Bloomington Center for the Arts 952-563-8575 1800 W Old Shakopee Rd artistrymn.org Bloomington, MN 55431
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Devon Cox, Associate Producer & Director of Theater Marketing 952-563-8564, [email protected]
Artistry Presents Thornton Wilder’s Classic Our Town, Opening September 6
(Bloomington, MN) Artistry to present Our Town by Thornton Wilder, taking place in the Schneider Theater September 6 - 29, 2019, directed by Benjamin McGovern.
One of the most enduring plays in American history, Thornton Wilder’s Pulitzer Prize-winning Our Town tells the story of Grover’s Corners, New Hampshire, and the simultaneously remarkable and quotidian lives of its inhabitants over the twelve long (and short) years from 1901 to 1913. Narrated by the omnipotent Stage Manager and anchored by the love story of young George Gibbs and Emily Webb, Our Town is a play about life: at once epic, ordinary, and fleeting. The New York Times writes: “Our Town presents a long-gone way of American life, yet the eternal verities it embraces are as touching as ever.” Benjamin McGovern, Artistry’s Artistic Director, will direct all productions in the 2019-2020 season. Before landing at Artistry in 2015, McGovern worked as a Director and Arts Administrator for many local companies, including the Guthrie Theater and Theatre de la Jeune Lune. Joining him as Associate Director for Our Town is Cristina Castro, who previously appeared at Artistry in Wit (Susie Monahan).
Veteran stage and screen actress Linda Kelsey (Stage Manager) is best known for her television work in Lou Grant, for which she earned three Golden Globe and five Emmy Award nominations. Her other T.V. credits include E.R., The Mary Tyler Moore Show, and M*A*S*H*. Kelsey has appeared on almost every major stage in the Twin Cities, including the Guthrie Theater, Jungle Theater, and Park Square —where she played the title role in Mary Stuart, among many others. Jelani Pitcher (George Gibbs) is the recent winner of Chicago’s Black Theatre Alliance Award for his work in Topdog/Underdog. Both he and Brianna Joy Ford (Emily Webb) are recent graduates of the B.F.A. program at Ithaca College. Ansa Akyea (Dr. Gibbs) is an accomplished actor with credits spanning from Steppenwolf Theatre to Penumbra, Ten Thousand Things, Children’s Theatre Company, and the Guthrie. He is also an affiliated writer at the Playwrights’ Center. All four actors make their Artistry debut in Our Town.
Artistry is an independent theater and visual arts nonprofit that serves a regional audience of more than 94,000 people annually. In pursuit of artistic excellence, Artistry engages our region’s most talented artists in work that welcomes and develops audiences and opens hearts and minds. Our vision: a diverse, distinctive, and progressive community widely recognized for making art and artists essential to a vibrant social fabric and civic life.
Our Town Fast Facts
Written by: Thornton Wilder Director: Benjamin McGovern Associate Director: Cristina Castro
For full creative team credits: https://artistrymn.org/our-town
CAST
Linda Kelsey* – The Stage Manager
Jelani Pitcher – George Gibbs Brianna Joy Ford – Emily Webb Ansa Akyea* – Dr. Gibbs Adelin Phelps – Mrs. Gibbs Jason Ballweber – Mr. Webb Elise Langer – Mrs. Webb Craig Johnson – Simon Stimson Patty Mathews – Mrs. Soames Catie Bair – Rebecca Gibbs Liam Beck-O’Sullivan – Wally Webb Emily Grodzik – Professor Willard Paul Rutledge – Constable warren Luke Davidson – Sam Craig Evan Latta – Howie Newsome Kellan Beck-O’Sullivan – Joe Crowell, Jr. Josh Bagley – Si Crowell France Roberts – Joe Stoddard
* Member of Actor’s Equity Association
Location: Schneider Theater in the Bloomington Center for the Arts 1800 W Old Shakopee Rd Bloomington, MN 5543
Admission: $17 - $46
Attached Photos: 1. Linda Kelsey as the Stage Manager 2. Jelani Pitcher, Brianna Joy Ford, Benjamin McGovern, Linda Kelsey 3. Brianna Joy Ford, Jelani Pitcher
For Tickets: Call the Artistry Box Office at 952-563-8575 Or go online at artistrymn.org/our-town
Our Town Performance Schedule
Tuesday, September 3 at 7:30pm (PWYC Preview) Thursday, September 5 at 7:30pm (Preview) Friday, September 6 at 7:30pm (Opening Night) Saturday, September 7 at 7:30pm Sunday, September 8 at 2:00pm Thursday, September 12 at 7:30pm Friday, September 13 at 7:30pm Saturday, September 14 at 7:30pm Sunday, September 15 at 2:00pm (Talk Back) Wednesday, September 18 at 7:30pm Thursday, September 19 at 7:30pm Friday, September 20 at 7:30pm Saturday, September 21 at 7:30pm Sunday, September 22 at 2:00pm (Talk Back) Wednesday, September 25 at 7:30pm Thursday, September 26 at 7:30pm Friday, September 27 at 7:30pm Saturday, September 28 at 7:30pm Sunday, September 29 at 2:00pm
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