FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Media Alert for Theatre Editors, Reviewers and Calendar Listings

Chance Theater presents the Orange County premiere of Yellowman This hard-hitting 2002 Pulitzer Finalist looks at the subject of racism within the black community and the obstacles it raises for women and men of color.

January 7, 2020 Anaheim, California Chance Theater, Anaheim’s official resident theater company, presents the … … Orange County premiere of Yellowman, an exquisite and provocative exploration of racism within the Black community. ​ ​

A celebration of language and the human spirit, Yellowman is a multi-character memory play about Alma, an ​ ​ African-American woman who dreams of life beyond the confines of her small town Southern upbringing, and Eugene, the light-skinned black man whose fate is tragically intertwined with hers.

Directed by Oanh Nguyen, Yellowman previews April 24 through May 1, 2020, with regular performances running May 2 ​ ​ to May 24 on the Fyda-Mar Stage at the Bette Aitken theater arts Center. ​ ​

Playwright Dael Orlandersmith’s drama looks at the lives of lifelong friends Alma and Eugene, whose different skin colors raise obstacles that become insurmountable when their friendship turns to love. Are we on the inside what we appear to be on the outside? Are we ultimately victims of the biases and prejudices of our parents, and our community, no matter what color our skin?

“A landmark in theater history Enthralling Mind-altering.” -- … … ​ “Both a celebration of young love and a harrowing study of smoldering domestic violence, the play is both heartwarming and ultimately heartbreaking.” – Variety ​ “It’s a play worth standing for.” – Star-Ledger ​ “This is a wonderful play.” – CurtainUp ​ “One of the most gripping, instructive, transforming hours in contemporary theater.” -- The Times (Trenton, NJ) ​

One of the most intriguing aspects of Orlandersmith’s script is that the play only features two actors who portray all of the story’s characters, often switching between characters within the same scenes. This challenge, combined with the play’s content, presents two dynamic acting roles, requiring multifaceted performers.

The play premiered Off-Broadway at the on October 1, 2002, in previews and closed on December 15, 2002, directed by Blanka Zizka and starring playwright Orlandersmith as Alma and Howard W. Overshown

OC premiere of YELLOWMAN starts April 24 at Chance Theater page 1 of 3 as Eugene. Regional theater engagements prior to the Off-Broadway production included those at the McCarter Theatre (January 2002), Wilma Theatre in Philadelphia (Feb. and March, 2002), the Long Wharf Theatre in New Haven, Conn. (April to May 2002) and Seattle’s ACT Theatre (July and Aug., 2002).

The play was a Finalist for the 2002 Pulitzer Prize for Drama, and Orlandersmith won the Susan Smith Blackburn Prize. The Wilma Theatre production won Philadelphia Barrymore Awards for Outstanding New Play, with Orlandersmith winning Outstanding Leading Actress in a Play. Yellowman also received three nominations for ​ ​ Outstanding Play, Outstanding Actress in a Play (Orlandersmith) and Outstanding Lighting Design (Russell H. Champa).

Chance Theater Artistic Director Oanh Nguyen, director of Chance’s upcoming production, says the play is “driven by vivid language and cathartic observation” and that it’s “as significant today as it ever was. This beautifully lyrical drama celebrates storytelling and the human spirit while it struggles to answer the question, ‘How do we keep from being victims of the biases and prejudices of our family, friends and community?’”

MEET THE TEAM Dael Orlandersmith (playwright): is an actress, poet and playwright known for her Obie Award-winning 1995 play ​ Beauty’s Daughter as well as the 2002 Pulitzer Prize finalist Yellowman. Her lengthy list of plays include Monster, The ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Gimmick, Raw Boys, Stoop Stories, Horsedreams, Forever, and Until the Flood. ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​

Oanh Nguyen (director) has been serving as Chance Theater’s founding artistic director since the theater company’s ​ inception in 1999. He’s a recipient of TCG’s New Generations Grant and the TCG Nathan Cummings Young Leaders of Color Fellowship. He’s been award the Outstanding Artist Award by Arts Orange County, profiled in Orange County Register’s “Most Influential People” series and OC Weekly’s People issue, inducted into Anaheim High School’s Hall of ​ ​ Fame, and has been a commencement speaker at Chapman University’s College of Performing Arts. He has served as a producing associate at South Coast Repertory and on the advisory board of the Anaheim High School Performing Arts Conservatory, the board of Network of Ensemble Theatres, Los Angeles’ 99-seat Transitional Committee, and the OC Theatre Guild as well as various panels and committees for the Stage Directors and Choreographers Society, the National Endowment for the Arts, and the Theatre Communications Group, and is a proud member of SDC and SAG-AFTRA. Oanh’s directing credits include productions at Chance Theater, East West Players, the J. Paul Getty Museum, Segerstrom Center for the Arts, South Coast Repertory, Chapman University, Azusa Pacific University, AMDA and CSU Fullerton, and he served as the associate director for the international tour of ’s Chinglish (Berkeley ​ ​ Repertory, South Coast Repertory, Hong Kong Arts Festival). Select film credits include “Two Brothers,” “Rush Hour 3” and “Lonely Boy.”

Joining Nguyen on the production team are Kristin Campbell (scenic designer), Jean-Yves Tessier (lighting designer), ​ ​ ​ ​ Wendell C. Carmichael (costume designer), Darryl B. Hovis (sound designer), and Jocelyn L. Buckner (dramaturg). ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ The Executive Producers for this production are Rachelle Menaker & Eddie Schuller, and Bette & Wylie Aitken are the ​ ​ ​ ​ Season Producers for the entire 2020 Season.

To schedule press interviews, arrange for press comps, request press photos, or for any additional information regarding this production, please contact Casey Long, the Chance’s managing director, at 714-900-3284 or [email protected]. ​

OC premiere of YELLOWMAN starts April 24 at Chance Theater page 2 of 3 ABOUT CHANCE THEATER Proud to be one of the leading ensemble-driven theatre companies in Southern California, CHANCE THEATER has received the National Theatre Company grant from American Theatre Wing for “nurturing a community of artists in ways that strengthen and demonstrate the quality, diversity, and dynamism of American theatre.” The Chance has won six Ovation Awards, including two for Best Production of a Musical – Intimate Theater for its West Coast premiere of Triassic Parq – The Musical and Southern California premiere of Jerry Springer – The Opera, as well as four LADCC ​ ​ ​ Awards, including the Polly Warfield Award for Outstanding Season. The Anaheim City Council named Chance Theater “the Official Resident Theater Company of Anaheim” in 2014, and Arts Orange County has twice named the Chance as “Outstanding Arts Organization.” Known for using bold and personal storytelling to promote dialogue and connection within the Southern California theatrical landscape, the Chance is committed to contributing to a more compassionate, connected and creative community. As a constituent member of Theatre Communications Group, Orange County Theatre Guild, and LA Stage Alliance, Chance Theater continues to bring national attention to the Southern California and Orange County theater scenes.

CALENDAR LISTING

WHAT: Yellowman ​ Yellowman is a celebration of language and the human spirit. It’s an exquisite and provocative exploration of racism ​ within the Black community. Alma, a dark-skinned African-American woman, and her childhood friend Eugene, a light skinned African-American man, have been life-long friends — yet when their friendship turns to love, the different colors of their skin raise obstacles that become insurmountable. Are we on the inside what we appear to be on the outside? Are we ultimately victims of the biases and prejudices of our parents, our community, no matter what color our skin? Recommendation: Ages 13 and up. Contains adult language and subject material.

WHEN: Preview Performances: Apr. 24 - May 1, 2020. Fridays and Saturday at 7:45 p.m., Sunday at 7 p.m. ​

Regular performances: May 2 - 24, 2020. ​ Fridays at 7:45 p.m., Saturdays at 2:45 p.m. and 7:45 p.m., Sundays at 2:45 p.m. NOTE: There will be a special performance on Thursday, May 7th at 7:30 p.m.

REVIEWERS and OTHER PRESS PERSONNEL are encouraged to attend: Press Night Performance on Friday, May 1 at 7:45 p.m.

WHERE: Chance Theater @ Bette Aitken theater arts Center ​ ​ on the Fyda-Mar Stage 5522 E. La Palma Ave., Anaheim, CA 92807

TICKETS: $20.00 - $39.00. Call (888) 455-4212 or visit www.ChanceTheater.com. Discounts available for seniors, students and military.

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OC premiere of YELLOWMAN starts April 24 at Chance Theater page 3 of 3