FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Cindy Moran,
Public Relations Director, 414-224-1761
March 20, 2009
Not black. Not white. Just the blues.
I JUST STOPPED BY TO SEE THE MAN
By Stephen Jeffreys
Directed by Regge Life
Made possible in part by the generous support of:
Stiemke Theater
Previews: April 8 and
9, 2009 Opens: April
10, 2009 Closes: May 3, 2009
Set in the heart
of the Mississippi Delta, this tale of lost spirit and what it
takes to become whole again is a passionate ode to the power
and truth of the blues that spans races and generations. Jesse
Davidson, the greatest living bluesman, long believed dead, is
living in isolation with his activist daughter, when an English
rocker invades their solitude seeking the truth about the legend
and his own right to play the blues. This captivating work bridges the racial
divide of history, recognizing that music can heal the deepest pain and that
the blues live on despite the devil in each of us. 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.
Jesse “The Man” Davidson is a blues legend past his time.
A car crash took him out of the spotlight in shame and left the public thinking
he had met his end. Jesse let the rumors go unchallenged as his grief drove him
to the crossroads, seeking invisibility and isolation in the Mississippi Delta.
With only his daughter for company, he embraces a world of solitude, away from
the music that caused him so much pain. That is - until his music reaches farther
than he could have imagined in his days of playing small gigs and making barely
enough to get by - and now speaks to Karl, an English rocker. While on tour in
America, with his band days coming to an end, Karl decides to see for himself
if the rumors about Jesse are true. He makes his way into the Mississippi Delta
in hopes of finding his hero and resurrecting the music which gives him something
to live for, saving him from his drug addiction.
But Jesse is convinced his music, and his legend, are dead. Grief
has driven him to blame his music for his life’s misfortunes
and believe the legends that the blues is the music of the Devil.
It seems there is nothing Karl or Jesse’s daughter, Della,
can say to bring his music back to life. Karl and Della attempt
to push Jesse to see that the spirit of the music can heal him,
but Della’s persistence only lasts as long as her own fears
and secrets remain uncovered. Will Karl alone be enough to bring
the blues back to life in the white community, saving his own life
from his addictions and raising Jesse and his daughter from the
entrapment of their own grief and fear? Or is it true that the
spirit of the blues is no greater than an evil echo of pain? Karl’s
question to Jesse underscores this whole piece: “Is it better
to sing the blues but not to have them. Or to have the blues and
not to sing them?”
After the play’s premiere, The Sunday Times in
London called the piece, “. . . a fairy story about an
old blues singer; about resurrection, survival and nostalgia.
But, as usual with this writer, there is more to it than meets
the dewy eye . . . . This is a tough, sensitive play about values
and commitments, heads and hearts . . .”
Literary Director Kristin Crouch recently commented, “It was ‘the
Blues’ that
became a universal language for musicians of all races, colors and
generations to safely tell
their stories, and to exorcise their emotional demons. Through
the darkness and mystery of the music, myths and legends arose."
Stephen Jeffreys is an accomplished playwright,
screenwriter and teacher born in London in 1950 and author of more
than 20 professionally produced plays. He helped found Pocket Theatre
Cumbria, for whom he wrote a number of plays, including an adaptation
of Dickens' HARD TIMES in 1982. In 1994, Jeffrey published the
play THE LIBERTINE, about the 17th century poet John Wilmot, second
Earl of Rochester. The Libertine was recently released
as a film starring Johnny Depp, for which Jeffreys wrote the screenplay.
Jeffreys has won several awards for his plays, including the Sunday
Times Playwriting Award at the National Student Drama Festival
for LIKE DOLLS OR ANGELS (1977) and an Edinburgh Fringe Festival
Fringe First in 1984 for CARMEN 1936. He was a Literary Associate
at the Royal Court Theatre for several years. His latest work includes
the play LOST LAND, which premiered in the Steppenwolf Theatre
Company in Chicago in 2005, and an appearance in a UK television
documentary, The Play’s the Thing, teaching drama
writing. Jeffreys is married to director Annable Arden and has
two sons. I JUST STOPPED BY TO SEE THE MAN (2000) was
first staged at the Jerwood Theatre Downstairs in London, followed
by the Steppenwolf Theatre Company in Chicago (2002) and The Old
Globe in San Diego (2005).
Accomplished stage, movie and television Director Regge
Life will be directing for the first time with The Rep.
He recently directed GHOSTS at the Pearl Theatre Company and THE
PIANO LESSON at Virginia Stage Company. Other recent credits include:
GEM OF THE OCEAN and YELLOW MAN for the Pittsburgh Public Theater;
YELLOWMAN at Everyman Theatre in Baltimore (named Best Production
of 2004); LITTLE WOMEN for Cornell University and REBEL ARMIES
DEEP INTO CHAD, RIFF RAFF and AMERICAN CLOCK at The Juilliard School.
He also directed A WALK IN THE WOODS, RAISIN IN THE SUN, DRIVING
MS. DAISY and LOOKING OVER THE PRESIDENT’S SHOULDER for Capital
Repertory Theatre, Lorraine Hansberry Theatre in San Francisco,
Portland Stage Company and a second production of RAISIN IN THE
SUN featuring Yolanda King at Cornell University. Regge worked
on the world premieres of RUNAWAY HOME, HAMBONE and JITNEY at The
Studio Theatre in Washington, DC. He directed LIVING IN THE WIND
at The American Place Theatre along with DO LORD REMEMBER ME, the
theater’s longest-running show. He was given an Audelco Award
for the 20th anniversary production at the Sylvia and Danny Kaye
Theater. Regional credits include: FOR COLORED GIRLS WHO HAVE CONSIDERED
SUICIDE at the Pittsburgh Public Theater; New York and Chicago
premieres of DEADWOOD DICK LEGEND OF THE WEST; HAIL HAIL THE GANG
at Ensemble Studio Theatre; MANGO TANGO at the Public Theater;
THEY WERE ALL GARDENIAS at Theatre at St Clements; THE BUCK STOPS
HERE and THE PEANUT MAN for Amas Repertory Theatre; PERDIDO (featuring
Samuel L. Jackson) at Henry Street, GOIN’ A BUFFALO at Loeb
Drama Center; THE DEATH OF BOOGIE WOOGIE at Smith College and KERNEL
OF SANITY and HOUSE OF CARDS at the Eugene O’Neill Theater
Center Playwrights’ Conference. In film, Regge worked on Trading
Places starring Eddie Murphy and the epic Ragtime.
He produced and directed the indie film Reunion (starring
Academy Award-winner Denzel Washington), and the widely-acclaimed
AIDS awareness film, Seriously Fresh. He traveled to Japan
to produce Struggle and Success, Doubles and After
America . . . After Japan. In addition to his work in public
television, Regge wrote and produced Native Son (based
on the life and work of Richard Wright), as part of the Great Books
series for Discovery Networks. He has also served as Production
Executive and Director for The Cosby Show and Director for A
Different World, Sister Sister, Eve and Sesame Street.
The cast of I JUST STOPPED BY TO SEE THE MAN includes:
Resident Acting Company Member Lanise Antoine Shelley (Della).
Lanise recently appeared in The Rep’s production of EURYDICE.
Guest actors in this production are: Cedric Young(Jesse) and
Erik Hellman (Karl). They will both be
making their Rep debut.
(To learn more about our Resident Acting Company, Guest Actors
or our Intern Company, please visit www.milwaukeerep.com.)
(To read more about I JUST STOPPED BY TO SEE THE MAN,
please see The Rep's online publication Prologue go to milwaukeerep.com/enews/0809.)
(I JUST STOPPED BY TO SEE THE MAN production photos
will be posted at milwaukeerep.com/about/photos.htm.)
The Production/Design Team for I JUST STOPPED BY TO SEE
THE MAN includes: Debra Booth (Scenic
Designer); Jason Fassl (Lighting Designer); Rachel
Laritz (Costume Designer); Regge Life (Director/Sound
Designer), Claire Simon (Chicago Casting Director), Mark
S. Sahba (Stage Manager) and Tina Myers (Assistant
Director).
Tickets to I JUST STOPPED BY TO SEE THE MAN range
in price from $20.00 – $45.00. 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 10 or more, call The Rep Ticket Office at 414-224-9490.
New This Year! - Under 40 Discount
For patrons under the age of 40, select Quadracci Powerhouse and
Stiemke Theater tickets are available for $10. Go to therep-entourage.com to
order tickets. (Under 40 tickets are based on availability.)
Special Events for I JUST STOPPED BY TO SEE THE MAN:
• This Rep In Depth will be lead by Resident
Acting Company Member Lanise Antoine Shelley.
• On Thursday, April 23 at 7:30 pm there
will be an Audio-Described Performance for patrons who are blind or have low
vision.
•The Rep Talkbacks will be held after the Thursday
evening performances on April 16, April 23 and April
30. 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.
• On Thursday, April 30 at 7:30
pm there will be an American Sign Language Interpreted Performance
for patrons who are deaf or have low hearing.
• Pay-What-You-Can dates for this production are Wednesday, April
8 and Thursday, April 9 at 7:30 p.m. Here is your chance to experience
some of Milwaukee’s best live theater at a price you can afford.
A $5.00 minimum donation is suggested. Stiemke performances start at 7:30 pm;
Tickets go on sale at 5:30 pm on the day of the performance. All performances
are held in the Stiemke Theater located in the Milwaukee Center at 108 E. Wells
Street. For more information call The Rep’s Ticket Office at 414-224-9490.
Not black. Not white. Just the blues.
I JUST STOPPED BY TO SEE THE MAN
By Stephen Jeffreys
Directed by Regge Life
Made possible in part by the generous support of:
FACT SHEET
THEATER: Stiemke Theater
DATES: April 8 – May 3, 2009
DESCRIPTION: Set in the heart of the Mississippi
Delta, this tale of lost spirit and what it takes to become whole
again is a passionate ode to the power and truth of the blues that
spans races and generations. Jesse Davidson, the greatest living
bluesman, long believed dead, is living in isolation with his activist
daughter, when an English rocker invades their solitude seeking
the truth about the legend and his own right to play the blues.
This captivating work bridges the racial divide of history, recognizing
that music can heal the deepest pain and the blues live on despite
the devil in each of us.
PERFORMANCES:
Wednesday, 4/8/09 - 7:30 p.m. - Preview/Pay-What-You-Can
Thursday, 4/9/09 - 7:30 p.m. - Preview/Pay-What-You-Can
Friday, 4/10/09 - 8:00 p.m. - Open
Saturday, 4/11/09 - 4:00/8:00 p.m.
Sunday, 4/12/09 - 2:00/7:00 p.m.
Tuesday, 4/14/09 - 7:30 p.m.
Wednesday, 4/15/09 - 7:30 p.m.
Thursday, 4/16/09 - 7:30 p.m. - Talkback
Friday, 4/17/09 - 8:00 p.m.
Saturday, 4/18/09 - 4:00/8:00 p.m.
Sunday, 4/19/09 - 2:00/7:00 p.m.
Wednesday, 4/22/09 - 1:30/7:30 p.m.
Thursday, 4/23/09 - 7:30 p.m. - Audio Description/Talkback
Friday, 4/24/09 - 8:00 p.m.
Saturday, 4/25/09 - 4:00/8:00 p.m.
Sunday, 4/26/09 - 2:00/7:00 p.m.
Tuesday, 4/28/09 - 6:30 p.m. - Early
Wednesday, 4/29/09 - 7:30 p.m.
Thursday, 4/30/09 - 7:30 p.m. - Interpreted/Talkback
Friday, 5/1/09 - 8:00 p.m.
Saturday, 5/2/09 - 4:00/8:00 p.m.
Sunday, 5/3/09 - 2:00/7:00 p.m. - 2:00 - Smoke-Free/7:00 - Close
TICKET PRICES:
PREVIEWS: $20.00 & $30.00
WEEKDAY/SUNDAY: $25.00 & $35.00
FRIDAY/SATURDAY: $35.00 & $45.00
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
###
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. Through
community support of the United Performing Arts Fund, UPAF
Member and Affiliate Groups are able to provide education
and outreach to over 400,000 children, provide over 2,000
live performances and reach over 1,000,000 people every year.
When everyone supports the arts through UPAF, they help our
local economy, improving education and strengthening outreach
programs to the disabled and elderly – all while adding
culture to their own life. Support of UPAF is critical to
UPAF Member Groups’ ability
to continue to offer exceptional live performances, award-winning
education and outreach programming and substantial economic
impact to our region. To learn more about UPAF or to donate,
go to www.upaf.org.
The Rep is supported in part by a grant
from the Wisconsin Arts Board with funds from the state of
Wisconsin. 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 Theatre 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
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