A Noise Within to Present KING HEDLEY II This Spring

A Noise Within is continuing its commitment to August Wilson’s “American Century Cycle” with a new production of King Hedley II. Gregg T. Daniel, who has previously directed A Noise Within productions of Wilson’s Gem of the Ocean, Seven Guitars and Radio Golf, returns to direct the ninth play in the two-time Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright’s extraordinary 10-play cycle that explores, decade-by decade, the Black experience in 20th century America. Performances of King Hedley II begin April 6 and continue at the company’s Pasadena home through April 28. Previews begin March 31.

After seven years in prison, King Hedley re-enters society eager to rebuild his life, but quickly confronts the inescapable challenges facing Black men in Reagan-era Pittsburgh. King’s disenfranchisement comes into conflict with the stories he’s been telling himself. Yet he continues to plant seeds where nothing can grow.

“Wilson is our American Shakespeare, and his language comes alive in the mouths of fine actors in a similar way.” state A Noise Within co-artistic directors Geoff Elliott and Julia Rodriguez-Elliott. “This play is a tragedy, but there’s so much humor in it. That is part of the humanity Wilson brings to his work.”

“He was a poet before he was a playwright, and you can hear it in the electrically charged richness of his language, the musicality.” agrees Daniel. “You can feel it enter your body and lift you. King is someone trying to live up to his name. He aspires to live an honorable, respectful, just life after serving his time, but is denied that at every turn. There’s an epic quality to the story in the way it addresses the human condition: what we strive to become and to achieve in life, how we try to better ourselves.”

Aaron Jennings, recipient of an NAACP best ensemble award for his role in Elmina’s Kitchen at Lower Depth Theatre, takes on the title role of the proud and ambitious King. Veralyn Jones (Louise in A Noise Within’s Seven Guitars, Aunt Ester in Gem of the Ocean) portrays King’s mother, Ruby, a former big band singer; Kacie Rogers (last fall’s The Bluest Eye) plays his wife, Tonya; and Evan Lewis Smith (Citizen Barlow in Gem of the Ocean) is his best friend and sometimes business partner, Mister. Ben Cain (Walter Lee Younger in A Noise Within’s A Raisin in the Sun) and Gerald C. Rivers (best known for his work at Theatricum Botanicum) round out the cast as, respectively, Ruby’s longtime flame Elmore and neighborhood truthsayer Stool Pigeon.

The creative team includes scenic designer Efren Delgadillo Jr; lighting designer Brandon Baruch; sound designer Jeff Gardner; costume designer Mylette Nora; wig and makeup designer Shelia Dorn; properties designer Stephen Taylor; and dramaturg Dr. Miranda Johnson-Haddad. The production stage manager is Taylor Anne Cullen, with Arielle Hightower assisting. The producing sponsors are Dick and Sally Roberts.

Taken as a whole, the ten plays in Wilson’s monumental cycle span a period of 90 years, from Gem of the Ocean in 1904 to Radio Golf in 1997 — with nine of them set in Pittsburgh’s Hill District, where Wilson himself grew up. But the plays were not written sequentially and are not connected in the manner of a serial story. Each play stands alone. Many of the characters recur or are referenced in several of the plays, which enriches the audience experience each time a new one is viewed

A Noise Within is a leading regional producer based in Pasadena, California. Under the leadership of Elliott and Rodriguez-Elliott, the award-winning resident theater company is honored to represent the entire community at its state-of-the-art, 324-seat performance space. In addition to producing world-class performances of classic theater, the organization runs robust education programs with the goal of inspiring diverse audiences of all ages. ANW is committed to anti-racist policies and practices across the entirety of the organization. By interpreting its mission to fully engage audiences through community and artist-centered work in multiple creative disciplines, ANW is striving to be a theater that better serves the entire community. A Noise Within’s 2023-24 Season is presented by the S. Mark Taper Foundation.

Performances of King Hedley II take place April 6 through April 28 on Thursdays at 7:30 p.m.; Fridays at 8 p.m.; Saturdays at 2 p.m. and 8 p.m.; and Sundays at 2 p.m. (no 2 p.m. matinee on Saturday, April 6; no evening performance on Saturday, April 27; dark Thursday, April 18). Four preview performances take place on Sunday, March 31 at 2 p.m.; Wednesday, April 3 and Thursday, April 4 each at 7:30 p.m.; and Friday, April 5 at 8 p.m. 

The performance on Thursday, April 11 is “Black Out Night,” an opportunity for an audience self-identifying as Black to experience the performance together, and tickets include admission to a post-show reception; non-Black-identifying patrons are welcome to attend, or to select a different performance. Post-performance conversations take place every Friday (except the preview) and on Sunday, April 14. A one-hour INsiders Discussion Group will take place on Sunday, April 7 at 12:30 p.m., prior to the matinee performance (separate admission: $25).

In addition, four student matinees will take place on weekday mornings (April 10, April 17, April 18 and April 24) at 10:30 a.m. Interested educators should email education@anoisewithin.org.

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