Arena Stage's THE ORIGINALIST, About Justice Antonin Scalia, Available On-Demand

Following a world-premiere televised broadcast on THIRTEEN's Theater Close-Up, John Strand's "The Originalist", captured live on-stage from Arena Stage at the Mead Center for American Theater in Washington, D.C., is available to stream on-demand at vimeo.com/ondemand/TheOriginalist.

Edward Gero stars as one of America's most brilliant and polarizing figures: Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia. When bright, liberal, Harvard Law School graduate Cat (Kerry Warren) embarks on a nerve-wracking clerkship with Justice Scalia, she discovers him to be both an infuriating sparring partner and an unexpected mentor. How will their relationship affect one of the most incendiary cases ever to reach the nation's highest court? Along the way, Cat's relationship with Scalia is complicaTed Further by Brad (Harlan Work), an adversarial law clerk on Scalia's staff.

Edward Gero is a four-time Helen Hayes Award winner and fifteen-time nominee. Regional credits include "The Originalist" (Arena Stage, Asolo Repertory, Pasadena Playhouse); "Red" and "King Lear" (Goodman); "Nixon's Nixon" and "The Night Alive" (Round House); "Sweeney Todd" (Signature Theatre); "A Christmas Carol" and "Hello, Dolly!" (Ford's Theatre); and "American Buffalo", "Shining City" and "Skylight" (Studio Theatre). In 32 seasons with Shakespeare Theatre Company, his over 70 roles include Helen Hayes turns in "Henry IV", "Richard II" and "Macbeth". He is a Ten Chimneys 2015 Lunt-Fontanne Fellow and associate professor of theater at George Mason University.

Author John Strand's Arena Stage commissions include "Snow Child", "The Originalist", "The Miser", "Lovers and Executioners" (MacArthur Award) and "Tom Walker". Recent works include the book and lyrics for "Hat! A Vaudeville" (South Coast Repertory); "Lincolnesque" (Old Globe); and "Lorenzaccio" (Shakespeare Theatre Company), and the book for the musical "The Highest Yellow" (Signature Theatre). His novel "Commieland" was published by Kiwai Media, Paris in 2013. He is currently at work on a new play about President Teddy Roosevelt for Arena Stage and on the film adaptation of "The Originalist".

Director Molly Smith has served as Arena Stage's Artistic Director since 1998 and directed more than 30 productions for the company. She led the re-invention of Arena Stage, focusing on the architecture and creation of the Mead Center for American Theater and positioning Arena Stage as a national center for American artists. During her time with the company, Arena Stage has workshopped more than 100 productions, produced 39 world premieres, staged numerous second and thiRD Productions and has nurtured nine projects that went on to have a life on Broadway, including the 2017 Tony-nominated musical, "Dear Evan Hansen". "The Originalist" will return to Arena Stage during summer 2017 and will play Chicago's Court Theatre in 2018.

Watch the trailer and check out the full program below!

---

"The Originalist" capture is a production of Stage17 Productions, David Stoller, Chairman. It was produced and directed for television by Diana Basmajian. Earlier this year, "The Originalist" was broadcast by WNET on THIRTEEN, as part of the Theater Close-Up Series. Stage17, a leading commercial producer of filmed theater, is capturing the finest original work from the country's leading regional theaters to share with the world. "The Originalist" marks Stage17's first nationally distributed filmed stage play and is one of several productions it has filmed thus far at LORT Theaters and leading theaters for young audiences across America. Stage17 is committed to bringing exceptional theater to the digital stage by utilizing best in class technology, techniques, and distribution methods.