Seattle Rep Takes on Violence in America in BROWNSVILLE SONG (B-SIDE FOR TRAY)

Seattle Repertory Theatre presents Kimber Lee's heart-felt drama, BROWNSVILLE SONG (B-SIDE FOR TRAY), a vivid and stirring play that leaves one family at a powerful crossroads in search of hope. Directed by Juliette Carrillo (Seattle Rep's The Brothers Size), BROWNSVILLE SONG (B-SIDE FOR TRAY) runs tonight, March 25, through April 24, 2016 in the Leo K. Theatre. Tickets are available now through the Seattle Rep Box Office at (206) 443-2222 and online at seattlerep.org.

The legacy of violence in America begs a question for people to consider - what do we do with the absence left behind by the young men and women of color who leave us unnecessarily early? "With every loss, we are all diminished," writes playwright Kimber Lee. "The effects of our collective failure to stem the tide of gun violence has spread beyond the borders of any particular neighborhood," she continues, expressing that the life and legacy of one young man, who is more than what he may seem, belongs to us all and should not simply be treated as another tragic statistic.

With a premiere at the Humana Festival of New American Plays in 2014 followed by a well-received off-Broadway run at Lincoln Center, BROWNSVILLE SONG (B-SIDE FOR TRAY) has repeatedly been lauded for its vitality as an important new play and for the contributions it offers to the national conversation on urban communities experiencing trauma. Seattle Rep is pleased to present this beautifully rhythmic, contemporary play told in the past and the present, which provides a snapshot of a tightknit American family who must find a way to move forward after the sudden loss of a loved one.

The complete cast announcement will become available in the coming weeks.

The creative team includes Mikiko Suzuki MacAdams, scenic design; Constanza Romero, costume design; Geoff Korf, lighting design; Matt Starritt, sound design; Kathryn Bostic, composer; Kristin Leahey, dramaturg.

Performances run March 25-April 24, 2016, playing Wednesday-Sunday and select Tuesdays at 7:30 p.m.; Select Saturday, Sunday, and Wednesday matinees at 2:00 p.m. (no matinees during previews). Opening Night: Wednesday, March 30 at 7:30 p.m. at Seattle Repertory Theatre's Leo K. Theatre, located at Seattle Center at the corner of Second Ave. and Mercer St., Seattle, Washington.

Tickets start at $17 and are on sale now. Discounted tickets for groups of 10+ may be purchased by calling (206) 443-2224. For ticket reservations, call the Seattle Repertory Theatre Box Office at (206) 443-2222 or toll-free at (877) 900-9285, or go online at seattlerep.org.

Kimber Lee's plays include fight, tokyo fish story, and BROWNSVILLE SONG (B-SIDE FOR TRAY), which premiered at the 2014 Humana Festival and received 2014-2015 productions at LCT3, Long Wharf Theatre, and Philadelphia Theatre Company. In May 2014, Center Theatre Group presented the world premiere of her play different words for the same thing directed by Neel Keller, and tokyo fish story premiered at South Coast Rep in March 2015. Her work has also been presented by Lark Play Development Center, Page 73, Hedgebrook, Seven Devils, Bay Area Playwrights Festival, Theatre Works (Palo Alto), the Old Globe, Magic Theatre, Great Plains Theatre Conference, and Dramatists Guild Fellows Program. Kimber is a Lark Playwrights Workshop Fellow (2014-2015), and member of Ma-Yi Writers Lab. Recipient of the 2014 Ruby Prize, the 2013-2014 PoNY Fellowship, the 2014-2015 Aetna New Voices Fellowship, and the inaugural 2015 PoNY/Bush Theatre Playwright Residency in London. MFA: UT Austin.

Juliette Carrillo returns to Seattle Repertory Theatre, where she previously directed The Cook(2007) by Eduardo Machado and The Brothers Size (2011) by Tarell Alvin McCraney. A graduate of the Yale School of Drama, Juliette has directed critically acclaimed premiere and revival productions in theatres across the country, including Oregon Shakespeare Festival, Mark Taper Forum, South Coast Repertory, Yale Repertory, Denver Theater Center, and Goodman Theatre. As a member of the Cornerstone Theater Company ensemble, she has developed work for and with various communities such as the Los Angeles River community, the addiction and recovery community, the Hindu community, and seniors and their caregivers. She was an Artistic Associate and Director of the Hispanic Playwright's Project at South Coast Repertory for seven years.

Seattle Rep was founded in 1963 and is currently led by Artistic Director Braden Abraham and Managing Director Jeffrey Herrmann. One of America's premier not-for-profit resident theatres, Seattle Repertory Theatre has achieved international renown for its consistently high production and artistic standards, and was awarded the 1990 Tony Award for Outstanding Regional Theatre. With an emphasis on entertaining plays of true dramatic and literary worth, Seattle Rep produces a season of plays along with educational programs, new play workshops, and special presentations.