Danai Gurira's FAMILIAR World Premiere Opens Tonight at Yale Rep

Yale Repertory Theatre presents the world premiere of FAMILIAR by Danai Gurira, directed by Rebecca Taichman, running now through February 21 at Yale Repertory Theatre (1120 Chapel Street). Opening Night is tonight, February 5.

The cast of FAMILIAR is Shyko Amos, Harvy Blanks, Cherise Boothe, Saidah Arrika Ekulona, Patrice Johnson Chevannes, Ross Marquand, Kimberly Scott, and Joe Tippett.

FAMILIAR features music composed by Somi, scenic design by Matt Saunders, costumes by Toni-Leslie James, lighting by Joey Moro, sound by Elizabeth McGuire, dramaturgy by Carrie Hughes, casting by Tara Rubin Casting, and stage management by Anita Shastri.

FAMILIAR was commissioned by Yale Repertory Theatre. Development and production support are provided by Yale's Binger Center for New Theatre and the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation.

In a snowy Midwestern suburb, Marvelous and Donald are preparing for the marriage of their eldest daughter. Clashes erupt within the family when the first-generation American bride-to-be insists on observing a traditional Zimbabwean wedding ritual. Familiar is a richly funny and deeply moving new play about the complicated relationships between mothers and daughters, sisters, wives and husbands-the customs they keep, and the secrets they keep buried.

Born in the US and raised in Zimbabwe, OBIE and Whiting Writers Award winning playwright Danai Gurira is the author of the critically acclaimed plays Eclipsed (Yale Rep, 2009), In the Continuum (co-written with Nikkole Salter; Yale Rep, 2007), and The Convert. Rebecca Taichman's previous Yale Rep credits include the world premieres of David Adjmi's Marie Antoinette and The Evildoers.

Tickets for FAMILIAR range from $20-98 and are available online at yalerep.org, by phone at (203) 432-1234, and in person at the Yale Rep Box Office (1120 Chapel Street). Student, senior, and group rates are also available.

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