Firehouse Theatre to Launch 20th Anniversary Season with 'NIGHT, MOTHER, 9/19-10/19
By: Tyler Peterson Aug. 27, 2013
FIREHOUSE THEATRE begins its 20th Anniversary season this fall with the gripping tale 'night, Mother by Kentucky playwright Marsha Norman. Winner of the 1983 Pulitzer Prize for Drama, this eloquent, enthralling and ultimately shattering play explores the final hour in the life of a young woman who has decided that life is no longer worth living. Directed by Helen Hayes Award recipient David Emerson Toney, 'night, Mother plays at Firehouse Theatre September 19 - October 19.
Kim Jones Clark (Sons of the Prophet, Merchant of Venice, Great American Trailer Park Musical) returns to Firehouse as Jessie, a severely depressed, epileptic, unemployable divorcee that lives with her widowed mother, Thelma played by Firehouse newcomer Catherine Shaffner (Steel Magnolias, Nunsense). Jessie's father is dead; her loveless marriage ended in divorce; her absent son is a petty thief and ne'er-do-well; her last job didn't work out and, in general, her life is stale and unprofitable. As she can find no reason to go on living, Jessie asks for her father's service revolver and calmly announces that she intends to kill herself by morning. At first her mother refuses to take her seriously, but as Jessie sets about tidying the house and making lists of things to be looked after, her sense of desperate helplessness begins to build. Will she pull the trigger?
"Jessie's struggle in Norman's 'night, Mother poses basic human questions when it comes to the subject of suicide," says director David Emerson Toney. "Whose life is it? does society have the right to dictate to an adult person what he or she can do with their own life? is suicide always an act of cowardice and a crime? I welcome the journey as we enable each individual audience member to decide their own truth."
'night, Mother features costume design by Margarette Joyner, lighting design by Geno Brantley, set design by Edwin Slipek, Jr., and sound design by Joey Luck.
Tickets for 'night, Mother are $32 and are available online at www.firehousetheatre.org, by phone at(804) 355-2001, and in person at the Firehouse Theatre Box Office (1609 W. Broad Street). Student, senior, military, RAPT and group rates are also available.
All tickets for Thursday, September 19 Preview Night are $15. Seating is based on availability. Firehouse Theatre Project cannot guarantee availability without advance reservations.
Central Virginia Awards - Live Stats
Best Musical - Top 3
1.
THE LIGHTNING THIEF (The Hurrah Players)
7.3% of votes
2.
RIDE THE CYCLONE (Little Theatre of Norfolk)
6.3% of votes
3.
THE SOUND OF MUSIC (riverside center for the performing arts)
5.8% of votes
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