WHITE Comes To The CV Rep Theater

CVREP TO PRESENT

WHITE BY JAMES lJAMES

A Bold, Hilarious Play that Examines issues of Race, Gender, Sexuality and Art! JANUARY 23-FEBRUARY 17, 2019

The Coachella Valley Repertory (CVRep), now celebrating its ten-year anniversary, has announced they will offer White by James ljames as the second production of their 2018/19 season. Set to open at the Atrium in Rancho Mirage on January 23 and run through February 17, 2019, White is a funny, 90-minute play that draws on both life and art to examine issues of racism, sexism, gender, and identity - a perfect fit for CVRep's 2018/19 seasonal theme of "a handful of isms."

In White, gay white male artist, Gus, cranks out canvas after canvas of crèam-colored paintings. He lectures at a college, receives fellowships, and lives with his boyfriend, Tanner, who is of Asian descent. Although Gus has achieved comfortable success he is, by no means, famous. When Gus learns that his best friend Jane has become senior curator at the illustrious Parnell Museum, he implores her to put him in their "New America" exhibition. Unfortunately, Jane tells him that the "New America" only wants female ethnic voices, and that there's no room for white guys. So, Gus hires Vanessa, a local African American actress, to invent a fictional artist named Balkonaé Townsend, a brash and political artist to claim his art, while also fitting the museum's desire for "new voices". Gus and Vanessa construct a quick, humorous backstory for her and everything is going smoothly until Balkonaé takes over and Gus has to deal with the mess he's made. Asked about his selection of this project for CVRep's 2018-2019 Season of "isms," Artistic Director Ron Celona, who will direct, says, "This play really has it all, and with the current heightened atmosphere in our country, couldn't be more timely and relevant; it deals with issues of race, ethnicity, gender, sexual preference, and affirmative action, and does so with ironic humor. We're very much looking forward to presenting it to our audiences. It will give the Coachella Valley the opportunity to see and hear a young, upcoming playwright's perspective." Four LA-based actors are set to appear in WHITE: Paul David Story, Charlotte Munson, Franceli Chapman-Varela and Anthony Saludares.

WHITE had its 2017 world premiere at Philadelphia's Theatre Horizon where it enjoyed critical acclaim. "WHITE bursts with humor...the best of which come at the expense of the institutionalization of art...The ending adds a surreal twist, driving home Ijames' exploration of black women's exploitation by feminism, by contemporary culture, and by white women." - Philadelphia Inquirer "WHITE is pure gold... It's bold, outlandish, insightful, and exciting...a sharp deconstruction of racial, ethnic, gender and social stereotypes, examined from multiple points of view. It's a comedy, but its message is serious. It's bold, outlandish, insightful, and as exciting a play as you're likely to see this year."- DC Metro Theater Arts

WHITE by James ljames will be performed from JANUARY 23 - FEBRUARY 17, 2019 at The Coachella Valley Repertory Theatre located in the Atrium 69-930 Highway 111 in Rancho Mirage on Wed. Thur. Fri and Sat at 7:30PM; Sat, and Sun at 2:00PM. Individual tickets are $53.00. / Previews $48.00 / Opening Night $63.00 (includes post-show reception).

For more information, please call 760-296-2966 or visit the website at www.cvrep.org.