Mfoniso Udofia IN OLD AGE To Get World Premiere At Magic Theatre

Magic Theatre (Loretta Greco, Artistic Director and Cierra Cass, Interim Managing Director) announced today the complete cast of Mfoniso Udofia's World Premiere In Old Age, the Company's first production of 2019. In Old Age will be directed by Victor Malana Maog. Previews begin on Wednesday, March 27, 2019 at Magic Theatre's Fort Mason location (Fort Mason, 2 Marina Blvd., Building D, 3rd Floor, San Francisco, CA 94123), with a press opening on Wednesday, April 3, 2019 at 8:00 p.m. Tickets range from $15 - $75 and are on-sale now at MagicTheatre.org.

In In Old Age, seasoned repairman Azell Abernathy arrives at the home of Abasiama Ufot to redo the floors of her dilapidated New England home, where he is surprised to be met with stubborn resistance. The two clash, challenge each other, and eventually form an unlikely spiritual connection. Abasiama and Azell learn the true nature of forgiveness and love, just as her life takes a new turn. This fifth installment of Mfoniso Udofia's Ufot family cycle offers both purge and peacemaking; both frenzy and faith. Other chapters of Mfoniso's cycle (Sojourners, runboyrun) were performed at Magic in the 2015-16 season. Udofia's sweeping nine-part saga tells the multi-generational stories of a family of Nigerian immigrants and their American-born children.

Magic Theatre's production of In Old Age is part of a special collaboration with American Conservatory Theater (A.C.T.). Until March 31,A.C.T. is presenting the fourth installment of Udofia's Ufot family cycle, Her Portmanteau, at the Strand Theater (1127 Market St, San Francisco, CA 94103).

The cast of In Old Age will feature Steven Anthony Jones as "Azell Abernathy" and Nancy Moricette as "Abasiama Ufot."

In addition to Ms. Udofia and Mr. Maog, the creative team includes Andrew Boyce (Scenic Design), Sara Huddleston (Sound Design), Courtney Flores (Costume Design) and York Kennedy (Lighting Design).

"Mfoniso Udofia is a poster child for what we mean when we talk about our Magic Theatre family," said Magic Theatre Artistic Director Loretta Greco. "Since 2013, we've welcomed Mfoniso each year with open arms, to support her work on her visionary nine-play Ufot Family Cycle. It is our sublime privilege to welcome her back home to Magic as we birth the world premiere of her fifth play: In Old Age. This will be especially exciting for audiences who saw our premieres of Mfoniso's first and third cycle plays: Sojourners and runboyrun in the winter of 2016 --and for those who are currently taking in the wonderful production of play four: Her Portmanteau from our cherished colleagues at ACT's Strand Theatre."

"Magic Theater has been one of my artistic homes since 2014," said playwright Mfoniso Udofia. "They are one of the most front-footed and non-risk averse institutions I know. They have already produced two plays from my cycle, Sojourners and runboyrun and it is beyond fitting that In Old Age will world premiere with Magic. I am so excited to come back!"

"It is truly remarkable," said director Victor Malana Maog, "to deliver a world premiere by Mfoniso Udofia, one of this nation's fastest rising and most formidable theatrical voices. In collaboration with this brave, dedicated team of artists, I look forward to bringing Mfoniso's resilient, haunting play to life at Magic. In creating these extraordinarily drawn characters, Mfoniso has expanded the definition of what it means to be an American giant."