RED to Play Dallas Theater Center, Feb 7-March 24

Dallas Theater Center welcomes North Texans into the studio of artist Mark Rothko in the Texas premiere of Tony Award-winning Red, directed by DTC associate artistic director Joel Ferrell. This production turns the 9th floor of the Dee and Charles Wyly Theatre into Rothko's studio and gives audience members an intimate look at the brilliant and volatile artist as he undertakes a new commission. This show also marks the first production-specific collaboration between DTC and the Dallas Museum of Art, which will provide patrons and visitors the opportunity to learn about the world of Rothko by seeing the play at DTC, viewing original works of art by Rothko and his contemporaries at the DMA and engaging in special events about the work with both organizations. Red opens with preview performances on Thursday, February 7 and runs through Sunday, March 24 and is the first show ever to be performed on the 9th floor of the Wyly Theatre. Tickets for Red are on sale now at www.DallasTheaterCenter.org or by phone at (214) 880-0202.

"DTC's production of Red is a truly unique theatrical experience, from the collaborative partnership with the Dallas Museum of Art to the exploration of a unique, immersive theatrical design that will place the audience up close and personal with great actors playing great roles" says DTC artistic director Kevin Moriarty. "The dialogue sparked by this production will extend outside the walls of the Wyly Theatre and continue at the DMA and in the surrounding community."

Brierley Resident Acting Company member Kieran Connolly (The Elaborate Entrance of Chad Deity, Next Fall, Dividing the Estate) stars as the temperamental Rothko, who is in the process of painting a series of murals set to appear in New York's exclusive Four Seasons restaurant. Making his DTC debut is Jordan Brodess as Ken, Rothko's new and boldly skeptical assistant.

"The very nature of John Logan's story-a man questioning what it means to be an artist and his place in history-allows the audience an intimate experience with this artistic giant," says Ferrell. "This play depicts a person who consistently felt marginalized and underappreciated, a person whose terrifying presence was likely the result of the great amount of tragedy in his life. Rothko communicated this in his work and, as a result, his paintings require close, uncomfortable inspection. We have created that feeling for the audience by placing them in the action of Rothko's studio. Patrons will have no choice but to focus on and deal with Rothko's inner turmoil."

Bob Lavallee (The Second City Does Dallas; Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, A Christmas Carol) created a studio space in which there is no clear delineation between the playing space and the audience space. From the moment patrons enter the 9th floor, they will be immersed in the artist's studio. The physical elements of the set will include the ceiling, walls and floors of the performance space and will not be limited to a standard proscenium or thrust arrangement. Working with Lavallee are Jennifer Ables, Aaron Johansen and Nate Flanagan on costume design, lighting design and sound design, respectively.

DTC is also working with neighboring Arts District organization, the DMA, in an exciting collaboration, which includes public events and pre and post show learning opportunities beginning with an Arts & Letters Live program on January 17. Other elements of the collaboration include Red InDepth, a four-hour afternoon seminar on Saturday, February 23, which will take place at both the Wyly Theatre and the DMA, and DTC's Come Early and Stay Late programs.

Red begins previews on Thursday, February 7 at 7:30pm with a Pay-What-You-Can performance. Tickets to this performance will be available for purchase online at www.DallasTheaterCenter.org beginning Friday, February 1. Any unsold tickets to the PWYC performance will be available for purchase at the Wyly Theatre box office the night of the show. DTC's Come Early sponsored by Wells Fargo will take place one hour before every performance. Patrons will have the opportunity to learn about the play prior to viewing the production. DTC's Dr. Pepper Snapple Stay Late will take place after each performance. Patrons will have the opportunity to engage with artists, learn about the production and share insights about the play in a lively discussion. Details for Come Early and Stay Late are available online. Tickets for Red are on sale now. Ticket prices start at $15 and are available online at www.DallasTheaterCenter.org or by phone at (214) 880-0202. Please note that all seating for Red is General Admission and there will be no late seating for this production.

JORDAN BRODESS (Ken) is thrilled to be making his debut at Dallas Theater Center. Regional: Eat Your Heart Out (36th Humana Festival), The End (35th Humana Festival), and A Christmas Carol, Actors Theatre of Louisville. Film: The Killer Inside Me (IFC Films),The Art of Kissing (New School). Jordan was an apprentice at both the Shaw Festival (Ontario) and Actors Theatre of Louisville, and holds a BFA from the University of Oklahoma.

KIERAN CONNOLLY (Mark Rothko) is a member of the Brierley Resident Acting Company. DTC roles include: The Elaborate Entrance of Chad Deity; Next Fall; Dividing The Estate; Laramie Project Revisited; The Seagull; A Christmas Carol. National credits: The Utah Shakespeare Festival; PlayMaker's Repertory; Lake Tahoe Shakespeare Festival; Centre Stage; Boston Repertory; Camden Shakespeare Festival. Other Dallas credits: Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf; King Lear (Kitchen Dog Theater); Bluebeard's Castle (The Dallas Opera); Much Ado About Nothing (Dallas Shakespeare Festival).

JOEL FERRELL (Director) is Associate Artistic Director at DTC. DTC directing/choreography credits include: Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat; Cabaret; A Christmas Carol (2005-2009, 2011, 2012). DTC directing credits include: God of Carnage; Dividing the Estate; reasons to be pretty; The Laramie Project: Ten Years Later; and Cotton Patch Gospel(starring its creator Tom Key). DTC choreography credits include: It's a Bird... It's a Plane... It's Superman; A Midsummer Night's Dream; The Who's Tommy and My Fair Lady. DFW credits include: Proof (Plano Rep); Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? and The Baltimore Waltz (Stage West); Pygmalion (Fort Worth Shakespeare); the premiere of Huck Finn(Classical Acting Company). Mr. Ferrell is a former Artistic Director of Casa Mañana Musicals Inc. in Fort Worth, Texas. He served for two years on the selection committee for the National Alliance of Musical Theatre's New Works Festival in New York City and has worked extensively around the country for Portland Center Stage, Papermill Playhouse, Ford's Theatre and North Shore Music Theatre among others.

BOB LAVALLEE (Scenic Designer) DTC: The Second City Does Dallas; Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat; Cabaret; A Christmas Carol (2005-2011). Production Designer, Barney and Friends, PBS. Senior Designer, Peter Wolfs, Dallas. Resident Designer, Casa Mañana, Fort Worth. 65 productions, children's theater/musicals: Dreamgirls (Dir. David Thome);Lettuce and Lovage (Dir. Kent Paul); Chess (Dir. Rob Marshall); My Way (Dir. Joel Ferrell); Westport Playhouse, Phantom(Dir. Paul Blake); Amphibian Stage, Three Days of Rain (Dir. Adrienne Campbell-Holt). Set Design: The Verizon Academic All-American Hall of Fame Awards, Waldorf Astoria. Film Production Design: Searching for Sonny (Dir. Andrew Disney).

JENNIFER ABLES (Costume Designer) DTC: The Second City Does Dallas; To Kill a Mockingbird; Henry IV. Alabama Shakespeare Festival: Charlotte's Web. Oklahoma Shakespeare Festival: Macbeth; The Winter's Tale. University of Texas at Dallas: Dr. Calagari's Cabinet; The Comedy of Errors; Monkey: The Quest to the West; Alpha Male; R.U.R.; The Way They Shine. WaterTower Theater: As You Like It. Risk Theater Initiative: The Last Days of Judas Iscariot. Florida Repertory Theater: All My Sons; The Underpants; Absurd Person Singular; Sly Fox; Amy's View. Jennifer has been the costume shop manager at Dallas Theater Center since December 2008 and holds an MFA in costume design from Florida State University.

AARON JOHANSEN (Lighting Designer) DTC: The Second City Does Dallas; A Christmas Carol. Before moving to Dallas six years ago, Aaron received his B.S. in theatre design and technology with an emphasis in lighting design from Ball State University. By day Aaron is Master Electrician for Dallas Theater Center. Lighting credits include: Ruth, Turn of the Screw and Macbeth(Kitchen Dog); Pluck the Day (Second Thought Theatre); Baby, the Musical (PFamily Arts); 2010-2011 Gala and numerous parties and dinners (DTC); Hair; J.B.; Coppelia; Cabaret; Erratica; The Colored Museum and numerous dance pieces (Ball State).

NATE FLANAGAN (Sound Designer)

JEFF GIFFORD (Production Manager) is thrilled to be leading the great group of talented artists here at DTC who create everything you see on stage. Every day brings a new challenge and never a dull moment. World premieres are especially fun to work on and Jeff has participated in more than 30 of them. Jeff has been a Production Manager for more than 20 years and holds an MFA from California Institute of the Arts.

MEGAN WINTERS (Assistant Stage Manager) DTC: The Elaborate Entrance of Chad Deity (ASM);Tigers Be Still (SM), The Tempest (ASM);Dividing the Estate; The Trinity River Plays; A Christmas Carol (PA). Second Thought Theatre: Thom Pain (based on nothing) (PSM). Shakespeare Dallas: Comedy of Errors (ASM). AT&T Performing Arts Center, Opening Gala: Act 1 & 3 (ASM). Olney Theatre Center: Cinderella And Her Sisters (SM); Never Grow Up Gala; Peter Pan; King of the Jews (ASM). Seaside Repertory Theatre: Fuddy Meers; The Stinky Cheeseman and Other Fairly Stupid Tales; The Gulf Coast Comedy Festival '07-08; The Flaws (PSM). The Comedy Addiction Tour; Beauty and the Beast (SM).

One of the leading regional theaters in the country, Dallas Theater Center (DTC) performs to an audience of more than 115,000 North Texas residents annually. Founded in 1959, DTC is now a resident company of the AT&T Performing Arts Center and presents its Mainstage season at the Dee and Charles Wyly Theatre, designed by REX/OMA, Joshua Prince-Ramus and Rem Koolhaas and at its original home, the Kalita Humphreys Theater, the only freestanding theater designed and built by Frank Lloyd Wright. Under the leadership of Artistic Director Kevin Moriarty and Managing Director Heather M. Kitchen, DTC produces a seven-play subscription series of classics, musicals and new plays and an annual production of A Christmas Carol; extensive education programs, including Project Discovery, SummerStage and partnerships with Southern Methodist University's Meadows School of the Arts and Booker T. Washington High School for the Performing and Visual Arts; and community outreach efforts including leading the DFW Foote Festival and recent collaborations with the Dallas Public Library, Dallas Holocaust Museum, North Texas Food Bank, Dallas Opera, and Dallas Black Dance Theater. Throughout its history, DTC has produced many new works, including The Texas Trilogy by Preston Jones in 1978, Robert Penn Warren's All the King's Men (directed by Adrian Hall) in 1986, and recent premieres of Giant by Michael John LaChiusa and Sybille Pearson, The Trinity River Plays by ReGina Taylor, the revised It's a Bird... It's a Plane... It's Superman by Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa, Charles Strouse and Lee Adams, Give It Up! (now titled Lysistrata Jones and recently on Broadway) by Douglas Carter Beane and Lewis Flinn, Sarah, Plain and Tall by Julia Jordan, Laurence O'Keefe and Nell Benjamin and The Good Negro by Tracey Scott Wilson.

 

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