Two Trains Running at Seattle Rep Encore Arts Seattle
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JANUARY 2018 JANUARY 12 - FEBRUARY 11, 2018 2017/18 SEASON THE ODYSSEY | PRIDE AND PREJUDICE | THE HUMANS | TWO TRAINS RUNNING IBSEN IN CHICAGO | HERSHEY FELDER AS IRVING BERLIN | THE GREAT LEAP | FAMILIAR | MAC BETH January 2018 Volume 37, No. 4 FROM THE ARTISTIC DIRECTOR Over the last three decades, many thought-provoking new works have started at Seattle Rep through our New Play Program. Four playwrights Paul Heppner Publisher featured this season—Kate Hamill (Pride and Prejudice), Lauren Yee Susan Peterson BOARD OF TRUSTEES (The Great Leap), Erica Schmidt (Mac Beth), and David Grimm (Ibsen in Design & Production Director Chicago)—have developed their plays with us in the last couple of years. John Keegan Terri Olson Miller Ana Alvira, Robin Kessler, Chair Chair Emeritus Stevie VanBronkhorst As a fundamental part of this rich legacy, we take great pride in our long Production Artists and Graphic Design Earle J. Hereford Stellman Keehnel President President Elect collaboration with August Wilson and his Century Cycle of plays. From Mike Hathaway the 1980s through the early 2000s, Seattle Rep produced every play in Sales Director Amy Bautista Kevin Millison Vice President/Treasurer Vice President the Cycle, many of them premieres, and we were the first theatre in the Brieanna Bright, Joey Chapman, country to produce his solo play How I Learned What I Learned. The last Ann Manning Elizabeth Choy, M.D. Becky Lenaburg Seattle Area Account Executives Vice President Secretary time the Rep produced Two Trains Running was in 1991 with the world premiere production shared by three regional theatres where August Amelia Heppner, Marilyn Kallins, Terri Reed Adam Cornell San Francisco/Bay Area Account Executives Vice President honed the play before it landed on Broadway. Carol Yip † Sales Coordinator Braden Abraham Winky Hussey Two Trains Running is rooted in history, imbued with the dramatic forces Clodagh Ash Bruce E.H. Johnson that shaped the Pittsburgh Hill District community in the late 1960s. Susan Ashmun Deborah T. Killinger Lynne Bush Gwenann Kroon The parallels to our own times are strikingly familiar. Every day in the Debra A. Canales Rachel Lerman news, we see ingrained patterns of systemic racism and sexism thrust Tamra Chandler Marko Liias Leah Baltus out into the open. But as a testament to Wilson’s genius, Two Trains Editor-in-Chief Donna M. Cochener Charlotte Lin Running’s nod to our Civil Rights history is never overt. His plays resonate Diane Cody† Marcella McCaffray APRIL 19 - MAY 13, 2018 Andy Fife because of a more elemental quality. What we see through his poetry Jim Copacino Sandy McDade 206.938.0339 | ARTSWEST.ORG Publisher Tracy Daw Rick McMichael and close observation is a group of people trying to make sense of their 4711 CALIFORNIA AVE SW, SEATTLE WA 98116 Dan Paulus Brent Deim Glenna Olson particular situation in a moment in time, striving to make something of Art Director Dottie Delaney† Rebecca Pomering themselves and take action to clear the considerable obstacles in their Gemma Wilson, Jonathan Zwickel Mark Dickison* Anita Ramasastry Senior Editors path. The diner, rendered beautifully in Misha Kachman’s set for our new Juli Farris Tim Rattigan production, is a gathering place for both solace and confrontation; a place Amanda Manitach Karen Fletcher Richard B. Stead, M.D. Visual Arts Editor where these characters find connection and ask the existential questions FREE Edie Harding Marisa Walker Jeffrey Herrmann† Nancy Ward of how they can be true to themselves. Nancy Hochman Tom Wright August’s writing inspired a generation of actors and directors devoted to his TRUSTEES EMERITI work. Our new production of Two Trains Running, produced in collaboration Paul Heppner Nancy Alvord* Robert L. King, Jr. Dorothy L. Simpson with our esteemed colleagues at Arena Stage in Washington D.C., is helmed President Pam Anderson H.L. (Skip) Kotkins, Jr. Carlyn Steiner by Juliette Carrillo, a visionary director and frequent guest artist here at the Robert S. Cline Lynn Manley Janet True Mike Hathaway Bill Gates, Sr. Ilse Oles James F. Tune Rep. Leading an exceptional cast, Juliette is part of a new generation of Vice President John Hempelmann Ann Ramsay-Jenkins Jean Viereck directors interpreting August’s plays, making for an exciting new chapter in Genay Genereux Toni Hoffman Deborah Rosen Jill Watkins Brent Johnson Stanley Savage Shauna Woods Accounting & Office Manager our long history with the brilliant playwright’s work. Sara Keats ADVISORY COUNCIL Marketing Manager August’s voice is part of our theatre. We’re reminded of him by the iconic Sheetal Agarwal Donte Felder Anthony Shoecraft door on August Wilson Way at the southwest corner of our building, and Shaun Swick David Alhadeff Carver Gayton Paul Stamnes Senior Designer & Digital Lead Kenny Alhadeff Tiffany Gorton Marty Taucher imagine him sitting in a booth at the Mecca Cafe down the street—one Marleen Alhadeff Mary Kay Haggard Jane Zalutsky Barry Johnson Rick DuPree Chris Kevorkian of his frequented spots in Seattle where he used to hang out and write. Digital Engagement Specialist Joanne Euster David Schneiderman It’s a privilege to further the Rep’s mission of supporting the most Ciara Caya exciting writers of our time and to be able to say, as with the plays of the HONORARY TRUSTEES Customer Service Representative & legendary August Wilson, this is a place where great works are born. Administrative Assistant Chap Alvord Nancy Mertel Richard Weisman Bill Franklin Robin Nelson Corporate Office Phil McCune Tammy Talman AVE INSPIRED. 425 North 85th Street Seattle, WA 98103 E p 206.443.0445 f 206.443.1246 [email protected] SRT FOUNDATION BOARD 800.308.2898 x105 Bruce E.H. Johnson Alta Barer Earle J. Hereford† www.encoremediagroup.com Chairman Amy Bautista† John Keegan† ARRIVE CURIOUS. L TUESDAYSATURDAY, AMPM Braden Abraham Carlyn Steiner Margaret Clapp Elizabeth D. Rudolf NEXT TO SEATTLE CENTER FIFTH AVENUE NORTH Encore Arts Programs is published monthly by Encore Media Vice-Chairman Allan Davis Janet True Artistic Director Group to serve musical and theatrical events in the Puget DISCOVERGATES.ORG DISCOVERGATES Sound and San Francisco Bay Areas. All rights reserved. ©2018 Encore Media Group. Reproduction * deceased † ex-officio without written permission is prohibited. 2 FROM THE ARTISTIC DIRECTOR Over the last three decades, many thought-provoking new works have started at Seattle Rep through our New Play Program. Four playwrights featured this season—Kate Hamill (Pride and Prejudice), Lauren Yee BOARD OF TRUSTEES (The Great Leap), Erica Schmidt (Mac Beth), and David Grimm (Ibsen in Chicago)—have developed their plays with us in the last couple of years. John Keegan Terri Olson Miller Chair Chair Emeritus As a fundamental part of this rich legacy, we take great pride in our long Earle J. Hereford Stellman Keehnel President President Elect collaboration with August Wilson and his Century Cycle of plays. From the 1980s through the early 2000s, Seattle Rep produced every play in Amy Bautista Kevin Millison Vice President/Treasurer Vice President the Cycle, many of them premieres, and we were the first theatre in the country to produce his solo play How I Learned What I Learned. The last Elizabeth Choy, M.D. Becky Lenaburg Vice President Secretary time the Rep produced Two Trains Running was in 1991 with the world premiere production shared by three regional theatres where August Adam Cornell Vice President honed the play before it landed on Broadway. † Braden Abraham Winky Hussey Two Trains Running is rooted in history, imbued with the dramatic forces Clodagh Ash Bruce E.H. Johnson that shaped the Pittsburgh Hill District community in the late 1960s. Susan Ashmun Deborah T. Killinger Lynne Bush Gwenann Kroon The parallels to our own times are strikingly familiar. Every day in the Debra A. Canales Rachel Lerman news, we see ingrained patterns of systemic racism and sexism thrust Tamra Chandler Marko Liias out into the open. But as a testament to Wilson’s genius, Two Trains Donna M. Cochener Charlotte Lin Running’s nod to our Civil Rights history is never overt. His plays resonate Diane Cody† Marcella McCaffray because of a more elemental quality. What we see through his poetry Jim Copacino Sandy McDade Tracy Daw Rick McMichael and close observation is a group of people trying to make sense of their Brent Deim Glenna Olson particular situation in a moment in time, striving to make something of Dottie Delaney† Rebecca Pomering themselves and take action to clear the considerable obstacles in their Mark Dickison* Anita Ramasastry path. The diner, rendered beautifully in Misha Kachman’s set for our new Juli Farris Tim Rattigan production, is a gathering place for both solace and confrontation; a place Karen Fletcher Richard B. Stead, M.D. where these characters find connection and ask the existential questions Edie Harding Marisa Walker Jeffrey Herrmann† Nancy Ward of how they can be true to themselves. Nancy Hochman Tom Wright August’s writing inspired a generation of actors and directors devoted to his TRUSTEES EMERITI work. Our new production of Two Trains Running, produced in collaboration Nancy Alvord* Robert L. King, Jr. Dorothy L. Simpson with our esteemed colleagues at Arena Stage in Washington D.C., is helmed Pam Anderson H.L. (Skip) Kotkins, Jr. Carlyn Steiner by Juliette Carrillo, a visionary director and frequent guest artist here at the Robert S. Cline Lynn Manley Janet True Bill Gates, Sr. Ilse Oles James F. Tune Rep. Leading an exceptional cast, Juliette is part of a new generation of John Hempelmann Ann Ramsay-Jenkins Jean Viereck Toni Hoffman Deborah Rosen Jill Watkins directors interpreting August’s plays, making for an exciting new chapter in Brent Johnson Stanley Savage Shauna Woods our long history with the brilliant playwright’s work.