A theatrical adaptation of John Dos Passos' U.S.A. Trilogy is headed for Arlington, VA's American Century Theatre, where it will open on June 22nd.
"Few were more probing,
controversial and fascinating than novelist John Dos Passos. Dos
Passos's writing style, the literary equivalent of jazz, is out of
fashion these days. But his epic U.S.A. trilogy of novels written between 1930 and 1937 (The 42nd Parallel, Nineteen-Nineteen and The Big Money)
is more relevant and vivid than ever. In 1959, Dos Passes worked with
dramatist Paul Shyre (later known for authoring James Whitmore's long
running Will Rogers one man show) to adapt his sprawling epic for the
stage. What was created was a six actor tour-de-force that
spans decades, political movements, social upheavals, and the moral
compromises that have challenged Americans and America from the
nation's beginning," state press notes.
U.S.A.
follows two generations of individuals pursuing their dreams as they
blunder their way toward an unimaginable destiny. The journey includes
encounters with historical figures like the Wright Brothers, Isadora
Duncan and others, who merge their tales with that of a Charles Foster
Kane-like character who attempts to combine patriotism, capitalism and
public relations in ways that challenge America's integrity and soul.
Directing U.S.A.
is American Century Associate Artistic Director Jackie Manger, who
scored a hit with her last directing assignment, the W.W.II
Christmas pastiche If Only in My Dreams. Manger
and producer Ellen Dempsey have assembled a mix of
newcomers and distinguished TACT company members.
Most
familiar to TACT audiences is the versatile Bruce Alan Rauscher,
recently honored by the Theater Lobby for his impressive body of work
around town, including star turns at TACT in Twelve Angry Men, The Second Man, Laughter at 10 O'clock, and The Andersonville Trial,
for which he was honored with a Helen Hayes nomination. He is joined by
Kim-Scott Miller, a key member of Manger's ensemble in If Only in My Dreams as well as the hilarious "Kit Carson" in The Time of Your Life and The President in Dear World. TACT newcomer and rising actor is Evan Hoffmann, who has starred in major roles (Danny Zuko in Grease; The Beast in Beauty and the Beast)
at Toby's Dinner Theater. The three women in the cast also include Amy Quiggins, who scored a
triumph in the Marilyn Monroe role in The Seven Year Itch as well as in The Second Man and Patricia Hurley, who went from her key part in If Only in My Dreams to
work with the Shakespeare Theatre and Imagination Stage. TACT newcomer
Monalisa Arias, has worked locally with Teatro de la Luna, GALA and
Venus theaters.
Michael
deBlois, who has designed sets for numerous TACT shows, is handling the
set, which will be lit by AnnMarie Castrigno's lighting design. As he
has with such productions as The Emperor Jones and The Autumn Garden,
Rip Claassen is creating the costumes and new to TACT, Brandon Vierra,
will provide the crucial sound design. Melissa Richardson, who stage
managed The Emperor Jones and Paradise Lost for TACT, will return as stage manager for U.S.A.
The
American Century Theater is a 501(c) (3) professional nonprofit theater
company dedicated to producing great, important, and neglected 20th Century American plays and playwrights.TACT
is funded in part by the Arlington County Cultural Affairs Division of
the Department of Parks, Recreation and Community Services, the
Virginia Commission for the Arts, numerous foundations and many
generous donors.
U.S.A. will
be performed at Theater II, Gunston Arts, Center, 2700 S. Lang Street,
Arlington, Virginia 22206. Tickets are $23-29. Performances are
Wednesday-Saturday evenings at 8 PM and 2:30 matinees on June 25, July
1, 2, 8, 9, and 15. There is a $15 preview performance on June 22. Call
703-553-8782 or visit www.americancentury.org.