Everyman Theatre Unveils The World of the Play Panel Discussions; Kicks Off 11/16

Everyman Theatre announces a new panel discussion series entitled "The World of the Play." Audiences are invited "behind the curtain" to explore the ideas underpinning the productions that you see on the Everyman stage. The panel series will be hosted by renowned radio personality Marc Steiner. Five panel discussions will occur throughout the remainder of the 2013/14 season; each one will take place on the second Saturday of each show's run, beginning at 5 PM.

"Our productions are meant to be both entertaining and thought-provoking," said Founding Artistic Director Vincent Lancisi. "We want our patrons to be able to dig deeper into the ideas expressed in the play. Our panel series will provide our audience members with a platform to engage in thoughtful conversation about the themes, topics and issues that the productions address."

Radio personality Marc Steiner (The Marc Steiner Show) will moderate each of the discussions. In the 20 years since his show began airing, Marc Steiner has become one of the most recognized voices in Maryland and has gained national acclaim for his insightful style of interviewing. Mr. Steiner also has a deep understanding for theatre; he taught theatre for ten years at the Baltimore School for the Arts.

The Series will kick off on Saturday, November 16th at 5 PM with a Red-themed panel entitled "Overthrowing the Masters." The panel will address one of the many topics that the Tony Award-winning play Red addresses - "to surmount the past, you must know the past...the child must banish the father. Respect him, but kill him." The discussion will focus on the artists that came before Mark Rothko and the abstract expressionist movement, and how he and his contemporaries "overthrew" them.

The panel will include experts Kristen Hileman (the Curator of Contemporary Art at the Baltimore Museum of Art), Donald Hicken (Head of the Theatre Department at the Baltimore School for the Arts and Director of Red) and Daniel Ettinger (Everyman's Resident Scenic Designer and Scenic Designer of Red).

The second panel will focus on "How Women's Voices Changed Our Culture," as addressed with the January production of the Pulitzer Prize-winning Crimes of the Heart. The conversation will discuss the surprising successes and challenges female playwrights face in today's theatrical landscape - including the growth, evolution, and impact they have had on theatre today. The panel will take place on Saturday, January 18th at 5 PM.

The Panelists will include playwright Karen Zacarias (The Book Club Play, Looking for Roberto Clemente, Chasing George Washington), Susanna Gellert (Artistic Producer at Centerstage and director of Crimes of the Heart), and Jackson Bryer (Professor Emeritus at University of Maryland).

"Must the Show Go On?" will be the third panel in conjunction with the spring production of The Dresser. The discussion will focus on the mechanics of theatre within historical context.

With real-life insight from panelists Julie Heneghan (costume designer of The Dresser) and Suzanne Herbert-Forton (a professional dresser at Baltimore's Hippodrome Theatre), the discussion will include examples from classical and contemporary repertory to give the audience a fresh perspective into the behind-the-scenes work during a show. This panel will take place on Saturday, March 8th at 5 PM.

The fourth panel will focus on racism in Hollywood, in conjuction with the run of the Baltimore premiere of By the Way, Meet Vera Stark. The panel will take place on Saturday, April 26th at 5 PM. The panelists will be announced at a later date.

The final panel will take place on Saturday, June 7th at 5 PM - during the run of the Baltimore premiere of Tribes. The panelists will discuss isolation, and the how isolation can impact the ways a person can communicate. The panelists will be announced at a later date.

Tickets for the Red-themed panel - "Overthrowing the Masters" - are now on sale and may be purchased by calling 410.752.2208 or by visiting www.everymantheatre.org/worldoftheplay.

Tickets for the remaining panels will go on sale when their respective show's tickets go on sale on November 29th. Subscription packages for the panel series will be available at this time, as well.

Everyman Theatre is a professional Equity theatre company celebrating the actor, with a resident company of artists from the Baltimore/DC area. Founded in 1990 by Vincent Lancisi, the theatre is dedicated to engaging the audience through a shared experience between actor and audience seeking connection and emotional truth in performance. Everyman is committed to presenting high quality plays that are affordable and accessible to everyone.

Vincent Lancisi is the Artistic Director of Everyman Theatre; Ian Tresselt is the Managing Director. For information about Everyman Theatre, visit www.everymantheatre.org or call 410.752.2208.

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