Stages Repertory Theatre Presents WE ARE PROUD TO PRESENT A PRESENTATION...

Stages Repertory Theatre brings a searing and powerful drama to Houston with the regional premiere of We Are Proud to Present a Presentation About the Herero of Namibia, Formerly Known as South-West Africa, From the German Südwestakfrika, Between the Years 1884 - 1915, running from March 14 - April 1.

Written and originally directed by Brooklyn-based playwright Jackie Sibblies Drury, recipient of the 2012-2014 Jerome Fellowship at The LARK and the 2015 Windham-Campbell Literary Prize in Drama, We Are Proud to Present a Presentation... portrays six actors who gather to tell the story of a rarely-examined African genocide - the Herero and Nama Genocide of 1904-1907 that saw an estimated 24,000-100,000 Herero and Nama casualties in modern-day Namibia. As rehearsal progresses, the actors slip from joking comradery into conflict as they confront their own hidden fears and struggle to decide how to tell the story when only one side survived to leave a record.

Premiered in 2012 at Soho Rep, the play has garnered national acclaim for its bold look at race, history and the power of theatre. The New York Times lauded it as "consistently funny but ultimately discomfiting," adding that it "impressively navigates the tricky boundaries that separate art and life, the haunted present and the haunting historical past."

Alice Gatling makes her Stages directorial debut with the production. "Jackie Sibbley Drury uses the past to shake up our present. She challenges us to deal with the issue of racism and to begin to have a deeper level of conversation. The brilliance is in how she puts forth that challenge," Gatling said. "Through outright humor, as well as the desire to understand and have empathy, she draws us into the world of the play. The play leaves you asking questions. The challenge is to seek the answers."

Gatling directs a cast including both returning Stages veterans and new faces: Michelle Elaine (Failure: A Love Story, Dollhouse), Joseph Palmore (The Whipping Man, Stupid F**king Bird), Laura Menzie and Chasen Parker, as well as Sam Houston State University performance interns Cameron Nunley and Aaron Ruiz.

"The play skillfully - and playfully - moves between a theatrical 'rehearsal' and a play's 'performance', revealing both the power and limitations of theatre to capture the true scope of human behavior," Stages Artistic Director Kenn McLaughlin said. "We are Proud... speaks deeply to the roots of racist behaviors in a way that acknowledges the very human truth that all people are capable of hatred toward those who are different from them."

Performance times are Wednesday - Thursday at 7:30pm, Friday at 8:00pm, Saturday at 2:30pm and 8:00pm, and Sunday at 2:30pm.

Regular tickets start at $25 with savings for groups of 6 or more To purchase, call the Stages Box Office at 713.527.0123 or reserve online at www.stagestheatre.com.

Founded in 1978, Stages is a professional Equity theatre that produces new work, presents established work in new ways, nurtures and develops talent, and cultivates and strengthens relationships with Houston audiences. Characterized by courage, generosity, ingenuity and intimacy, Stages works to advance theatre and enliven community to make a more vibrant Houston.

Stages presents a broad scope of plays and musicals in an intimate setting, generating critical acclaim and creating powerful connections between plays and people. The third-largest theatre in Houston and the sixth-largest in Texas, Stages performs year-round, one of only a handful of Texas theatres that offers year-round employment for creative professionals. On average, Stages produces 12 productions per year totaling more than 375 performances and reaching 65,000+ patrons. Almost all of Stages' shows are rehearsed and constructed on-site in Houston, brought to life by an exceptional community of locally-based artists and craftspeople along with occasional guest directors, actors and designers from around the world.

For more than a decade Stages has made a strong investment in nurturing emerging artists and craftspeople who have now become field leaders and working professionals. Stages' learning opportunities include performance and production internship programs for college students and conservatory-style training for middle and high school students.

Through this robust scope of activities Stages encourages conversation about important ideas, provides insight into other cultures and viewpoints, and helps develop each new generation of artists, audiences and citizens. For more information visit www.stagestheatre.com.

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