Pillsbury House Theatre Presents PA'S HAT: LIBERIAN LEGACY 5/28-6/27
By: Gabrielle Sierra May. 19, 2010
Pillsbury House Theatre presents the World Premiere of PA'S HAT: LIBERIAN LEGACY by Cori Thomas and directed by Marion McClinton. The cast features Ansa Akyea, Namir Smallwood, Regina Marie Williams, and Bruce A. Young. Performances run Wednesdays through Sundays, May 28, 2010 through June 27, 2010. Tickets are $10 - $20. Performances take place on the Pillsbury House Theatre Mainstage at 3501 Chicago Avenue South in Minneapolis.
They say you can never go home again, but sometimes you must. A young American woman accompanies her elderly father on a nostalgic visit to the father's homeland of Liberia, only to find themselves detained and imprisoned by a machine-gun wielding, 14 year old commander of the Liberian Army. Family legacy, national pride and the violent civil unrest of war-torn Liberia, set the backdrop for this moving new play.In Cori Thomas' own words:
In 1902, my grandparents emigrated from the United States to Liberia. There they built and founded a school The Lott Carey Mission which is in operation to this day. My father joined the Liberian foreign-service. He spent over thirty years serving the Liberian government as a diplomat. He was appointed Ambassador and posted to many countries. In 1980, a coup d'etat occurred in Liberia. My Uncle was arrested and killed in prison. Many friends were arrested and executed. My father, in the US, was ordered to return to stand trial. He refused and applied for political asylum in the US. He was named an enemy of his country and a traitor. He lost all his life savings which were in the Liberian banks. He was also forced to turn over the deeds to land he had bought. Life as we knew it, and any privileges we had, ceased to exist. Twenty years later in the year 2000, my father, now 83, insisted on visiting Liberia, which was now in the eleventh year of a horrible and devastating civil war. I was with him. This play was inspired by that trip.
Written by Cori Thomas
Directed by Marion McClinton
Featuring: Ansa Akyea, Namir Smallwood, Regina Marie Williams, and Bruce A. YoungTICKET PRICES
Wednesdays @ the House - Pay What You Can
Thursdays & Sundays - $15 Adults / $10 Seniors & Students
Fridays & Saturdays - $20 Adults / $15 Seniors & Students
Discounts available for Fringe Festival button holders.
Tickets are available by calling 612-825-0459 or online at www.pillsburyhousetheatre.org. Pillsbury House Theatre does not charge additional fees for online ordering.Friday, May 28 @ 7:30pmSaturday, May 29 @ 7:30pm
Sunday, May 30 @ 3:00pm
Wednesday, June 2 @ 7:30pm
Thursday, June 3 @ 7:30pm
Friday, June 4 @ 7:30pm - Post Show Discussion with the cast and representatives from the Center for Victims of Torture
Saturday, June 5 @ 7:30pm
Sunday, June 6 @ 3:00pm
Wednesday, June 9 @ 7:30pm - Post Show Discussion with the cast and representatives from the Center for Victims of Torture
Thursday, June 10 @ 7:30pm
Friday, June 11 @ 7:30pm - Audio Described Performance (Ticket discounts available for patrons requiring service) - Post Show Discussion with the cast and representatives from the Center for Victims of Torture
Saturday, June 12 @ 7:30pm
Sunday, June 13 @ 3:00pm
Wednesday, June 16 @ 7:30pm
Thursday, June 17 @ 7:30pm
Friday, June 18 @ 7:30pm
Saturday, June 19 @ 7:30pm - ASL Interpreted Performance (Ticket discounts available for patrons requiring service) - Post Show Discussion with the cast and representatives from the Center for Victims of Torture
Sunday, June 20 @ 3:00pm
Wednesday, June 23 @ 7:30pm - Post Show Discussion with the cast and representatives from the Center for Victims of Torture
Thursday, June 24 @ 7:30pm
Friday, June 25 @ 7:30pm
Saturday, June 26 @ 7:30pm
Sunday, June 27 @ 3:00pm
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