It's the summer of 1977 and 22-year-old Lenka is fleeing authoritarian Czechoslovakia for the art and beauty of New York City. At the start of her journey, Lenka is confronted by an Old Woman from an extinct Slavic tribe who guides her through a dream-like world where the past and future meet and multiple realities collide.
In Kurtis Boetcher's set design for Marcus Gardley's world premiere A WONDER IN MY SOUL, the backdrop for the South Side beauty shop where the play is set prominently displays the photographs of black female icons ranging from Diana Ross to Beyonce-and all of course have fabulous hair in the photos. And as we learn in the play, Aberdeen "Birdie" Calumet (Greta Oglesby) and Bell Grand Lake's (Jacqueline Williams) fictional beauty shop has played host to a number of these famous black women over the years. But what Gardley's play does so beautifully is take the story of these specific, everyday characters and lend a universality to them. The play takes place primarily in 2008 but shows us flashbacks of young Birdie (Camille Robinson) and young Bell (Donica Lynn) as they make their way from Mississippi to settle in Chicago and start their business. Along the way, Gardley weaves a narrative that is warm and sometimes funny but also ultimately serious and touching. And as one would expect, Johnny Jamison's hair and wig design is just superb.
Victory Gardens Theater continues its season with the World Premiere of A Wonder In My Soul, written by ensemble playwright Marcus Gardley and directed by Artistic Director Chay Yew. A Wonder In My Soul runs February 10 - March 12, 2017, with the press performance today, February 17, 2017, at 7:30 pm at Victory Gardens Theater, 2433 N. Lincoln Avenue.
The Oregon Shakespeare Festival (OSF) Artistic Director Bill Rauch announced the Oregon Shakespeare Festival's 2017 playbill today.
Victory Gardens Theater continues its season with the World Premiere of A Wonder In My Soul, written by ensemble playwright Marcus Gardley and directed by Artistic Director Chay Yew, with original music by Jaret Landon. A Wonder In My Soul runs now through March 12, 2017, with the press performance on Friday, February 17, 2017, at 7:30pm at Victory Gardens Theater, 2433 N. Lincoln Avenue. BroadwayWorld has a first look at the cast onstage below!
Chay Yew's frank drama, Question 27, Question 28 will be presented by Artists at Play and the Japanese American Cultural & Community Center in conjunction with the 75th anniversary of the signing of Executive Order 9066. The reading is directed by Alison De La Cruz and will perform on Sunday, February 26 at 3 pm at the Black Box in the Aratani Theatre. Ticket reservations are available at http://bit.ly/2k4KJku.
The University of Washington School of Drama will present William Shakespeare's As You Like It, directed by School of Drama Acting & Directing faculty member Jeffrey Frace, February 10th - 19th at the Glenn Hughes Penthouse Theatre on the University of Washington Seattle campus.
Victory Gardens Theater continues its season with the World Premiere of A Wonder In My Soul, written by ensemble playwright Marcus Gardley and directed by Artistic Director Chay Yew, with original music by Jaret Landon. A Wonder In My Soul runs February 10 - March 12, 2017, with the press performance today, February 17, 2017, at 7:30pm at Victory Gardens Theater, 2433 N. Lincoln Avenue.
Victory Gardens Theater continues its season with the World Premiere of A Wonder In My Soul, written by ensemble playwright Marcus Gardley and directed by Artistic Director Chay Yew. A Wonder In My Soul runs February 10 - March 12, 2017, with the press performance today, February 17, 2017, at 7:30 pm at Victory Gardens Theater, 2433 N. Lincoln Avenue.
Following critical acclaim for the world premiere of The Two Kids That Blow Shit Up, by Carla Ching, Artists at Play (AAP) maintains their growing commitment to developing new works into 2017. As they aim to tell the stories of diverse communities in Los Angeles theatre, AAP is partnering with the Japanese American Cultural & Community Center and the Los Angeles Public Library this season as well as tackling another world premiere production.
The overall assumption regarding an interest in the arts seems to be one of partisan politics. Its value is an often debated topic in a divided nation whose idealistic chasm grows wider by the day. For many, the fate of the arts remains a concern of those confined to what conservatives label a 'coastal bubble.' A fringe frivolity to be cast aside in favor of funding more 'practical' ventures.
The University of Washington School of Drama will present William Shakespeare's As You Like It, directed by School of Drama Acting & Directing faculty member Jeffrey Frace, February 10th - 19th at the Glenn Hughes Penthouse Theatre on the University of Washington Seattle campus.
Victory Gardens Theater continues its season with the World Premiere of A Wonder In My Soul, written by ensemble playwright Marcus Gardley and directed by Artistic Director Chay Yew, with original music by Jaret Landon. A Wonder In My Soul runs February 10 - March 12, 2017, with the press performance on Friday, February 17, 2017, at 7:30pm at Victory Gardens Theater, 2433 N. Lincoln Avenue.
The University of Washington School of Drama will present Jordan Harrison's Maple and Vine, directed by 3rd year MFA director Sean Ryan, January 20th - 29th at the Floyd and Delores Jones Playhouse Theatre on University Way NE.
Artistic Director Chay Yew and Managing Director Erica Daniels announce Victory Gardens Theater's participation in The Ghostlight Project, an evening of advocacy at theater companies across the country.
The Drama Desk and Obie Award-winning Asian-American Off-Broadway MA-YI THEATER COMPANY will present the World Premiere of PEER GYNT & the Norwegian Hapa Band, a new rock musical by Michi Barall, with music by Paul Lieber and Matt Park.
Artistic Director Chay Yew and Managing Director Erica Daniels announce Victory Gardens Theater's participation in The Ghostlight Project, an evening of advocacy at theater companies across the country.
The University of Washington School of Drama will present Jordan Harrison's Maple and Vine, directed by 3rd year MFA director Sean Ryan, January 20th - 29th at the Floyd and Delores Jones Playhouse Theatre on University Way NE.
Seattle Public Theater Interim Artistic Director Kelly Kitchens announced a new biennial $10,000 Emerald Prize to be awarded by the organization.
Boise Contemporary Theater brings the third show of its 16|17 Season to the stage beginning this weekend, Brian Quijada's must-see Jeff Award-winning, Latin-pulsing, hip-hop driven one-man hit, Where Did We Sit on the Bus?, fresh from sold-out shows in Chicago and New York City.
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