BARS AND MEASURES by Idris Goodwin Opens Today

The Theatre @ Boston Court presents Bars and Measures, A National New Play Network Rolling World Premiere written by Idris Goodwin and directed by Weyni Mengesha. Bars and Measures is presented on the Main Stage at Boston Court Performing Arts Center in Pasadena, CA. Previews begin September 15. Opening night is September 24and performances are scheduled to run through October 23, 2016.

Bars and Measures: Two brothers, both musicians. The classical pianist is Christian. The jazz bassist is Muslim. When Bilal is accused of being a terrorist and jailed awaiting trial, Eric tries to stay connected by pushing aside his own classical aspirations in order to learn big brother's jazz style. Separated by prison bars and religious convictions, the brothers scat and be-bop through their shared language of music. As his brother's trial progresses, Eric becomes disillusioned and struggles to decide if he believes the charges levied against his beloved older brother, or if false accusations make him a beleaguered martyr to a prejudiced, paranoid nation.

Cast: Brian Abraham, Zehra Fazal, Matt Orduna, and Donathan Walters.

Production staff: Noah Arguss, Music Director/Composer; Francois-Pierre Couture, Scene Design; Tom Ontiveros, Lighting Design; John Nobori, Sound Design; Leah Piehl, Costume Design; Bethany Tucker, Properties Design; Michael Donovan, Casting Director; June Carryl, Assistant Director; Molly McGraw, Production Stage Manager.

Idris Goodwin is a playwright, rapper and essayist. He is the recipient of Oregon Shakespeare's American History Cycle Commission, InterAct Theater's 20/20 Award and a finalist for the Lanford Wilson Award. Goodwin has been a writer in residence at The Eugene O'Neil Playwrights Center, Berkeley Rep's Ground Floor Program, The Lark Playwriting Center and New Harmony Project. He teaches performance writing and Hip Hop aesthetics at Colorado College.

WEYNI MENGESHA is an acclaimed theatre director and educator making her U.S. debut. She directed and composed the score for Da Kink in My Hair by Trey Anthony about the lives and identities of black women. Her work has received multiple nominations for best direction, best actor/actress, original music score, best production, and best new play by the Toronto Alliance for the Performing Arts. Mengesha co-founded Sound the Horn, with a mission to train Ethiopian and Eritrean youth to find their identities and voices through the performing arts.

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About The Theatre @ Boston Court

Located in Pasadena, California, and founded in 2003, The Theatre @ Boston Court produces passionate, artist-driven theatre, which challenges both artists and audiences. The Theatre @ Boston Court urges its artists to fearlessly and passionately pursue their unique voice and vision. Play selection encompasses a wide variety of genres with a special emphasis on new work, which are inherently theatrical, textually rich, and visually arresting. Led by Artistic Directors Jessica Kubzansky and Michael Michetti, The Theatre @ Boston Court is currently working on its 53rd production, a rolling world premiere of Bars and Measures by Idris Goodwin, opening September 24th. The Theatre @ Boston Court has also co-produced productions in New York City, Boston, Houston, and at the Getty Villa in Pacific Palisades, CA. Concentrating on new work and re-envisioned classics, The Theatre @ Boston Court is the proud recipient of numerous nominations and awards from the Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle, the Ovations, the NAACP and Stage Raw.

Key funding for The Theatre @ Boston Court is provided by the National Endowment for the Arts, Los Angeles County Arts Commission, New Dramatists, The Shubert Foundation, Harold & Mimi Steinberg Charitable Trust, Edgerton Foundation, The Sheri & Les Biller Family Foundation, The Ahmanson Foundation, The Annenberg Foundation, Lazy L. Foundation, The Ralph M. Parsons Foundation, and the Z. Clark Branson Foundation.

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