, will be held following the Wednesday evening performances on September 21, 28, October 5 and October 12.

-A Pay-What-You-Can performance where patrons can pay what they feel they can afford, will be held on Friday, September 16.

-On Thursday, September 29 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 Sunday, October 9.
For more information about The Rep’s Access Services, please contact The Rep Ticket Office at 414-224-9490.

Milwaukee Repertory Theater
I HAVE BEFORE ME A REMARKABLE DOCUMENT GIVEN TO ME BY A YOUNG LADY FROM RWANDA
By Sonja Linden

FACT SHEET

STAGE: Stiemke Theater
DATES: September 16, 2005 – October 16, 2006
DESCRIPTION: Juliette is a refugee who wants to document one of the great horrors of the twentieth century. Simon is a writer whose life is in a slump. In this touching new play, they meet across a teacher’s desk and discover they can help each other face their demons with humor and grace.

PERFORMANCES
Friday 9/16/05 8:00 p.m. Preview/Pay-What-You-Can
Saturday 9/17/05 8:30 p.m. Preview
Sunday 9/18/05 7:00 p.m. Opening

Tuesday 9/20/05 7:30 p.m.
Wednesday 9/21/05 7:30 p.m. Talkback
Thursday 9/22/05 7:30 p.m.
Friday 9/23/05 8:00 p.m.
Saturday 9/24/05 4:30/8:30 p.m.
Sunday 9/25/05 2:00/7:00 p.m.

Tuesday 9/27/05 6:30 p.m. Early Bird
Wednesday 9/28/05 7:30 p.m. Talkback
Thursday 9/29/05 7:30 p.m. Audio Description
Friday 9/30/05 8:00 p.m.
Saturday 10/1/05 4:30/8:30 p.m.
Sunday 10/2/05 2:00/7:00 p.m.

Wednesday 10/5/05 1:30/7:30 p.m. Talkback (7:30)
Thursday 10/6/05 7:30 p.m.
Friday 10/7/05 8:00 p.m.
Saturday 10/8/05 4:30/8:30 p.m.
Sunday 10/9/05 2:00/7:00 p.m. Interpreted (2:00)

Tuesday 10/11/05 7:30 p.m.
Wednesday 10/12/05 7:30 p.m. Talkback
Thursday 10/13/05 7:30 p.m.
Friday 10/14/05 8:00 p.m.
Saturday 10/15/05 4:30/8:30 p.m.
Sunday 10/16/06 2:00/7:00 p.m. 2:00 – Smoke-Free Sunday Matinee 7:00 – Close


TICKET PRICES:
PREVIEWS:$30 & $20
WEEKDAY/SUNDAY: $30 & $20
FRIDAY/SATURDAY: $40 & $30

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

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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 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 11 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, and a member of Theatre Wisconsin, the statewide association of non-profit professional theaters. 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
Patty & Jay Baker Theater Complex
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