News Release Virginia Repertory Theatre For Immediate Release Date: January 27, 2015 Contact: Susan Davenport Director of Communications Virginia Repertory Theatre [email protected] 804-513-8211 804-783-1688 Ext 1133 Virginia Rep Announces the Opening of The Whipping Man by Matthew Lopez Community Partners include the American Civil War Museum, Weinstein Jewish Community Center and Black History Museum and Cultural Center Richmond, VA – Virginia Repertory Theatre announces the opening of The Whipping Man, by Matthew Lopez at the Sara Belle and Neil November Theatre, 114 West Broad Street on Friday, February 13 with a preview on Thursday, February 12. The show runs through March 8, 2015. This production of The Whipping Man is part of the Acts of Faith Theatre Festival. Set in Richmond, Virginia, in April of 1865, The Whipping Man tells the story of a young rebel officer who returns to his home, only to find it in ruins and occupied by two suddenly freed household slaves. Untended wounds threaten their calm as they struggle to find common ground amidst the ashes of a fallen city. Artistic Director, Bruce Miller talked about the timing of this production. “Virginia Rep is proud to stage this production to commemorate the Sesquicentennial of the Civil War. When I first spoke to the playwright several years ago, I knew we had to do this play, but I wanted it to coincide with the citywide celebrations. Not only does it give us a glimpse into some of the most important days in our country’s history, but it tells a unique story through the lens of a Jewish family.” Director Debra Clinton makes her directing debut at Virginia Rep and shares her thoughts on the show, “The Whipping Man is the story of our struggle to belong to a community: as people of Richmond, the South, and as people of faith. It reminds us of both the cost and the responsibility of freedom, both as individuals and as Americans.” Previous acting appearances with Virginia Rep include Fiddler on the Roof and The Sound of Music. This year marks Clinton's eighth season as the artistic director of the Jewish Family Theatre at the Weinstein Jewish Community Center. She is the recipient of the Theresa Pollack Award for Excellence in Theatre in 2013. Virginia Rep welcomes back Max Eddy in the role of Caleb. Eddy was last seen at Virginia Rep as Ken in RED. New York credits include Moments under the direction of Moises Kaufman, Oliver! under the direction of Lear DeBessonet, Much Ado About Nothing (Smith Street Stage), Midsummer Night's Dream (Hudson Warehouse), and Giant Killer Slugs (Pipeline). Regional credits include Arcadia (The Lantern Theatre Co.), Hannah (Premiere Stages), Richard II, The Learned Ladies, and Taming of the Shrew (Shakespeare Theater of New Jersey). Jerold Solomon returns to the November stage as Simon. He was recently seen as Mister in the summer musical hit, The Color Purple. Solomon was recently in the Broadway production of South Pacific at Lincoln Center and the Off-Broadway production of Bare. National tours include Ragtime, Big River, and Annie. Regional credits include Once On This Island and 25th Annual Putnum Spelling Bee (Paper Mill) and Cutman (Goodspeed). TV/Film credits include 30 Rock, Law and Order, Kings (NBC) and The Unusuals (ABC). Taamu Wuya makes his Virginia Rep debut in the role of John. New York credits include Titus Andronicus, Henry V under the Direction of Padraic Lillis, and Henry IV Part II. Regional credits include Miss Saigon (Best Supporting Actor in a Musical nominee for the 2014 Denver Broadway World Awards), Gallery Players, Midtown Arts Center, Endstation Theatre and Alluvion Stage Theatre. Set designer Kat Conley is based in Atlanta, Georgia, and has designed scenery for Arena Stage, The Kennedy Center, The Alliance Theater, Marin Theatre Company, Kenny Leon’s True Colors Theatre, Orlando Shakespeare, Virginia Stage, Georgia Shakespeare, the Atlanta Ballet, Actor’s Express, The Center for Puppetry Arts, 7 Stages, and Theatrical Outfit, among others. She is an Associate Artist with both Georgia Shakespeare and Actor’s Express. For the past 15 seasons Kat has also served as the Charge Scenic Artist for the Alliance Theater. Costume designer M. Giselle Carrillo is currently in her last semester as a BFA candidate in Costume Design at Virginia Commonwealth University. She has worked in a variety of costume shops across the nation from New Orleans to Louisiana. BJ Wilkinson returns as the lighting designer. Recent credits include The Charitable Sisterhood and They’re Playing Our Song for Virginia Rep, as well as Richard III, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Wittenberg, Death and the Maiden, Comedy of Errors, Othello, The Tempest, King John, MacBeth, Cybeline, and Merry wives of Windsor for Richmond Shakespeare/Henley Street. Student Matinees Middle and high school matinees will take place on February 19 and 26 at 10:30 a.m. Tickets are $14 and include a talkback with the cast and Cathy Wright, curator at the American Civil War Museum. Act of Faith On Sunday, February 22, Virginia Rep will host a panel discussion following the 2:00 p.m. performance. The panel will include representatives from the American Civil War Museum and the Jewish Community. Four Thoughts 1:30 p.m. on Sundays The new Four Thoughts discussion series will continue on Sundays 30 minutes prior to the performance. Experts from the American Civil War Museum will present four thoughts or ideas that provide context to the play. Open to public. No reservation needed. February 15 Waite Rawls, Co-CEO American Civil War Museum February 22 Waite Rawls, Co-CEO American Civil War Museum March 1 Christy Coleman, Co-CEO American Civil War Museum March 8 Waite Rawls, Co-CEO American Civil War Museum Ticket Information Box Office 804-282-2620 www.virginiarep.org Full Price Tickets: $38 - $46 Discounted Group Rates and Rush tickets available. U-Tix for college and high school students $10. Available by phone or in person day of show only. Student ID required. The Sara Belle and Neil November Theatre is equipped with a new state-of the-art induction loop hearing system that is compatible with all telecoil-equipped hearing aids and cochlear implants. A handheld receiver and headphone system is also available free of charge for anyone who is hearing impaired. Valet parking is available for $8 at all performances and free self-parking is available within two blocks of the theatre. Press Kits Available at http://va-rep.org/press.html Pass code accessible Hi Res photos available to media. username = press password = HiRes121 Evening performances at 7:00 p.m. on 7:00 p.m. on select Wednesdays and every Thursday, 8:00 p.m. Friday and Saturday Matinee performances at 2:00 p.m. on Sunday and select Wednesdays and Saturdays Direction & Design Director Debra Clinton Scenic Designer Kat Conley Lighting Designer BJ Wilkinson Costume Designer M. Giselle Carrillo Stage Manager Rick Brandt* Cast List Caleb Max Eddy* John Taamu Wuya* Simon Jerold Solomon* * Member of Actors’ Equity Association, the union of professional actors and stage managers in the U.S.A. About Virginia Repertory Theatre Virginia Repertory Theatre, located in Richmond, VA, combines the talents and strengths of two nonprofit companies that shared facilities, resources, and management teams for over a decade. Now the heritages of Barksdale Theatre (founded in 1953) and Theatre IV (founded in 1975) live on in their new form, as Central Virginia’s leading professional theater company. Virginia Rep presents national caliber productions of the great dramas, comedies, and musicals as well as classics, contemporary works, and world premieres, always seeking to demonstrate the unique power of theater to engage, enthrall, educate, and inspire. Productions are staged at four distinct venues: the Sara Belle and Neil November Theatre and Theatre Gym at the downtown Virginia Rep Center, Virginia Rep’s Children’s Theatre located at Willow Lawn, and at Hanover Tavern, home to Virginia Rep’s Barksdale Season. Corporate Sponsors Virginia Rep is grateful for the support from Altria, The E. Rhodes and Leona B. Carpenter Foundation, Shubert Foundation, Virginia Commission for the Arts, the National Endowment for the Arts, The Richmond Times- Dispatch, Richmond.com and Community Idea Stations. Partial funding is also made possible from the Muriel McAuley Fund for New Works and Contemporary Theatre. .