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CINCINNATI PLAYHOUSE IN THE PARK PRESENTS CRITICALLY ACCLAIMED (CINCINNATI) – The Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park opens its Thompson Shelterhouse theatre season with one of The New York Times' 10 best plays of last year, In The Continuum, written by Danai Gurira and Nikkole Salter and directed by Robert O’Hara. Living worlds apart, two black women find themselves on separate and yet strikingly similar journeys of self-denial and self-discovery when each discovers she is pregnant and has been infected with HIV in this critically-acclaimed drama, which runs September 30 to October 29. Abigail is a successful news reader for the Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation. Pregnant with her second child, she hopes the fact will steady her philandering husband, that another baby will “make him act better.” As a result, she is sent reeling by her medical news, causing her to seek the advice of everyone from a traditional healer to a sex worker. Nia is a teenage girl with a blossoming talent in poetry living in South Central Los Angeles. Estranged from her own family, she is persuaded that her pregnancy may secure a long-term future with her boyfriend, a graduating high school basketball player with high hopes for college scholarships and then a shot at the NBA. Over the course of one weekend, the women get a first encounter with the realities and cultural biases that exist surrounding AIDS in their countries, and they must come to terms with the life-changing revelations of the diagnosis. In The Continuum was described by Newsday as “stunning, uplifting, exhilarating and witheringly funny.” The show comes to the Playhouse as a production of New York’s Primary Stages and Perry Street Theatre, where it originated. It features Nikkole Salter, an original co-author and actress, as Nia, along with Tinashe Kajese (who previously appeared in the Playhouse’s production of Blue) as Abigail. Show creators Ms. Gurira and Ms. Salter were graduate students together at New York University in 2003, each working on monologues about HIV and AIDS for an acting project. A professor suggested they combine their efforts. What the two found through their individual research and character development was that the stories formed interesting parallels. As they wrote in their notes for the show, "In The Continuum was born of our profound concern for the experience of black women in the present fight against HIV/AIDS. Black women currently represent the highest rate of new infections both in the U.S. and Africa, and this is a story told from that perspective. … It is a representation of the humanity behind the statistics and an invitation for more unheard stories to be brought “In(to) the Continuum”. In The Continuum received its world premiere in September 2005 at Primary Stages in New York City. It subsequently moved to the Perry Street Theatre in November of that same year. The show received enormous critical acclaim during its initial run, described as “a drama that teaches without preaching and a heartbreaker that stirs without schmaltz” by Variety and as “a subtle, smartly staged piece” by The Village Voice. According to The Wall Street Journal, the show is “a must-see event.” In addition to director Robert O’Hara, other members of the production team include Peter R. Feuchtwanger (Set Designer), Sarah Hillard (Costume Designer), Colin D. Young (Lighting Designer), Lindsay Jones (Sound Designer), Jay Duckworth (Properties Designer), Samone Weissman (Production Stage Manager) and Stephanie Klapper (Casting Director). Tickets to In The Continuum are on sale now. Prices range from $43.50-$52.50, depending on day and seat location. All tickets are $36.50 for the preview performances at 5 p.m. Saturday, September 30; 7 p.m. Sunday, October 1; 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, October 3; and 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, October 4. The official opening night is Thursday, October 5 at 8 p.m. On Friday, September 29, the Playhouse will host a special preview performance of the show benefiting AIDS Volunteers of Cincinnati. Guests are invited to attend a pre-show reception beginning at 6 p.m. and then the show’s final dress rehearsal. Tickets are $50, with 100 percent of the proceeds benefiting AVOC. To purchase these general admission tickets, please call AVOC at (513) 287-7116. AVOC’s mission is to fight HIV/AIDS through education, services and compassionate care, one person at a time. AVOC provides case management and support, prevention education programs and free HIV testing to the 16 counties of the Greater Cincinnati area. Any unreserved tickets are half-price every day when purchased between 11 a.m. and 5 p.m. on the day of the show (for performances Tuesday through Saturday) and from 12 to 5 p.m. on Sunday. The Playhouse is fully accessible. Audio enhancement receivers, large print programs and complete wheelchair access are available. For tickets to In The Continuum or for more information, call the Playhouse box office at 513/421-3888 or toll-free in Ohio, Kentucky and Indiana at 800/582-3208. Call 513/345-2248 for TDD accessibility. For single tickets purchased by telephone through the Playhouse box office there is a $3 convenience fee per call. Tickets also can be purchased on the Playhouse web site at www.cincyplay.com. Artists fly to and from Cincinnati on Delta Connection Comair, the Playhouse’s official airline. The Playhouse is supported, in part, by the generosity of the tens of thousands of individuals and businesses that give to the Fine Arts Fund. The Ohio Arts Council helps fund the Playhouse with state tax dollars to encourage economic growth, educational excellence and cultural enrichment for all Ohioans. The Playhouse also receives funding from the City of Cincinnati. |
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Meet the Artists 2 p.m. Sunday, October 8 Dining Options Karlo's Bistro at the Playhouse offers full-service dining prior to most evening performances. Dinners include salad, entrée and dessert. Reservations are required by noon on the day of the show. The price is $21, which does not include gratuity. Karlo's Casual Fare offers busy theatre patrons an alternative light, quick bite prior to the show. Options include salads, sandwiches, soups, pasta and desserts. No reservations are required. Sponsors Production Sponsor: Fine Arts Fund Partners: The 2006-2007 Shelterhouse Theatre Series is presented by The Shelterhouse Season Design Sponsor is ### |
