The Rep's 50th Anniversary Season Goes Local with UNTIL THE FLOOD

A Pulitzer Prize finalist will bring a conversation-starting world premiere to The Rep. Until the Flood, by Dael Orlandersmith and directed by Neel Keller, runs October 12 - November 6 on the Browning Mainstage of the Loretto-Hilton Center for the Performing Arts.

Curtain times are Tuesdays at 7 pm; Wednesdays-Fridays at 8 pm; selectedWednesday matinees at 1:30 pm; Saturday matinees at 4 pm; selected Saturdaynights at 8 pm; Sunday matinees at 2 pm; and selected Sunday evenings at 7 pm.

Celebrated writer, performer and Pulitzer Prize finalist Dael Orlandersmith spent a week in St. Louis interviewing people from every corner of the region about recent social unrest. From these conversations, she has crafted a stunning piece that reflects the complexity of St. Louis. Orlandersmith's play is a mosaic of voices that tells our region's story without advancing any one viewpoint above others.

This world premiere was commissioned by The Rep to explore our city's recent history and spark community discussion. Its first public readings took place during The Rep's Ignite! Festival of New Plays in March, after which Orlandersmith further refined the script based on the experience.

Orlandersmith will portray eight characters that are composites of the real St. Louisans she interviewed. They include a schoolteacher, a retired policeman and a minister.

As a playwright, Orlandersmith's incisive commentary on poverty, race and substance abuse has earned her massive acclaim. Her 2002 play Yellowman(staged at The Rep in 2006) earned her a Pulitzer Prize nomination, and her 1995 solo piece Beauty's Daughter won an Obie Award.

Neel Keller, who directed Orlandersmith's 2015 autobiographical solo showForever at the New York Theater Workshop, makes his Rep directorial debut. He's joined on the creative team by Takeshi Kata (scenic design), M.L. Geiger (lighting design), Kaye Voyce (costume design), Justin Ellington (sound design) and Nicholas Hussong (projection design). Tony Dearing is the show's stage manager.

Tickets for Until the Flood range from $18 to $81.50. To purchase, visit The Rep Box Office, located inside the Loretto-Hilton Center. Patrons can also charge by phone by calling (314) 968-4925 or visit The Rep's Online Box Office athttp://www.repstl.org.

The Loretto-Hilton Center is located at 130 Edgar Road (on the campus of Webster University).

The Rep is partnering with the Saint Louis Art Museum to enhance the patron experience of Until the Flood. Participants can take a free one-hour tour through art and artifacts representing different faiths from throughout the world. No reservations are required and more information can be found athttp://www.slam.org.

For additional information about The Rep's production of Until the Flood, visit The Rep's comprehensive show page at http://repstl.org/season/show/until_the_flood.

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