Sam Shepard's True West runs January 15-March 8
By: Steve Leary Dec. 28, 2008
ATC PRESENTS AMERICAN CLASSIC REPERTORY FEATURING
Sam Shepard'S TRUE WEST FOLLOWED BY Suzan-Lori Parks' TOPDOG/UNDERDOG IN REPERTORY
ATC breaks ground with unprecedented mid-run cast switch, offering audiences the rare chance to see two versions of each play
American Theater Company (ATC) continues its ambitious Season 24 with the inauguration of American Classic Repertory featuring Sam Shepard's True West directed by ATC Artistic Director PJ Paparelli and Suzan-Lori Parks' topdog/underdog directed by Congo Square Theatre Company Artistic Director Derrick Sanders. American Classic Repertory will run at American Theatre Company, 1909 W Byron St, Chicago.
American Classic Repertory begins with Sam Shepard's True West, which will run January 15 - March 8, 2009. Shepard's most produced play tells the story of two brothers: Austin, an ambitious Hollywood screenwriter working on a potential million-dollar deal and Lee, a vagabond thief with a compulsion for six-packs and toasters. Austin and Lee face off for control while venting demons from their dysfunctional past.
On January 22, Suzan-Lori Parks' topdog/underdog joins True West in repertory and will run January 22 - March 8, 2009. Suzan-Lori Parks' Pulitzer Prize-winning masterpiece explores two brothers: Lincoln, ex-"3-card" player turned legitimate entertainer, and Booth, a petty thief who wants to learn his brother's game. Lincoln and Booth struggle to make a new life that will finally lead them out of poverty.
In addition to the plays alternating nightly, the actors playing the brothers will switch between productions beginning February 5, 2009. In this groundbreaking decision to reverse casts, ATC's American Classic Repertory offers audiences the opportunity to see two versions of each play on a single set.
"The inauguration of American Classic Repertory with True West and topdog/underdog is historical simply in the pairing of the plays, that it goes on to break ground with the first ever nontraditional production of topdog/underdog is truly thrilling for us," says Artistic Director PJ Paparelli. "American Classic Repertory provides a unique theatre experience for both audiences and artists. We gather in a space to experience two stories about brotherhood from two radically different vantage points of American culture, and the goal is that we all come out of this experience with a greater respect for each other and a profound understanding and connection to that which unites all of us as Americans."
The original cast for True West features ATC Ensemble Members Matthew Brumlow as Austin and Suzanne Petri as Mom, Ian Paul Custer as Saul, and Stephen Louis Grush as Lee.
The original cast for Topdog/underdog will feature Congo Square Ensemble Members Daniel Bryant as Booth and Anthony Irons as Lincoln.
When the casts are switched on February 5, Daniel Bryant will assume the role of Austin and Anthony Irons will play Lee in True West. In topdog/underdog Stephen Lois Grush will play Booth and Matthew Brumlow will play Lincoln.
The designers are Keith Pitts (Scenic Design), Christine Pascual (Costume Design), Charles Cooper (Lighting Design), Rick Sims (Sound Design), Noel Henke (Properties Design) and Matt Hawkins (Fight Choreography) Jaime Castañeda is the Assistant Director. Katie Klemme is the Production Stage Manager.
PJ Paparelli (Director) hails from Juneau, Alaska where he was the Artistic Director of Perseverance Theatre, Alaska's premiere professional theatre. In three and half years, PJ created, shepherded and launched some of the most innovative theatrical collaborations that stimulated a significant increase in audiences and sent projects around the United States, Washington, DC and Off-Broadway. His Perseverance directing credits include the World Premiere of the writers of Urinetown's new musical, Yeast Nation, Equus, The Who's Tommy (box office record), Hamlet, Twelfth Night, the premiere of a new version of Hair (including new book, lyrics and music), A Midsummer Night's Dream, Voyage, and columbinus. PJ conceived and co-adapted Raven Odyssey, a theatrical journey of Alaska Native Raven stories, gathered through interviews with Elders across the state. Other projects under PJ's guidance were revised versions of The Laramie Project and The People's Temple by Members of the Tectonic Theatre Project (went on to The Guthrie Theatre) and Tlingit Macbeth, spoken in English and Tlingit, the indigenous culture of Juneau. Macbeth toured Alaska and was presented at the Kennedy Center's Shakespeare in Washington Festival in 2007.
In 2002, PJ founded the United States Theatre Project, where he conceived, co-wrote, and directed columbinus, a theatrical discussion exploring the world of modern adolescence through the lens of the 1999 Columbine shootings. columbinus premiered at Round House Theatre and Perseverance Theatre, and ran Off-Broadway at New York Theatre Workshop. columbinus was nominated for two 2007 Lucille Lortel Awards for Direction and Sound Design, and five 2006 Helen Hayes Awards, including Outstanding New Play, Outstanding Direction, and Outstanding Production, and will be published by Dramatic Publishing in the fall of 2007. Raven Theater produced columbinus fall 2007.
PJ has directed and/or taught Shakespeare at The Juilliard School (Richard III), Bread Loaf School of English at Middlebury College (Hamlet), North Carolina School of the Arts (Split), University of Alaska-Southeast, UNC at Chapel Hill, Catholic U (Twelfth Night), U of Pennsylvania (Once on this Island), Johns Hopkins (Godspell), and many master class and education programs at the Shakespeare Theatre Company. He holds a BFA in directing from Carnegie Mellon and graduate studies in acting at the Moscow Art Theatre School.
American Classic Repertory will be performed at American Theater Company, 1909 W. Byron St. in Chicago. Previews for True West are January 15 - January 17, 2008. Previews for topdog/underdog are January 22 - January 25, 2009. Regular performances for American Classic Repertory run Thursdays and Fridays at 8 p.m., Saturdays at 3 and 8 p.m., and Sundays at 3 p.m.
Parking is available on the street and at the metered lot on the corner of Lincoln and Berenice. ATC is wheelchair accessible. Throughout the regular run, tickets are $35 Thursdays and for matinees, and $40 on Friday and Saturday evenings. Opening Night tickets are $50. Student and group discounts are available. ATC's box office is open from 12 p.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday, 2 p.m. to 9 p.m. on performance Saturdays and from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. on performance Sundays. For reservations or further information, call 773-409-4125 or visit www.atcweb.org.
PERFORMANCE SCHEDULE:
True West (Original Cast)
January 15-17 and 30 at 8 PM
January 31 at 3 PM
True West (Nontraditional Cast)
February 5, 7, 8, 13,19,21,27 and March 5 & 7 at 8 PM
February 14, 22, 28 and March 8 at 3 PM
topdog/underdog (Original Cast)
January 22-24 and 29 & 31 at 8 PM
January 25 at 3 PM
topdog/underdog (Nontraditional Cast)
February 6, 8, 12, 14, 20, 22, 26, 28 and March 6 & 8 at 8PM
February 7, 15, 21 and March 1&7 at 3 PM
Congo Square Theatre Company is an ensemble dedicated to artistic excellence. By producing definitive and transformative theatre spawned from the African Diaspora, as well as other world cultures, Congo Square Theatre Company seeks to establish itself as an institution of multicultural theatre.
Congo Square Theatre Company was founded in 1999 by ten talented and determined artists. Between them the founding ensemble has earned BFA's and MFA's from the University of Illinois, Howard University, and the University of Pittsburgh. In addition to their rich educational backgrounds company members have studied, taught, and performed all over the country as well as abroad in South African, France and England.
AMERICAN THEATER COMPANY
American Theater Company is an ensemble of artists committed to producing new and classic American stories that ask the question, "What does it mean to be an American?" We provide a truly intimate home for the community to experience meaningful stories. We foster a nurturing environment for artists to take risks and create essential work.
American Theater Company is partially supported by a grant from the Illinois Arts Council, a state agency, and CityArts II. Additional valuable support is provided by the Alphawood Foundation, the Bruce B. Boyd Foundation, Chicago Community Trust, Elizabeth Morse Charitable Trust, Gaylord and Dorothy Donnelley Foundation, Mayer and Morris Kaplan Family Foundation, Polk Bros. Foundation, Prince Charitable Trust, and Shubert Foundation.
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