Katori Hall's THE MOUNTAINTOP Plays CENTERSTAGE, Now thru 2/24

This week rehearsals begin for Katori Hall's magical new play, The Mountaintop. Already a worldwide sensation-winner of London's Olivier Award and recently hailed in a star-studded Broadway production-the play receives its highly anticipated Baltimore premiere tonight, January 9, 2013. Tickets are selling quickly, with some performances nearly sold out.

CENTERSTAGE Artistic Director Kwame Kwei-Armah-who will travel this week to London where he will receive his OBE at Buckingham Palace-directs. The cast features Shawn Hamilton as DR. Martin Luther King, Jr., and Myxolydia Tyler as Camae. Both actors make their CENTERSTAGE debut with the play. Shawn Hamilton is a regular at the Guthrie Theater-most recently playing the role of Dr. King in Appomattox-and has appeared in national tours and at many regional theaters, playing a wide variety of roles in productions ranging from Shakespeare to musicals. Myxolydia Tyler has appeared at theaters across the country, including The Public Theatre, Arkansas Repertory Theatre, and in many roles at Trinity Repertory Theatre. Her one woman play, Dreamprints: A Conversation with Harriet Tubman, was produced by Syracuse Stage.

The Mountaintop finds Dr. King at The Lorraine Hotel on April, 3 1968. As he unwinds and prepares, a visit from a hotel maid offers welcome diversion and a challenging new perspective-but also raises profound and surprising questions.

The Mountaintop, by Katori Hall and directed by Kwame Kwei-Armah, begins previews tonight, January 9; celebrates Opening Night on Wednesday, January 16; and runs through Sunday, February 24. There will be a special performance on Monday, January 21, Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, at 7:30 pm. Tickets start at $15, and can be ordered online at www.centerstage.org/Mountaintop, or by calling 410.332.0033.

CAST

Dr. King Shawn Hamilton
Camae Myxolydia Tyler

CREATIVE TEAM

Director Kwame Kwei-Armah
Scenic Designer Neil Patel
Costume Designer David Burdick
Lighting Designer Scott Zielinski
Sound Designer Toy DeIorior
Stage Manager Captain Kate Murphy
Assistant Stage Manager Laura Smith
Dramaturg Gavin Witt
Casting Director Pat McCorkel

CENTERSTAGE, the State Theater of Maryland, celebrates its 50th Anniversary Season in 2012-13. The professional, nonprofit company serves as a local hub and national leader for provocative, entertaining theater and as a catalyst for conversation in the community. Each year, a broad range of productions in two intimate performance spaces attracts a highly diverse audience of more than 100,000 people-including more than 8,000 fiercely loyal members. Under the leadership of acclaimed playwright, actor, and director Kwame Kwei-Armah (Artistic Director) and national arts leader Stephen Richard (Managing Director), CENTERSTAGE enters its 50th year with a renewed dedication to the production of world-class theater in the heart of Baltimore.

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