BWW Preview: WATER BY THE SPOONFUL Coming to the Unicorn Theatre, 4/23

The Unicorn Theatre in Kansas City, Mo. presents Water by the Spoonful, April 23 through May 18. The play written by Quiara Alergria Hudes and directed by Mark Robbins will run on the Jerome Stage at 3828 Main. Water by the Spoonful won the 2012 Pulitzer Prize for Drama and playwright Hudes won the 2008 Tony Award for Best Musical for In the Heights.

When a young Iraqi war veteran returns home, he finds his mother is running a chat room for recovering addicts. The action takes place from Philadelphia to Puerto Rico and is a multimedia journey. David Ng of the Los Angeles Times says the play "follows an Iraq war veteran who is struggling with civilian life. His story runs in parallel with those of four individuals who connect on an online chatroom dedicated to recovering drug addicts."

Keena Ramos returns to the Unicorn Theatre as Elliot Ortiz. Ramos first acting job came from the Unicorn Theatre in Take Me Out. His last performance was in Grey Gardens.

Alisha Espinosa makes her Unicorn Theatre debut as Yazmin Ortiz. Her last performance was at The Coterie Theatre in Afflicted: Daughters of Salem, where she played Tituba. She is in the University of Missouri at Kansas City MFA Acting program.

Dawnnie Mercado plays Odessa and Haikumom in her Unicorn Theatre debut. She moved to Kansas City, Mo. in 2011 with her husband and four dogs. She is an acting coach for kids and teens through DMG Talent KCMO.

Darren Kennedy returns to the Unicorn in the role of Fountainhead. He previously performed at the Unicorn in The Lieutenant of Inishmore, Green Whales, Mauritius, and The Motherf"ker With the Hat. His television credits include Without a Trace, Gilmore Girls, Just Shoot Me, and General Hospital among others. He has appeared in two films Jr. Detective Agency and Rook.

Walter Coppage takes on the role of Chutes & Ladders; he last appeared in The Mountaintop at the Unicorn. He has appeared with the Kansas City Repertory Theatre, Heart of America Shakespeare Festival, the Coterie Theatre, and Kansas City Actors Theatre among others. The Pitch Critics awarded him the Best Portrayal of an Icon for The Mountaintop.

Erika Crane Ricketts stars as Orangutan in her Unicorn Theatre debut. She has appeared in M. Butterfly at the Metropolitan Ensemble Theatre, The Laramie Project at the White Theatre in Overland Park, and the Fantasticks among others.

Bryan Moses, who is also making his Unicorn debut, is portraying Professor Amand and a ghost. Moses is the Associate Artistic Director for The Living Room. He has appeared with The Living Room and the Metropolitan Ensemble Theatre.

Water by the Spoonful runs from April 23 to May 18, with preview performances on April 23, 24, and 25. Performances run Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday at 7:30 p.m. with Friday and Saturday night perfromances at 8 p.m. The Sunday matinee performances begin at 3 p.m. Purchase tickets at the Unicorn Theatre website, by calling 816-531-7529 extension 10 or in person at the box office located in the theatre. Photo courtesy of the Unicorn Theatre.

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