Off-Broadway's THE VIEW UPSTAIRS to Launch Richmond Triangle Players' 25th Season

Richmond Triangle Players launches its 25th Anniversary Season with the first post-New York production of the acclaimed new off-Broadway musical, The View UpStairs.

This provocative new musical, with book, music and lyrics by Max Vernon, opens Thursday, August 10, 2017 at 8 pm, following a low-priced preview on Wednesday, August 9. The production runs through September 2.

The View UpStairs pulls you inside the UpStairs Lounge, a vibrant '70s gay bar in the French Quarter of New Orleans. The forgotten community comes to life when a young fashion designer from 2017 buys the abandoned space, setting off an exhilarating journey of seduction and self-exploration, as his notions of intimacy and community are challenged as he learns firsthand the very real danger of being queer back in the early 70s. The View UpStairs looks at some of the complicated ways in which gay culture has evolved over the last forty years, while illuminating a forgotten history.

"Everyone at Richmond Triangle Players is thrilled that we could start our season with a brand-new work that launches our three-year arc of presenting works that are important to LGBT theater, to our history and to our communities at large," says RTP executive director Philip Crosby. "The View UpStairs chronicles a time and events that should not be forgotten ... and does so in a very modern, moving and exciting way. We are also deeply honored that our production is the first in the nation since the off-Broadway production finished its sell-out run last May."

Playing the central role of Wes is Dale A. Sampson, a New York-based actor/singer making his Richmond Triangle Players debut. The patrons of The UpStairs Lounge will be played by RTP veterans Luke Newsome, Doug Schneider, Tara Callahan Carroll, Andrew Etheredge, Chloe Williams Green, and John Mincks, as well as Michael Schimmele, Bianca Bryan, and Tybias Whitehead, who will be making their RTP debuts.

Composer, lyricist, playwright, and performer Max Vernon's work has been performed and developed at Ars Nova, Actors Theatre of Louisville (Wondrous Strange, Humana Festival 2016), Berkeley Rep, Dixon Place, Disney Creative Entertainment, Goodspeed Opera House, Keen Company, LaMaMa, Naked Angels, New Dramatists, Ma-Yi, Pride Films and Plays (Chicago), Rattlestick Playwrights Theater, TheatreWorks Silicon Valley, Theatreworks USA, and Two River Theater (NJ), among others. He is a recipient of the Jonathan Larson Grant, New York Stage and Film's Founders Award, New York Foundation of the Arts Fellowship, and the JFund Award from the Jerome Foundation.

The View UpStairs will be directed by RTP associate producing director Lucian Restivo, with musical direction by Leilani Fenick and choreography by Kikau Alvaro. Set design is by David Melton, costumes design is by Ryan Allen, and lighting design is by Michael Jarett. Production stage manager is Dylan Tipton.

Richmond Triangle Players' performances take place at its home at the newly-named Robert B. Moss Theatre at 1300 Altamont Avenue, just northwest of the intersection of the Boulevard and West Broad Street. Reserved seat tickets ($35 for Fridays and Saturdays evenings at 8:00 pm, $30 for Thursday evenings at 8:00 pm and Sunday matinees at 4:00 pm, with discounts for groups and students) can be purchased online at RTP's web site at www.rtriangle.org, on RTP's facebook page, or by leaving a message on the RTP Ticket hotline at 804-346-8113.

The Robert B. Moss Theatre is a 4000-square foot performing arts facility accommodating flexible seating arrangements for up to 90 patrons. The building features fully ADA-compliant access and comfortable restrooms, as well as a generous bar, and catering capability, and is also available for cabaret performances and private events.