FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Date: February 2, 2004
Contact: Christa Skiles
Public Relations Director
513-345-2242, ext. 232

CINCINNATI PLAYHOUSE IN THE PARK CONTINUES 2003-2004 MARX THEATRE SEASON WITH HIT PLAY BLUE, MARCH 2-APRIL 2

(CINCINNATI) — The Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park’s 2003-2004 Marx Theatre season continues with Charles Randolph-Wright’s hit comedy-drama of hot passions and sweet jazz, Blue. The show begins previews on March 2 and continues through April 2.

In small-town Kent, South Carolina, business is booming for the members of the affluent Clark family, who run the only African American owned funeral home around. Smart, stylish Peggy holds court at family gatherings and runs up the credit cards while husband Sam Jr. runs the business, mother-in-law Tillie runs amok with unsolicited advice, Sam III runs with the girls and 12-year-old Reuben just runs for cover.

Although Reuben is the younger of Peggy’s two sons, he is wise beyond his years, extremely bright and also artistic. Reuben often finds himself caught in the middle of many a delicate family situation — whether covering for his rebellious older brother or running interference between his mother and his feisty grandmother. Reuben also is struggling to define his own dreams — ones that don’t necessarily mesh with his mother’s wishes for him to become a famous trumpeter.

The family’s story is accompanied by the soulful music of Blue Williams, one of Peggy’s favorite jazz singers. But as the play traces the saga of the Clarks over the course of more than a decade, it becomes clear that the mysterious singer provides not only the soundtrack to their lives, but also the key to a family secret.

Blue broke box office records when it premiered at Arena Stage in April 2000 and in subsequent productions at Roundabout Theatre Company and the Pasadena Playhouse.Playwright Charles Randolph-Wright also has written the critically acclaimed Showtime television series Linc's (which he also produced), co-authored the screenplays White Chocolate with John Leguizamo and Homework with Kim Coles and written the screenplays Legacy and Guns, Wigs and Lipstick. He co-wrote and directed Homework at Crossroads Theatre and Coast Playhouse and The Diva is Dismissed at The Joseph Papp Public Theater/New York Shakespeare Festival.

Also a critically acclaimed director, Mr. Randolph-Wright’s credits include the Arena Stage and national touring production of Guys and Dolls; Oak and Ivy, Senor Discretion Himself and Anthems at Arena Stage; the 20th anniversary production of Hair at the United Nations; and Tartuffe and Insurrection: Holding History at American Conservatory Theater.

As a performer, Mr. Randolph-Wright appeared in the cast of the original Broadway production of Dreamgirls and on television’s Hill Street Blues and Melrose Place. He is a graduate of Duke University and a recipient of grants from the National Theatre Residency Program of Theatre Communications Group, the Pew Charitable Trusts and National Endowment for the Arts.

Performed live, the musical score of Blue was written by Nona Hendryx, best known as one third of the funk-soul vocal trio LaBelle, whose 1975 hit song “Lady Marmalade” recently topped the charts once again in a contemporary remake for the film Moulin Rouge. The play’s 10 songs are intended to represent 10 different periods in the fictional Blue Williams’ musical career. The song’s lyrics were written by Nona Hendryx and Charles Randolph-Wright.

The cast for Blue includes Denise Burse, making her Playhouse debut, as Peggy and Peter Jay Fernandez, who appeared as Marvell Thunder in the Playhouse’s 1999 production of Thunder Knocking on the Door, as Samuel Clark, Jr. Making their Playhouse debuts are Brenda Thomas as Tillie, Rashad J. Anthony as Samuel Clark III, Yusef Miller as Reuben and Tinashe Kajese as LaTonya. Kevyn Morrow (also a veteran of the Playhouse’s Thunder cast) returns as the mysterious singer Blue Williams. Thirteen-year-old Cincinnati native and School for Creative and Performing Arts honor roll student Darnell Smith, Jr. makes his Playhouse debut in the roles of Baby Blue and Young Reuben.

Blue is directed by Kenny Leon, artistic director of Atlanta’s True Colors Theatre Company and former artistic director of the Alliance Theatre Company, where he served for more than a decade. Among Mr. Leon’s extensive credits are the upcoming Broadway revival of Lorraine Hansberry’s A Raisin in the Sun, featuring Sean “P. Diddy” Combs, Audra McDonald and Phylicia Rashad. The musical director is Dwight Andrews. Other members of the production team for Blue include Marjorie Bradley Kellogg (set designer), Susan E. Mickey (costume designer), Tom Sturge (lighting designer) and Marc Gwinn (sound designer). The production stage manager is Bruce E. Coyle and the stage manager is Jenifer Morrow.

Prices for Blue range from $32.50-$44.50, depending on day and seat location. All tickets are $29.50 for the preview performances at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, March 2 and 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, March 3. The official opening night is Thursday, March 4 at 8:00 p.m. Any unreserved tickets are half-price every day when purchased at the Playhouse 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.

Tickets to Blue are on sale now. 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 $2 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.

Meet the Artists
These free programs allow audiences to interact with cast members and others associated with the production following the show.

2 p.m. Sunday, March 7
7:30 p.m. Wednesday, March 10
2 p.m. Sunday, March 21
8 p.m. Thursday, March 25

Audio Described Performance
5 p.m. Saturday, March 6

Signed Performance
2 p.m. Sunday, March 7

Playhouse Perspectives
A free, pre-show lecture series featuring theatre experts and artists. Funding provided by Roderick and Barbara Barr. Playwright Charles Randolph-Wright is the featured speaker.
6 p.m. Sunday, March 14

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 at least 24 hours in advance. 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:
Love Family Foundation, Inc.

Production Design Sponsor:
Convergys

Peggy Clark Sponsor:
The Evelo Group Private Wealth Management

Fine Arts Fund Partners:
American Financial Group and
The Kroger Company

The 2003-2004 Marx Theatre Series is presented by
The Otto M. Budig Family Foundation.

The Marx Season Design Sponsor is
The Cinergy Foundation.

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