Photo Flash: Special Uptown Players To Present ANGELS IN AMERICA, PERESTROIKA

Reviewer Mark Lowry said of Uptown's presentation of Part One, Angels In America, Millenium Approaches with actress Emily Scott Banks as the Angel hovering above the bed of the ailing Prior, played by Garret Storms, that it "always feels like extended exposition for the second part, Perestroika". Uptown will present Part Two Angels in America, Perestroika as a special event to kick-off Gay History Month this fall. Angels in America received a record 11 nominations at the 72nd annual Tony Awards this month, winning three awards, including Best Revival of a Play.

As one of the great plays of the 20th century, Angels in America, Perestroika picks up right where Millenium Approaches leaves off, with the epic conclusion of the fate of two couples in which one partner has abandoned the other and God has abandoned Heaven. Perestroika also has plot surprises that were not foreshadowed in Part One. The award-winning play explores gay culture, race, political injustice, inequality, and the future of America through the lens of the AIDS crisis of the 1980s. Americans - in the face of crumbling structures and systems are still wrestling with how best to navigate the complexities of hope. This Gay Fantasia on National Themes raises the stakes with characters confrontating the real, the ethereal, and themselves, with the conclusion taking place five years after our introduction to these memorable characters.

Uptown Co-Producer Jeff Rane looks forward to bringing the production team back together, exclaiming, "We put together the perfect cast for the entire journey. Taking these actors (gifted and collaborative artists) through the rest of the story will be exciting. Bringing this award-winning ensemble together to finish telling the rest of Kushner's story after all this time will be a wonderful experience that Cheryl Denson is excited to bring to the Dallas audience."

Under the direction of Cheryl Denson, Uptown will showcase the original star-studded Dallas cast to reprise their roles, including: Emily Scott Banks (Angel), Pam Daugherty (Hannah Pitt), Marianne Galloway (Harper Pitt), Kyle Igneczi (Joe Pitt), Walter Lee (Belize), David Lugo (Roy Cohn), David Meglino (Louis Ironson), and Garret Storms (Prior Walter).

Galloway shared her personal off-stage experience explaining, "During the run of Millennium Approaches, I'd stand backstage with Kyle, David, and Michael Moore (wig/make up designer) as Emily prepared to make her descent from the rafters. We'd marvel about how absolutely extraordinary it was that we got to be there, in that space, at that time, doing that show, playing those roles....it just felt surreal. The idea that I get to go back into that world feels equally surreal. To get to complete this journey now, in this way, with these people.....it is a great, unexpected gift."

The production runs September 28 through October 7, with shows at 7:30 p.m. on Friday and Saturday and 2 p.m. on Sunday. Performances take place at the Kalita Humphreys Theatre, 3636 Turtle Creek Blvd (at Blackburn), Dallas, TX 75219. Tickets are $30-$50 and can be purchased online at www.uptownplayers.org or by phone at (214) 219-2718 starting June 19th.

Photo Credit: Mike Morgan