As though tailor-made for the locally-commissioned play's Baltimore audience, Intimate Apparel stirs with substance, style and sincerity at Everyman Theatre-October 18 through November 19, 2017-in a quietly commanding production that radiates with powerful performances on-stage and profound local partnerships off-stage, bringing the play's delicate themes affectingly to life.
Wearing her heart on her sleeve while sewing intimates for her clientele, Esther is the talented African American seamstress in turn-of-the-century New York who has built a savings for herself making beautiful undergarments-while earnestly daydreaming of new beginnings, romantic possibilities, and the lingering affection she shares with a Jewish fabric merchant. But when an egregious deception cuts short heartfelt desires, can class, culture and circumstance outmatch the strength of human spirit? Inspired by a true story, Intimate Apparel is a heart-rending contemporary work in the style of an enduring classic-from
Lynn Nottage, the first female playwright to win two Pulitzers.
Intimate Apparel marks the third
Lynn Nottage play produced at Everyman Theatre, following 2015's Ruined and 2014's By The Way, Meet Vera Stark. Intimate Apparel director
Tazewell Thompson (who previously directed Great Expectations and Ruined at Everyman, as well as a production of Intimate Apparel at Dartmouth College) brings what Everyman Theatre Founding Artistic Director Vincent M. Lancisi describes as "a dramatist's eye and a librettist's ear" to the helm.
"Plays like Intimate Apparel are about bringing the real changing world into the theater," said Thompson. "They are about making the theater contemporaneous with life; making the theater a leader of perception, not a follower. Intimate Apparel awakens us to the selves within ourselves; allows us to see, hear and understand the lives of, indeed, every man."
In this spirit, Everyman's production of Intimate Apparel is augmented by an extensive slate of ancillary programming that fastens topics from the play (including empowerment, entrepreneurship, and evolving trends) to close-knit community collaborations involving local artists, makers and independent entrepreneurs as well as institutions such as MICA, Baltimore School for the Arts, the Baltimore Design School and the Maryland Film Festival's SNF Parkway Theatre.
"The story on stage can be just the beginning of the journey," explained Everyman Theatre Managing Director Jonathan K. Waller. "We invite audiences to join us in deepening the experience by exploring how the play's themes connect to our lives and history here in the Baltimore area. For Intimate Apparel, we have more opportunities to do this than ever before thanks to a growing circle of committed and connected partners."
Partner projects for Intimate Apparel include an on-site costume exhibit, a tasting involving local restaurants, a film screening and discussion, a community conversation with local/regional fashion designers, a panel discussion about labor and sex work, and a walking tour of Baltimore's historic garment district-among others. (See below for comprehensive listing.)
The cast of Intimate Apparel reunites several cast members from Ruined, including Resident Company Member
Dawn Ursula* (Esther), Jade Wheeler* (Mayme) and
Bueka Uwemedimo* (George). Rounding out the cast is
Jenn Walker* (Mrs. Dickson), Resident Company Member
Beth Hylton* (Mrs. Van Buren), and Drew Kopas* (
Mr. Marks) and Steve Polites (Understudy-
Mr. Marks).
The Intimate Apparel design team includes director
Tazewell Thompson,
Donald Eastman (Set Design),
Stephen Quandt (Lighting Design),
David Burdick (Costume Design),
Fabian Obispo (Sound Design & Composition), Gary Logan (Dialects) and Denise O'Brien (Wig Design).
Intimate Apparel runs October 18 through November 19, 2017. Tickets ($10-65) are now on sale online (
everymantheatre.org), by phone
(410.752.2208), or at the Everyman Theatre Box Office (
315 W. Fayette Street, Baltimore, MD).
*Member of Actors' Equity Association, the Union of Professional Actors and Stage Managers in the United States
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