Intiman Theatre announced today its plans to produce both parts of Tony Kushner's acclaimed epic Angels In America as part of its annual 2014 Theatre Festival.
Pacific Northwest audiences will be given the rare opportunity of seeing Millennium Approaches and Perestroika, the two parts that make up Angels in America, in alternating repertory performances at Intiman's long-term home, the Cornish Playhouse (201 Mercer Street), in late summer of 2014.
The play is consistent with the theatre's mission to produce theatre that is relevant to our time and as diverse as the community in which we live, and celebrates the theatre's history.
After significant campaigning Artistic Director
Warner Shook snagged the rights to produce the first regional theatre production after Millenium Approaches won the Tony Award on Broadway in 1994. Twenty years later his brave and masterful production still remains in the memories of those who attended.
The planned 2014 Festival is entitled The Angels Project and will consist of Angels In America, Part 1 and 2, with a 3rd play under consideration. In addition the theatre will organize readings ,talkbacks, parties, panel discussions, special events and other additional programming that will contextualize and illuminate the many themes and situations presented in Kushner's modern American classic.
Additional programming for The Angels Project will be announced in early 2014.
"Angels is like an opera without music, one of the great American plays, and captures an American dynamic that still today is relevant and resonant," said Producing Artistic Director
Andrew Russell."Producing both of these plays in repertory will give Seattle actors and designers a unique and once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, and I look forward to sharing this magical and moving story with an entirely new generation of audiences." Millennium Approaches won the 1993 Tony for Best Play and the 1993 Pulitzer Prize for Drama,and Perestroika won the 1994 Tony Award for Best Play. Intiman's production of Millennium Approaches closed the 1994 season, and Perestroika opened the 1995 season. In 2003 both plays were adapted into an HBO mini-series directed by
Mike Nichols.
As part of its annual fundraising cycle
Intiman Theatre has launched the Take Flight fundraising campaign. The theatre is now accepting donations that will go directly towards producing The Angels Project. Since launching the fundraising campaign in late September over 150 individual donors have come forward to donate towards 2014.
Keeping with their deep commitment to the theatre, and to ensure necessary resources to adequately produce this important production,
Intiman Theatre's board of trustees has committed to 100 percent donor participation for the 2014 festival. Donations can be mailed to PO BOX 19537, Seattle WA 91809, or made online at
Intiman.org.
