Marcus Gardley's DANCE OF THE HOLY GHOSTS Opens Tomorrow at Center Stage

Center Stage celebrates the Opening Night of Marcus Gardley's dance of the holy ghosts on Wednesday, October 16. Under the direction of Artistic Director Kwame Kwei-Armah, the production runs through November 17.

To set the mood for dance of the holy ghosts, the theater will feature several local Blues and Jazz musicians playing live pre-show throughout the building. Guests are encouraged to come early to hear traditional Rhythm and Blues from Memphis Gold, Jazz/funk blends from Trina Coleman, and Hill Country Blues from Jonny Grave. Music begins at 7 pm, and there will be complimentary hors d'oeuvres from Crème Restaurant and Lounge pre-show.

Marcus Gardley's acclaimed poetic family drama, dance of the holy ghosts, follows the story of Oscar Clifton, a Blues man living through his memories of the past until his estranged grandson Marcus pays a visit. Leading the cast are veteran stage and screen stars Michael Genet and Denise Burse. Mr. Genet's many film and TV roles include working with Spike Lee on 25th Hour and She Hate Me, and his numerous Broadway productions include Fences, Lestat, Hamlet, and A Few Good Men. Denise Burse, best known for the role of Claretha Jenkins on the hit TBS series Tyler Perry's House of Payne, returns to Center Stage, having previously appeared in August Wilson's Radio Golf and Fences.

Marcus Gardley is an award-winning poet-playwright, whose most recent play, Every Tongue Confess, received The Edgerton Foundation New Play Award, and was nominated for the Steinberg New Play Award and the Charles MacArthur Award. His many honors include a 2011 PEN/Laura Pels Award, the Gerbode Emerging Playwright Award, the National Alliance for Musical Theatre Award, and the Eugene O'Neill Memorial Scholarship. He is a professor of Playwriting at Brown University, and in 2012 was commissioned to write for Center Stage's My America.

"I am continually moved and inspired by Marcus's work," says Artistic Director Kwame Kwei-Armah. "His writing is poetic, entwining themes of spirit, history, and manhood in a way that brings to mind the work of August Wilson. We are thrilled to have actors of Michael and Denise's caliber join us for this production, and that we have assembled an extraordinary cast that can bring Marcus's poetry to life."

Dance of the holy ghosts, directed by Kwame Kwei-Armah, runs through November 17. Tickets start at $19 and can be purchased by calling410.332.0033, or visiting www.centerstage.org. Full information on the season can be found at www.centerstage.org/2013-14season.

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