2012-13 Season Brochure

Ibsen/Miller • Kwei-Armah • Norris • Hall • Wegrzyn • Thorne • Inge

2012–13 Season

5 0 Y e a r s o f w o r l d - c l a s s t h e ate r

57 Takes on America Today Welcome to my first season as Artistic Director—that is,

Ibsen/Miller

the first where the choice of plays and players has stemmed from my own heart and mind.

The Completely Fictional–Utterly True–

Final Strange Tale of Edgar Allan

exciting new plays revolve around the notion of Conversation.

Locally and nationally, civically and artistically, our aim is to be a focal point for

art as a catalyst for debate. I hope that when you leave a show, whether you

have loved it or not, you will have been exposed to an idea, an emotion, or an experience that will stay with you long after you have left the auditorium.

So join us again as we celebrate CENTERSTAGE’s place at the heart of this community. Come help us reflect it, serve it, be it.

JOIN NOW!

Thorne

POE

At its core, next season’s selection of great classics and

Kwame Kwei-Armah Follow me on twitter, @kwamekweiarmah

An Enemy of t h e People

MUD Blue

SKY

Wegrzyn

The Raisin Cycle:

c ly b o u r n e

PArk

Playing in rotating repertory

MyAmerica

50 New Plays

introducing a new body of work by some of America’s foremost playwrights.

See page 9 for details.

BUS

STOP The

INGe

Beneatha’s

PLACE Kwei-Armah Hall

Mountaintop

www.centerstage.org Box Office 410.332.0033

Become a Member by June 25 and SAVE up to 44%. See page 10 for details.

All titles, artists, and dates subject to change. All sales final.

Photography by Brion McCarthy.

By Henrik Ibsen Adapted by Arthur Miller Directed by Kwame Kwei-Armah American icon Arthur Miller (The Price, Death of a Salesman) takes on Ibsen’s classic conundrum, pitting brother against brother and a community against itself.

Just in time for election season comes this riveting saga that asks, does the good of some outweigh the good of the rest?

1 | CENTERSTAGE

An Enemy o f th e People

Ibsen/Miller

Sep 19 – Oct 21

A conversation between two lead actors swapping roles to explore the same character takes center stage in An Enemy of the People— itself a conversation between originator Henrik Ibsen and adaptor Arthur Miller.

—Kwame

Norris

7 plays, including 3 new works, 2 world premieres, and a Pulitzer Prize winner & 50 three-minute monologues by America’s leading playwrights.

22001122-–21031 3

Thorne

2012-13 season Oct 17 – Nov 25

By Stephen Thorne Directed by Curt Columbus

Hometown favorite Bruce Nelson stars in this tale of the morbid life and mysterious final days of Baltimore’s treasured emblem of oddness, E.A. Poe. By turns a madcap vaudeville and a touching examination of artistic aspiration, this new script playfully and poignantly adds up the sum of a life lived.

A dialogue between Baltimore and its icon, Edgar Allan Poe, pulses at the heart of this hilarious-yet-enchanting play.

—Kwame

The Completely Fictional– Utterly True– Final Strange Tale of Edgar Allan

POE

By William Inge

BUS 3 | CENTERSTAGE

STOP

In this 1955 romantic classic by William Inge (Picnic), a busload of strangers, down on their luck in love and bound for other places, wait out a snowstorm in Grace’s Kansas diner. From rodeo champ Bo and Cherie the chanteuse to forlorn Dr. Lyman and starry-eyed Elma, everyone’s chasing their slice of the American Dream, and someone to share it with.

And yes, that was Marilyn Monroe in the movie.

inge

Nov 21 – Dec 23

Called the “Playwright of the Midwest,” William Inge embodied on stage the conversations of everyday middle America, awash in big dreams but sometimes isolated by more than distance.

—Kwame

Hall

2012-13 season Jan 9 – Feb 24

By Katori Hall Directed by Kwame Kwei-Armah

The Mountaintop

The Lorraine Hotel. April, 1968. In room 306, Dr. King unwinds and prepares. A visit from a hotal maid offers welcome diversion and a challenging new perspective—but also raises profound and surprising questions. Already a worldwide sensation, recently hailed in a starstudded Broadway production, Katori Hall’s sensitive new play gets its first showing for Baltimore audiences.

The conversation continues in Katori Hall’s wondrous new play, The Mountaintop, as a fascinating exchange unfolds between Martin Luther King, Jr. and a hotel maid on the last eveing of his life.

—Kwame

World Premiere

By Marisa Wegrzyn Directed by Susanna Gellert Work, motherhood, missed connections, and prom night form the backdrop for Marisa Wegrzyn’s tender, funny new play. In a nondescript hotel room near O’Hare Airport, three flight attendants and an unlikely fourth companion poise on the brink of looking back and moving ahead.

The World Premiere of Marisa Wegrzyn’s Mud Blue Sky is nothing short of a brilliant conversation investigating our fears and hopes and how we negotiate with them, oft-times simultaneously.

—Kwame

5 | CENTERSTAGE

MUD Blue

SKY

Wegrzyn

Mar 6 – Apr 14

Norris

2012-13 season

Apr 10 – Jun 9

By Bruce Noris Directed by Derrick Sanders

clybourne

PArk

The Raisin Cycle Performed in repertory

May 8 – Jun 9

World Premiere

By Kwame Kwei-Armah Directed by Derrick Sanders For his first drama set in America, Artistic Director Kwame Kwei-Armah (Let There Be Love, Elmina’s Kitchen) offers his own response to Hansberry, continuing the conversation initiated in Clybourne Park.

B e n e at h a’ s

7 | CENTERSTAGE

PLACE

Kwei-Armah

Finally, we rock out the end of the season with a lively call-and-response between Bruce Norris’ celebrated look at race and gentrification, Clybourne Park, and the premiere of a new play penned by me, Beneatha’s Place, that replies to both Clybourne and its inspiration, Hansberry’s A Raisin in the Sun. These plays will perform in rotating repertory, in what we are calling The Raisin Cycle.

—Kwame

The Pulitzer Prize-winning drama taking America by storm. Picking up where Lorraine Hansberry left off in her landmark A Raisin in the Sun (2001-02 Season), The New York Times called Clybourne Park a “darkly humorous…dissection of race, gentrification and real estate.”

Tracie Thoms

Kali Rocha

E. faye Butler & Toccarra Cash

John Goodman

Here’s a sneak peek

Carrie Preston

at some of our anniversary events.

Avery Brooks

F. Murray Abraham

Lise Bruneau

To learn more about the events and these photos from our first 50 years, visit www.centerstage.org/50.

50 fest: 50th Anniversary Celebration Weekend September 27–30, 2012

Melissa Leo & Dennis Parlato

Opening Night of the 50th Anniversary Season, An Enemy of the People.

A three-day festival of performances from across Maryland, in conjunction with the Baltimore Book Festival.

Pamela PaytonWright

A special expanded edition of Backstage@CENTERSTAGE, our annual open house.

Kyra Sedgwick

Introducing 50 New Plays:

Samuel L. Jackson

Photos on these pages

by Richard Anderson.

MyAmerica

Voices ranging from Lynn Nottage, Eric Overmyer, and Paula Vogel to Christopher Durang and Anna Deveare Smith explore the question “What is my America?” in ways we can’t begin to imagine. Tired of the old debate? We bring you fresh food for thought and discussion leading up to November 2012. These 50 short monologues will be filmed by Possible Films, led by award-winning director Hal Hartley, and showcased at the theater and online.

Decade Play Reading A one-night, star-studded

staging of hits and highlights from from our first 50 years.

Delroy Lindo & Seret Scott

Our 50th Anniversary Gala Robert Dorfman

Jada Pinkett Smith & Bruce A. Young

Media Partners

For sponsorship opportunities, call Cindi Monahan at 410.986.4020.

Jefferson Mays

Laurence O’Dwyer

Michael C. Hall

Boyd Gaines & Diane Fratantoni

Jimmy Smits

Clayton LeBouef

Thomas Jefferson Byrd

5 0 ye a r s o f Wo r l d - c l a s s t h e ate r 9 | CENTERSTAGE

Terry O’Quinn

Robert Sean Leonard

Why Join Now? >>Save up to 44% over

full-price membership.

>>Unlimited ticket exchanges. >>Prime seat locations go fast— guarantee the best seats for the whole season!

>>Discount packages sell out quickly.

www.centerstage.org Box Office 410.332.0033

Become by a Membe5r& June 2

SupAtoV44E%

Play LabS

classic series SAVE up to 44%

Flex Passes SAVE up to 38%

See all 7 Classic Series productions (complete list on pg 1).

This traditional package is the gold standard for a reason: you guarantee yourself the absolute best seat assignments for the entire season, and for as long as you continue to renew.

Previews Weekdays Weekends

AP Full Price $257 $292 $362

AP Members $210 $238 $294

Savings 18% 18% 19%

Previews Weekdays Weekends

A Full Price $225 $260 $330

A Members $182 $210 $266

Savings 19% 19% 19%

Previews Weekdays Weekends

B Full Price $177 $212 $282

B Members $70 Out Sold $119 $175

Each pass is good for one seat to any play in the Classic Series (minimum purchase: 4 passes).

You can use one pass per show for 4 different shows, or all 4 passes on a single evening. You can redeem right away, or at the last minute (based on availability at the time of redemption). You’ll get select Member Rewards, and we’ll email you regularly to remind you of what’s coming up. It’s real, maximum flexiness.

Previews

Save up to 38%

$25 per pass

Weekends

Save up to 13%

$35 per pass

Weekdays

Save up to 25%

Additional 10% OFF for Military, Seniors, and Educators

Any Preview Series or Wednesday Matinees*

Savings 60% 44% 38%

For an active member of any branch of the military; a senior citizen (age 62 or over); or an educator at any instruction level. (Based on availability.) *ID required

EASY PAYMENT Plan on any package!

Book by Aug 3 and set up a two- or three-payment installment plan.

Add them now and save 50% (two readings for just $10).

Once again, we’re complementing our fully staged productions with two diverse play readings, and opening up the process to you. Titles and dates will be announced soon.

Order Today

Please visit us online at www.centerstage.org/playlabs for updates.

Pearlstone Theater

Opening Night Performance and Party

See the Opening Night performance and then party post-show with the cast, the crew, and the staff of CENTERSTAGE. The package includes the show and the party (music, tasty light snacks, and a complimentary beverage).

NOTE: Opening Nights will be at 8 pm for the 2012-13 Season. The Opening Night Series includes a performance of An Enemy of the People, but not an official Opening Night party. We apologize for any inconvenience, and we have adjusted the price accordingly.

Opening Night 8 pm Wednesday

Full Price Members AP (Premium) A B 11 | CENTERSTAGE

$352 $320 $272

$276 $250 $168

B

AP

A

AP

22% 22% 38%

Head Theater

New memberships go on sale May 14.

B

AP

A

A

B A

Rows G–H

Row A

A A

A

A

Rows G–H

A

A A A

Orchestra

Row AA

A

Previews (first week of performances only): Tue, Wed, Fri, Sat at 8 pm; Thu at 7 pm; Sun at 2 pm & 7:30 pm

Stage

A

B

Performance Days Savings

$30 per pass

Row AA

Row AA

A

Betsy’s Bar

Row J

Mezzanine

Weekdays: Weekends: Tue, Wed at 8 pm; Fri, Sat at 8 pm; Thu at 7 pm; Sat, Sun at 2 pm Sun at 7:30 pm; Wed Matinee at 1 pm

All titles and dates subject to change.

www.centerstage.org

Box Office 410.332.0033 centerstagemd centerstage_md

Member Rewards

If you purchase a Classic Series or 4 Flex Passes, you are an official Member of CENTERSTAGE!

All Members receive the following benefits:

FREE PRE- and POST-SHOW EVENTS

• Save between 18% and 44% off of non-Member prices with these packages.

Don’t forget the following free events. All you have to do is sign up for the appropriate nights, and we’ll do the rest.

• Unlimited, service-charge-free ticket exchanges with 24 hours advance notice.

• The absolute best seats before tickets go on sale to the general public.

• Express Intermission Drinks: order your intermission drinks before the show and save 50%! Just show your ticket or membership card when ordering.

• Be first in line to buy tickets for limited engagements.

• Discounts (up to $6) for extra tickets for family, friends, or co-workers.

AfterThoughts—Post-show discussion with our Dramaturgy team on most Thursdays and select matinees (see order form).

Night Out—Pre-show event for our lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender patrons; Tuesday previews.

Meet the Actors—Audience Q&A with the actors on the first Friday after Opening Night.* Audio Description and Open Captioning—Performances for our vision- and hearing-impaired patrons (see order form for details).

• Prepaid parking vouchers available for purchase with this order.

• Email reminders, so you never forget an upcoming performance!

* Please note due to Season Opening events, the Meet the Actors conversation for An Enemy of the People will be on a Friday later in the run.

Support 50 Years of World-Class Theater

CENTERSTAGE has reached a significant milestone— and we’re so glad you’ll be here to join us as we celebrate throughout the Season.

But first, a challenge. We’re asking our Members

(those most committed to the theater) to make a gift in honor of CENTERSTAGE’s 50th Anniversary Season.

Your support will directly impact our ability to continue to serve thousands of Maryland residents each year through artistic, educational, and community outreach programming. And the best part is, you will help ensure that CENTERSTAGE’s future is bright for the next 50 years.

Please visit www.centerstage.org/donate.

Easy to drive, easy to park, easy to eat and drink!

DRIVE

We’re at the corner of Monument and Calvert Streets:

Calvert St

just two blocks off the Guilford Avenue exit of I-83/

Jones Falls Expressw

● ✪

Washington Monument

13 | CENTERSTAGE

the iconic Washington Monument and Park and 10 blocks north of the Inner Harbor.

PARK

Most patrons park directly across the street at the

Chesapeake Center Garage. When you purchase your

St Paul St

(It’s one less thing to worry about on the day of the

PRE-SHOW DINING at Sascha’s Express!

Our Mezzanine Lobby hosts Sascha’s Express,

featuring a full prix fixe meal, sandwiches, salads,

and decadent desserts, before every CENTERSTAGE performance. For hours, menus, and prices, visit www.centerstage.org/saschas.

For more information on driving, parking, and dining, visit www.centerstage.org/visit.

show.) If you prefer, there are numerous other garages and lots, as well as limited on-street parking, within a Orleans St.

✪

Jones Falls Expressway in Mt. Vernon—one block from

memberships or tickets, you can purchase pre-paid $5 parking vouchers from the Box Office if you wish.

Centre St

St Paul Pl

E. Franklin St

p

Guilford Ave

E. Monument St

N. Charles St

The Walters Museum Of Art

Washington Place

N. Charles St

ay

E. Madison St

ay The Fallsw

St Paul St

Cathedral St

N. Charles St

E. Read St

P

Chesapeake Center Garage

three-block radius. Parking vouchers are not valid for Wednesday Matinees.

www.centerstage.org | Box Office 410.332.0033 |

centerstagemd |

centerstage_md

2 0 1 2 – 1 3 • Ibsen/Miller • Lydia Diamond • Wegrzyn Kia Corthron • Quiara • • Lynn Nottage • Hall • An EnemyHudes MUD Blue Kwei-Armah E V SA• o f th e • Naomi Wallace • Thorne • Dael People Orlandersmith INGE SKY• Laura Lippman • Anna Deveare Smith la Vogel • Norris • Melanie Marnich • Eric Overmyer • Rinne Groff • Lee c ly b o u r n e • Chay Yew • Neil Labute • Danny Hoch • Christopher singPOE Durang •PArk Rajiv Joseph • Matthew Lopez • Sam Hunter Become by a Membe5r& June 2 up to 44%

Wegrzyn

Ibsen/Miller

The Completely Fictional–Utterly True–

The Raisin Cycle:

Final Strange Tale of Edgar Allan

Norris

Thorne

Playing in rotating repertory

BUS

STOP The

Beneatha’s

INGE

PLACE Kwei-Armah

Hall

Mountaintop

www.centerstage.org | Box Office 410.332.0033 centerstagemd

centerstage_md

State Theater of Maryland Kwame Kwei-Armah, Artistic Director • Stephen Richard, Managing Director 700 North Calvert Street Baltimore, MD 21202-3686

Non-Profit Org U.S. Postage PAID Baltimore, MD Permit No. 2973