KC Rep's World Premiere of BLUEPRINTS Begins Tonight

Kansas City Repertory Theatre continues its 2015-16 season and its commitment to the creation of unforgettable new plays with the WORLD PREMIERE of Blueprints to Freedom: An Ode to Bayard Rustin, written by and starring Michael Benjamin Washington and directed by the critically acclaimed Lucie Tiberghien. This story is more than relevant. It's riveting. Those who stand up for equality in 2015 are following in the footsteps of Bayard Rustin, the lesser known but powerfully influential civil rights leader who orchestrated the March on Washington and stepped forward himself as an openly gay man at a time when few had the courage to do so. In this ode, an exiled Rustin masterminds "a tribute to the ancestors" 100 years after the Emancipation Proclamation. This exciting production begins tonight, Oct. 16 and runs through Sunday, Nov. 15 at KC Rep's Copaken Stage in the Power & Light District in downtown Kansas City, Missouri.

"The 2015-16 season is about the exploration of how someone creates and follows his or her own voice, in spite of, or because of, numerous obstacles both internally and externally," stated Eric Rosen, artistic director of Kansas City Repertory Theatre. "Blueprints is an exploration into how Bayard was able to create this absolutely crucial and historic event in spite of what many would define as impossible odds. How does this happen that someone is driven to follow a calling at such great cost?"

Part of Origins KC, the Rep's new works program, Blueprints to Freedom: An Ode to Bayard Rustin builds on KC Rep's commitment to supporting a vital, diverse body of theatrical work from the seed of an idea through to production. Blueprints to Freedom forwards the rich artistic relationship between KC Rep and La Jolla Playhouse, having previously co-produced the world premiere productions of a new adaptation of Peer Gynt by David Schweizer, and The Tallest Tree in the Forest by Daniel Beaty. Blueprints to Freedom was given its first reading at the LaJolla Playhouse on August 28, 2013 - the 50th anniversary of the March on Washington.

The ensemble cast, drawn from across the country, includes: Ro Boddie (Helen Hayes Award winner for Forum Theatre's Angels in America) as "Martin Luther King, Jr.," Mandi Masden (Theatre for a New Audience's A Midsummer Night's Dream) as "Miriam Caldwell," Antonio Johnson (Playbill Award for Driving Miss Daisy) as "A. Philip Randolph," Mat Hostetler (War Horse national tour) as "Davis Platt, Jr." and Michael Benjamin Washington (Playhouse's The Wiz, Memphis - also on Broadway) as "Bayard Rustin."

Performances begin Friday, Oct. 16 and run through Sunday, Nov. 15 at the Copaken Stage. Press night is scheduled for Opening Night Friday, Oct. 23 at 8:00 pm. High res headshots and production photos can be found here . Appropriate for ages 13 +.

About the Artists

Lucie Tiberghien (Director) KC Rep: Debut. LaJolla Playhouse: JT Roger's Blood and Gifts and the DNA New Work Series readings of Andrew Rosendorf's Tranquil and Monique Gafney's Being Henrietta. Other credits include the world premieres of Emily Schwend's The Other Thing (Second Stage, Uptown); Rehana Lew Mirza's Soldier X (Ma-Yi Theater Company); Christina Anderson's The Ashes Under Gait City (CATF); Charles Randolph-Wright's Love in Afghanistan (Arena Stage); Stephen Belber's Don't Go Gentle (MCC); Geometry of Fire (Rattlestick); A Small Melodramatic Story (LAByrinth); Craig Wright's Blind (Rattlestick); Katori Hall's Hoodoo Love (Cherry Lane); Lee Blessing's Great Falls (Humana Festival); Flag Day (CATF). Other credits: Quiara Alegria Hudes' Water by the Spoonful (Arden Theater Comapny); Lee Blessing's The Winning Streak (George Street Playhouse) and Craig Wright's The Pavilion (Rattlestick and CATF). She recently joined the team of Stew and Heidi Rodewald's new musical Resurrection City.

The design and production team includes Neil Patel (Set Design); Beth Goldenberg (Costume Design), Lap Chi Chu (Lighting Design), Joe Huppert (Sound Design), John Narun (Projection Design); Gabriel Greene (Dramaturg) and Peter Van Dyke (Production Stage Manager).

The ensemble cast, drawn from artists across the country, includes:

RO BODDIE (Martin Luther King Jr.) KC Rep: debut. Regional: Blueprints to Freedom (La Jolla Playhouse); The Whipping Man (John, Milwaukee Repertory Theatre); Hamlet, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead (Horatio, American Players Theatre); Ma Rainey's Black Bottom (Sylvester, CENTERSTAGE and Philadelphia Theatre Company co-production); Dirt (Studio Theatre); Angels in America (Belize, Helen Hayes Nomination); Floyd Seven Guitars (Barton, Helen Hayes Nomination). Television: The Good Wife, Person of Interest, Unforgettable. Education: University of the North Carolina School of the Arts. AEA Member. www.roboddie.com

MAT HOSTETLER (Davis Platt, Jr.) KC Rep: debut. Off Broadway: A Particle of Dread (Signature Theatre); The Preacher and the Shrink (The Beckett at Theatre Row). New York: Of Orient Are (The Representatives); American Jornalero (Working Theatre); Richard II (Sonnet Repertory Theatre). National Tours: War Horse (North America and Japan). Regional: Blueprints to Freedom (La Jolla Playhouse); Merry Wives of Windsor, Richard III (Denver Center Theatre Company); Amber Waves (Indiana Repertory Theatre); Three Musketeers, Macbeth, Hamlet (Colorado Shakespeare Festival). TV/Film: "The Following", "Smash", "Boardwalk Empire", "White Collar", "Six Feet Under", "Cold Case", "JAG", "Navy NCIS", The Utopian Society. Education: MFA, National Theatre Conservatory; BA, University of Kansas. AEA Member.

ANTONIO T. J. JOHNSON (A. Philip Randolph) KC Rep: debut. Regional: Blueprints to Freedom, My Children My Africa (La Jolla Playhouse); True West, Fool for Love, Fences, Matchmaker (Cygnet Theatre); Joe vs The Volcano, Glory Man, The Fantasticks, South Pacific (Lamb's Players); King Lear, Hamlet, A Christmas Carol (3 seasons) (San Diego Repertory Theatre); Buried Child, Stories About the Old Days, Driving Miss Daisy (North Coast Repertory Theatre); Much Ado About Nothing (Old Globe Theatre); Twelve Angry People, I Am a Man (San Diego Black Ensemble); Moonlight Productions, Intrepid Shakespeare Company. Awards: Craig Noel Critics Circle Award/Patté Award/Best Actor 2008 (Fences); Playbill Award/Best Actor 2002 (Buried Child); Artist-in-Residence, UCSD Thurgood Marshall College, 2012/2013. Mr. Johnson is the Executive Director of the San Diego Black Ensemble. AEA Member.

MANDI MASDEN (Miriam Caldwell) KC Rep: debut. Off Broadway: Our Lady of Kibeho, The Piano Lesson (Signature Theatre Company); Julie Taymor's A Midsummer Night's Dream (Theatre for A New Audience). Regional: Blueprints to Freedom (La Jolla Playhouse); Shipwrecked! An Entertainment (Cincinnati Playhouse In the Park); Ruined (Philadelphia Theatre Company); A Christmas Carol, Dracula (Denver Center Theatre Company), Ragtime (PPTOPA). Additional Theatre Credits: Ruined, Angels in America, The Three Sisters, The Winter's Tale, HAIR, Ah! Wilderness, As You Like It, The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby, Into the Woods, The Threepenny Opera, and The Love Song of J. Robert Oppenheimer. TV/Film: Julie Taymor's A Midsummer Night's Dream, "The Knick", "LFE". Education: MFA, National Theatre Conservatory. AEA Member.

MICHAEL BENJAMIN WASHINGTON (Bayard Rustin/Playwright) KC Rep: debut. Broadway: Mamma Mia! (original company, directed by Phyllida Lloyd) and La Cage Aux Folles (2005 Tony-winning revival, directed by Jerry Zaks). Off Broadway: Stephen Sondheim's Saturday Night (directed by Kathleen Marshall/Nonesuch Records). Regional: The Wiz (Tinman), Memphis, directed by Christopher Ashley; Most Wanted (workshop), directed by Michael Greif; and Letters to Barack (reading), directed by Christopher Ashley, Blueprints to Freedom (La Jolla Playhouse). TV/Film: Love and Other Drugs, directed by Ed Zwick; Gnome, directed by Jenny Bicks; "30 Rock" (Donald Jordan, director), "Glee" (Tracy Pendegrass, director), "100 Questions" (Andrew), "Law & Order". Education: BFA, New York University/Tisch School of the Arts. Mr. Washington is a Presidential Scholar in the Arts and teaches Young Arts Master Class workshops in Los Angeles. He is an alumnus of the National Young Arts Foundation and serves on the Writing Adjudication panel where he co-wrote the Foundation's gala this winter under the direction of Bill T. Jones. Mr. Washington is a member of The Broadway Inspirational Voices and an AEA Member.

Conversation Series

Patrons are invited and welcome to attend these FREE pre and post-show forums to learn more from the artists and creative teams about the production.

Making the Play: 30 minutes prior to select performances, free pre-show conversation with the artistic staff

Meet the Creative Team: Oct. 21, following the 7 pm performance

Scholars' Forum: Oct. 31, following the 2pm performance

Actor's Forum: Nov. 1, following the 2pm performance and Nov. 3, following the

7 pm performance

Education

More than 10,000 students experience world class theatre at KC Rep each year. The Student Matinee Series is an affordable way for students to experience arts education through professional theatre in Kansas City. After every performance, students and teachers can enjoy a Q&A conversation with the cast. All matinee orders include one complimentary chaperone ticket for every ten students, a study guide for students and free preview tickets for sponsoring teachers.

Student Matinee Series: Student Matinees of Blueprints to Freedom will be performed on Thursday, Oct. 29, Thurs., Nov. 5 and Tues., Nov. 10 at 10:00 a.m. Student tickets are $10 and include a pre-show class orientation, learning guide and post-performance Q. and A. with the cast. Order forms are available at www.kcrep.org or by emailing owensaa@kcrep.org.

Subscriptions and Tickets

Tickets to Blueprints to Freedom: An Ode to Bayard Rustin range from $25 to $59. For season subscriptions and ticket information for Kansas City Repertory Theatre's production of Blueprints to Freedom: Ode to Bayard Rustin and the remainder of KC Rep's 2015-16 season, please contact the Box Office at 816.235.2700 or visit www.KCRep.org.

Gala 2016

Save the date for Friday, May 20, 2016 at the newly renovated Spencer Theatre! Last year's Fearless Fête raised more than $655,000 which helps ensure that KC Rep can continue to create professional productions that garner regional and national acclaim and provide lifelong learning opportunities through our Education and Community Programs which benefit more than 10,000 Kansas City area students each year. For more information, please contact Amanda Middaugh at Middaugham@kcrep.org or 816.235.1489.

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