By The Way, Meet Vera Stark at American River College Theatre

"By the Way, Meet Vera Stark" tackles Hollywood's color barrier with biting wit and stunning star power (Running Nov. 24-Dec. 3 at ARC)

If you haven't met Vera Stark yet, you're missing something very special. She's smart, talented, funny, and gorgeous—but Classic Hollywood only sees her color. In Lynn Nottage's brilliant, sharp-edged comedy "By the Way, Meet Vera Stark," audiences finally get to see Vera's talent—and also what she faced for decades due to Hollywood's infamous color barrier. The play runs Nov. 24 through Dec. 3 at American River College's Stage Two Theatre. Tickets sell quickly in this intimate space, so advance purchase is recommended at ARCTheatre.org.

Directed by Nancy Silva and Corey D. Winfield, and starring award-winning actress Alexandria Wilson, "Vera Stark" is based on the lives of the black women who truly paid the price for Hollywood's color barrier: women like Hattie MacDaniel, Fredi Washington, Alice B. Russell, and, in particular Theresa Harris. Despite their talent, these women were only offered roles as maids, nannies and other subservient, background characters. In "By the Way, Meet Vera Stark," Pulitzer Prize-winner Nottage honors the work of these women by showing their struggles through the irrepressible Vera. Vera is a maid to Hollywood's darling, Gloria Mitchell... but she is also her confidant, scene coach, friend, and equal in talent. Gloria is afforded all the opportunities Vera is denied, yet their relationship onscreen and off spans decades. Infused with biting satire, stark honesty, and slapstick situations, The New York Post writes that "This show...is so informed and incisive while being wildly entertaining [it] may be Nottage's biggest achievement here: In a way she's beaten Hollywood at its own game." From the 1930s to the 1970s, Vera's journey is something everyone should see and no one will forget.

All performances of By the Way, Meet Vera Stark will be at American River College's Stage Two Theatre, 4700 College Oak Drive, Sacramento. Parking is $2 next to the theatre at the corner of College Oak and Myrtle. For tickets and more information, go to ARCTheatre.org, or call (916) 484-8234.

PRODUCTION DATES & DETAILS

American River College Theatre Presents

BY THE WAY MEET VERA STARK

By Lynn Nottage

Directed by Nancy Silva & Corey D. Winfield

Performances

Thurs/Fri/Sat Nov. 24, 25, 30 & Dec. 1, 2 at 7:30pm

Sundays Nov. 26 & Dec. 3 at 2pm