UCSB Department of Theater/Dance to Present IN THE RED AND BROWN WATER, 2/27-3/7

The Department of Theater/Dance at UC Santa Barbara presents a play by 2013 MacArthur fellowTarell Alvin McCraney, In the Red and Brown Water. Drawing on folk tales, Yoruba mythology and contemporary poets, this first work in McCraney's The Brother/Sister Plays trilogy tells a coming-of-age story set in a Louisiana bayou housing project. In the Red and Brown Water is directed by guest director, Shirley Jo Finney and runs February 27 through March 7, 2015 in the Hatlen Theater on the UC Santa Barbara campus.

Oya, a promising young track star, looking for a way out of her limited circumstances, has to choose between her dreams of escape and the reality of caring for her mother. Further complicating her situation, she must decide between Ogun Size - the man she "should" be with, and Shango - the man to whom she is passionately drawn. This riveting play is often described as a theatrical poem encompassing story, dance and song.

Shirley Jo Finney and the cast of 10 student actors from the Department of Theater/Dance are taking the playwright's approach to theater as a ritual - where performers share in the experience of storytelling. "Tarell Alvin McCraney's work is unusual and unique," says Finney. "The ritual is not new. It is taking old stories and making them new. Influenced by Lorca, the Greek gods, and Yoruba religion, he sees theater as remembrance," she continues. McCraney states, "The Yoruba believe that when evoking the spirit of the Gods in the space, the goal is not to fully become the deity and lose self, but rather to become oneself more fully and therefore evoke the god in you."

In 2013, Shirley Jo Finney directed In the Red and Brown Water at The Fountain Theater in Los Angeles to great acclaim. She is excited to work on this production again, especially with a diverse cast. "With In the Red and Brown Water, I am working with the students to begin exploring the mixing of two stories from two different cultures - Yerma and Oba - and how they mix, and essentially how those mixtures are what make up the people in Cuba and the Spanish Caribbean, African and European Spanish," said Finney. " I love that this time around I have a diverse cast to fully express this intention."

In rehearsals, the cast has been discussing the ideas of nature, mind, body, spirit, and transformation. Finney is challenging them to consider the intention of the play for themselves and for the audience. She states, "For we cannot go on the journey without knowing what we want our audience to feel. In the Red and Brown Water is a story for us all. Player and audience alike."

For more information or to purchase tickets, please visit our website at www.theaterdance.ucsb.edu or call the box office at (805) 893-2064 Monday through Friday 10:00 am - 5:00 pm.

IN THE RED AND BROWN WATER
written by Tarell Alvin McCraney
directed by Shirley Jo Finney
Feb 27 - 28, Mar 5 - 7 / 8 PM
Mar 1 / 2 PM
UCSB Hatlen Theater

Tickets:

$17 General Admission

$13 UCSB Students/Faculty/Staff/Alumni, Senior/Child