Radio Golf, A Prayer For Owen Meany Come To Denver Center Co

This spring, the Denver Center Theatre Company will complete an extraordinary journey through the decades of the Twentieth Century with director Israel Hicks and August Wilson's Radio Golf, remember the story of faith in a stage adaptation of John Irving's sweeping novel in A Prayer for Owen Meany, and laugh with the Serrano family in the world premiere of Sunsets and Margaritas.

August Wilson's Radio Golf
Directed by Israel Hicks
March 20 - April 25, 2009 (Opening Thursday, March 26) The Space Theatre

An unprecedented theatrical event - one director, one theatre company and all ten plays. With this production of Radio Golf director Israel Hicks will complete his singular vision of the cycle of August Wilson's ten-play chronicle of the 20th Century African-American experience.

Again the setting is the Hill District of Pittsburgh and Radio Golf begins as redevelopment threatens the preservation of a landmark house with important spiritual meaning to the neighborhood. With the history of a people at stake, an entrepreneur, who hopes to become the city's first Black mayor, is trailed by his past and secrets that could become his undoing.

Many in Hicks' design team and cast have accompanied him through his DCTC journey. Designing the set is Michael Ganio, set designer for the previous productions of Ma Rainey's Black Bottom, Seven Guitars and Two Trains Running. Costume designer David Kay Mickelsen has designed DCTC productions of Gem of the Ocean, King Hedley II, Jitney, Two Trains Running and Seven Guitars. Charles R. MacLeod has been Hicks' lighting designer on Gem of the Ocean, King Hedley II, Jitney, Ma Rainey's Black Bottom, Seven Guitars, Two Trains Running, Joe Turner's Come and Gone and The Piano Lesson. Sound Designer Jason Ducat (Dusty and the Big Bad World, Glengarry Glen Ross) joins the team for Radio Golf.

The cast includes Harvy Blanks (Gem of the Ocean, King Hedley II, Jitney, Seven Guitars, The Piano Lesson, Joe Turner's Come and Gone, Fences) as Sterling Johnson, Terrence Riggins (Gem of the Ocean, King Hedley II) as Harmond Wilks, Kim Staunton (Gem of the Ocean, King Hedley II) as Mame Wilks, Charles Weldon (Gem of the Ocean, King Hedley II, Jitney, Two Trains Running, Ma Rainey's Black Bottom) as Elder Joseph Barlow, and making his Denver Center debut is Darryl Alan Reed (St. Louis Black Repertory, Pasadena Playhouse) as Roosevelt Hicks.

A Prayer for Owen Meany a novel by John Irving
Adapted by Simon Bent
Directed by Bruce K. Sevy
March 27 - April 25, 2009 (Opening Thursday, April 2) The Stage Theatre

Mature Audiences
Simon Bent adapted John Irving's sweeping novel A Prayer for Owen Meany for London's National Theatre. Artistic Director Kent Thompson was drawn to the play for Denver audiences because it is so extraordinary to find a contemporary play about religious faith. Director Bruce Sevy "cherished the ‘ride' of reading the play" and found surprise and mystery in this adaptation.

Narrated by John Wheelwright recounting his childhood memories, the play selects specific memorable images and characters from the epic novel. Owen Meany, a curiously small child with a high-pitched voice, was John's best friend. When Owen accidentally kills John's mother in 1950s New Hampshire, the two boys are forever linked as they search for truth in this provocative dark comedy of friendship, faith and destiny.

Scenic Designer William Bloodgood (Dusty and the Big Bad World, You Can't Take It With You) has set the play in a neutral space with the stepped walls of a granite quarry in the colors of a perfectly remembered New England autumn. The costume designer is Bill Black (Dusty and the Big Bad World, Doubt, Mrs. Warren's Profession), lighting design is by Tony-nominated Ann G. Wrightson (Inana), and the sound designer is Craig Breitenbach (Richard III, Noises Off, The Merry Wives of Windsor). Music was composed or arranged by Gregg Coffin (A Christmas Carol, The Merry Wives of Windsor), fight direction is by Geoffrey Kent (The Miracle Worker, Noises Off) and the vocal coach is Hilary Blair.

The large cast of A Prayer for Owen Meany is led by Denver Center newcomer Michael Wartella (Off-Broadway's Seusical, Oliver Twist) as Owen and company member David Ivers (Noises Off, Pride and Prejudice) as John Wheelwright. They are joined by Jeanne Paulsen (Richard III, Doubt) as Harriet Wheelwright, Kathleen McCall (Richard III, Plainsong) as Tabitha Wheelwright, Kathleen M. Brady (Richard III, The Trip to Bountiful) as Lydia, James Michael Reilly (Glengarry Glen Ross, You Can't Take It With You) as Dan Needham, John Hutton (The Miracle Worker, Plainsong) as Reverend Merrill, Mike Hartman (Glengarry Glen Ross, Plainsong) as Mr. Meany, Gordana Rashovich (Master Class, Cripple of Inishmaan) as Mrs. Meany/Mrs. Lish, newcomer Cheryl Lynn Bowers (Off-Broadway's Essential Self-Defense, The Underpants) as Barb Wiggins, Sam Gregory (Noises Off, Doubt) as Rector Wiggins/Jarvit Dad, Philip Pleasants (Noises Off, Plainsong) as Mr. Fish and Dr. Dolder, RAndy Moore (The Merry Wives of Windsor, You Can't Take It With You) as RAndy White, and Douglas Bynum, Megan Byrne, Kelli Crump, Sean Lyons, Rebeca Martin, Chris Mazza, M. Scott McLean, Shauna Miles, Larry Paulsen, Jenna Panther, Dawn Scott and Joseph Yeargain.

A Denver Center World Premiere
Sunsets and Margaritas by José Cruz González
Directed by Nicholas C. Avila
April 3 - May 16, 2009 (Opening Thursday, April 9) The Ricketson Theatre

Denver Center commissioned playwright José Cruz González traveled to Denver and Pueblo in September 2006 to talk with Colorado Latino groups. He found four topics that came up repeatedly in his conversations - family, food, music and ritual - along with the themes of middle age crisis and aging parents. The result is his funny and touching world premiere Sunsets and Margaritas.

Three generations of a Mexican-American family are plunged into one hilarious crisis after another when patriarch Candelario Serrano begins to lose control of his restaurant and his family. Candelario's traditional conservative values have been abandoned by the family's younger generation and the appearance of a mysterious vision sends everyone spinning comically out of control. At the heart of Sunsets and Margaritas is "family" - the Serrano family's reexamining of their beliefs while emerging stronger.

Director Nicholas C. Avila has put together a team to design the interior of Serenata Colorado Restaurant and Cantina. They include Scenic and Costume Designer Sara Ryung Clement (making her Denver Center debut), Lighting Designer Jane Spencer (Doubt, The Pillowman, Jesus Hates Me) and Sound Designer Morgan A. McCauley (Inana, The Miracle Worker, The Trip to Bountiful). The dramaturg is Douglas Langworthy (The Miracle Worker, Glengarry Glen Ross, The Trip to Bountiful).

The cast includes Romi Dias (Living Out, The Clean House) as Virgin de Guadalupe/La Soldadera/La Llorona/Olivia Serrano, Ricardo Gutierrez (Lydia) as Candelario Serrano, April Ortiz (Barrio Babies) as Luz Serrano, and making their Denver center debuts are Sol Castillo (South Coast Repertory, national tour of Veteranos: A Legacy of Valor) as Jojo Serrano, Sarah Nina Hayon (LAByrinth Theater Company, The Public Theater) as Gabby Serrano, Philip Hernandez (Broadway's Les Miserables, Kiss of the Spider Woman) as Gregorio Serrano, Bryant Mason (New York Classical Theatre, Rattlestick Playwright's Theatre) as Sheriff Hubert Montoya, and Jamie Ann Romero (Colorado Shakespeare Festival, Listen Productions) as Bianca Carrillo.

Season 30 Performance Schedule
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday performances are at 6:30pm.
Friday and Saturday evening performances are at 7:30pm.
Saturday matinees are at 1:30pm

Tickets and Subscriptions
Single tickets start at $34 ($25 for the world premiere) and are on sale now. The Denver Center Box Office located in the Helen Bonfils Theatre Complex is open from 10am to 6pm Monday through Saturday. To purchase tickets by phone call (303) 893-4100 - for those outside the Denver calling area, 1 (800) 641-1222, TTY (303) 893-9582. Buy and print tickets on-line by visiting www.denvercenter.org.

Group Discounts (10 or more) call 303 446-4829 or e-mail groupsales@dcpa.org.
Senior and Military Rush tickets are half-price (one hour prior to curtain).

Student Tickets - $10 (one hour prior to curtain with a student ID). A generous grant from Directors Society Member Leslie Kaye has underwritten student tickets to all Denver Center Theatre Company productions.

Perspective
Complimentary pre-show discussion with members of the creative team and Acting Company.

August Wilson's Radio Golf, Friday, March 20 at 6:00pm, The Jones Theatre
A Prayer for Owen Meany, Friday, March 27 at 6:00pm, The Jones Theatre
Sunsets and Margaritas, Friday, April 3 at 6:00pm, The Jones Theatre

Accessibility
The Helen Bonfils Theatre Complex is fully accessible to persons with disabilities. Cordless headsets are available for patrons with hearing impairments at Patron Services.

Audio-described and ASL Interpreted Performances
August Wilson's Radio Golf, Saturday, April 18 at 1:30pm
A Prayer for Owen Meany, Saturday, April 25 at 1:30pm
Sunsets and Margaritas, Saturday, May 16 at 1:30pm

Children under six are not permitted in the theatre.
A Prayer for Owen Meany is recommended for mature audiences only.

 

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