The Hub And JCCNV Present The World Premiere Of THE SECRETS OF THE UNIVERSE (AND OTHER SONGS)

The Hub Theatre, continues its foray into new plays that highlight our common humanity with the world premiere of The Secrets of the Universe (and other songs) by playwright Marc Acito. Secrets, the final production in The Hub's 10th season, will run from July 6-29, 2018 at the John Swayze Theatre in Fairfax, Virginia and is a Co-Production with the Jewish Community Center of Northern Virginia. Secrets marks The Hub's third production by Marc Acito, after audience favorite Birds of a Feather (2012 Helen Hayes Outstanding New Play winner; Outstanding Ensemble nominee), and How I Paid for College (starring Broadway's Tony Nominated Alex Brightman). The show will be directed by Hub's founding Artistic Director, Helen R. Murray, and produced by incoming Artistic Director, Matt Bassett.

In 1937, a physics professor at Princeton University received a call. The internationally renowned classical singer Marian Anderson was giving a concert at the McCarter Theatre in Princeton. But because she was African-American, Anderson was denied a hotel room. Instead she accepted an invitation to stay at the professor's home. That professor was Albert Einstein. The Secrets of the Universe is based on the true relationship of these titanic figures, a union of hearts, minds and souls in a quest to unlock the secrets of the cosmos.

A talented cast of DC area performers will bring this world premiere to life, including local favorite and Hub company member Sasha Olinick (Hub's A Man, His Wife and His Hat; Abominable; Wish List; as well as Vanya in Aaron Posner's Life Sucks at Theater J) in the role of Albert Einstein, and Helen Hayes Award winner Lolita Clayton (Hub's Leto Legend; 1st Stage's Doubt) as Marian Anderson. They are joined by Brian Keith MacDonald, Mindy Shaw and Jonathan D. Palmer, each playing multiple roles and making their Hub Theatre premieres.

Secrets of the Universe is the 6th play Helen Murray has directed for the company since she co-founded it with Maggie Ulmer and Marey Oakes in 2008. The show marks Murray's artistic farewell to the DC area, as she completes her move to Colorado in her new role as Executive Producer of the Aurora Fox Arts Center. Hub company member and Helen Hayes Award winner Matthew Nielsen will be sound designing (Hub's carried away on the crest of a wave, The Pavilion, Redder Blood, Leto Legend, Abominable, The Clockmaker, and more). Costumes will be designed by Jane Fink (Hub's Redder Blood), Elizabeth Zuck (of Hub's The Typographer's Dream, in a word, Failure: A Love Story) will design the set, and Helen Hayes Award nominee Kristin Thompson is the lighting designer.

The Hub Theatre is an award-winning, professional, non-profit theatre making its home in Fairfax County, Virginia. The Hub Theatre endeavors to produce work that highlights our common humanity, providing a theatrical experience that is at once challenging and inclusive. We strive to be the physical center of a dynamic circle of story, art, and community, to create the transcendent exchange unique to live theatre. The Hub Theatre is a member Theatre Washington. The Hub has received grants from Target, the Fink Foundation, the Arts Council of Fairfax, The Friends of Lake Anne, Virginia Commission for the Arts, the Arts Council of Fairfax, Integrity Applications, and Booz Allen Hamilton. The Hub is in residence at the John Swayze Theatre in The New School of Northern Virginia located in Fairfax, VA for its full-scale productions.

Guided by Jewish values, the J will spark, foster, and build Jewish Connection, Community and Peoplehood throughout Northern Virginia by creating outstanding opportunities for every individual to explore the boundless potential of Jewish life. Understanding that our community is widely scattered, we will meet people where they are both within and beyond the walls of the JCC. The J is a partner agency of The Jewish Federation of Greater Washington. The mission of the JCCNV Cultural Arts department is to demonstrate, illuminate and celebrate the breadth and depth of Judaism's culture, identity, creativity, diversity and resiliency through the performing, visual and literary arts. For more information, please visit us online at www.jccnvarts.org.

The Secrets Of The Universe (and other songs) by Marc Acito Director: Helen R. Murray Scenic Design: Betsy Zuck Lighting Design: Kristin Thompson Costume Design: Jane Fink Sound Design: Matthew M. Nielson Props Design: Amy Kellett Stage Management: Allison Poms PERFORMANCE AND TICKET INFORMATION July 6-29, 2018 at the John Swayze Theatre: 9431 Silver King Court, Fairfax, Virginia 22031 July 6, 7, 13, 14, 20, 21, 27, 28 at 8:00pm July 8, 15, 22, 29 at 2:00pm and 7:00pm Tickets can be purchased online at https://www.thehubtheatre.org/secrets or at the door on the day of the performance.