Photo Flash: Dessa Rose Opens at TheatreWorks

Dessa Rose makes its West Coast Premiere at TheatreWorks, opening Oct. 7 with performances through Oct. 29.

Composed and written by Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty, (Ragtime, Once On This Island, and My Favorite Year) Dessa Rose is a powerful tale of pride, perseverance, and the unlikely friendship forged between an abandoned southern belle and a rebellious slave girl escaping the antebellum South. Called "a soulful hymn to ancestry and sisterhood" by Variety, this compelling musical based upon the best-selling novel by Sherley Anne Williams captures the rhythms and roots of 19th century America. TheatreWorks Founding Artistic Director Robert Kelley helms this powerful story of courage and freedom.

Performances are Oct. 7 through 29.  Show times are Tuesdays at 7:30PM (no performance October 24); Wednesdays through Fridays at 8:00PM; Saturdays at 2 & 8:00PM (evenings only October 7, 28); and Sundays at 2 & 7:00PM (matinees only October 8, 29).  "Visual Voice" audio-described performances are available October 27, 28 at 8:00PM, and October 29 at 2:00PM.

TheatreWorks at the Mountain View Center for the Performing Arts 500 Castro St. (at Mercy), Mountain View.

Tickets ($35-62) are available by calling 650-903-6000 or visiting www.theatreworks.org; savings available for youth, students, seniors, and members.

 

Photos by David Allen

 

l-r, Dessa Rose (Carly Hughes), Dorcas
(C. Kelly Wright), and Ruth (Linda Mugleston)

 

l-r, Harker (Brian Yates Scharber), Dessa Rose (Carly Hughes),
and Nathan ( John Eric Parker) gaze at the stars

 

The cast of Dessa Rose at TheatreWorks

 

Dessa Rose (Carly Hughes) and Kaine
(Carmichael Blankenship) share an embrace

 

Ruth (Linda Mugleston) and Nathan
(John Eric Parker) share a moment

 

l-r, Kaine (Carmichael Blankenship Blankenship)
and Dessa Rose (Carly Hughes),Ruth (Linda
Mugleston) and Nathan (John Eric Parker)

 

Dessa Rose (r, Carly Hughes) scolds Ruth (c, Linda
Mugleston) as Oscar (l, Brian Frutiger) watches

 

Nehemiah (r, Ian Leonard) preaches to Rose
(l, Cathleen Ridley), Annabel (c. left, Dawn
Troupe), and Dorcas (c, C. Kelly Wright)

 

Nehemiah (Ian Leonard) chats with Dessa (Carly Hughes)

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