Dark Comedy DETROIT to Open at TheatreSquared, 2/1

The incendiary dark comedy Detroit - a Pulitzer Prize finalist, New York Times Critics' Pick, and Obie Award-winner for Best New American Play - begins a four-week run February 1 at TheatreSquared. The production is directed by Southern Repertory Theatre Producing Artistic Director Aimée Hayes. Performances are scheduled February 1-26, Wednesdays through Sundays, with tickets ($15-$45) available at theatre2.org or (479) 443-5600.

Recently laid off, Ben starts an e-business from his suburban home while his wife, Mary, keeps up a punishing commute to work. But when mysterious new neighbors Sharon and Kenny arrive, they find themselves increasingly pulled towards their wild new friends-to incendiary effecT. Fast-paced and dangerously funny, Detroit rips up the floorboards to reveal the racing heart under a crumbling suburban fantasy.

"What happens when you suddenly wake up from the American dream?" said T2 artistic director Robert Ford. "This ecstatic, thrilling, and darkly funny new play lives right at the intersection of moving-on-up and burn-it-all-down. It makes for a great night of theatre."

Since its debut at Steppenwolf Theatre Company, Detroit has been widely praised. The New York Times called it "a smart, tart critique of the country's fraying social fabric - as rich and addictively satisfying as a five-layer dip," while Time Out NY described the show as "hilarious... sly, timely and neatly surprising...very much an of-the-moment American play."

Pulitzer finalist Lisa D'Amour will travel to Fayetteville to attend Detroit and will lead two free public events at the Fayetteville Public Library on February 9, including a playwriting workshop at 4:30pm and a public forum at 6:30pm in the Walker Family Community Room. Workshop participation is limited to the first 25 who register at faylib.org; seating for the forum will be first come, first seated.

The cast for Detroit includes Lori Prince, Brian Rife, Bill Rogers, Laura Berner Taylor, and Vincent Teninty. The lead creative team includes assistant director Cole Wimpee, scenic designer Kimberly Powers, lighting designer Joey Moro, Sound Designer Sinan Zafar, costume designer Ruby Kemph, properties master Brodie Jasch, fight choreographer Scott Russell, and production stage manager David A. Loranca.

TheatreSquared's production is made possible in part with support from lead show sponsors Lynn and Joel Carver as well as show sponsors Tod Yeslow and Jackie Telfair.

Performances are scheduled February 1-26, 2017, Wednesdays through Sundays at Walton Arts Center's Nadine Baum Studios (505 W. Spring St., Fayetteville, AR). Show Schedule: Monday-Tuesday No Performances; Wednesday-Friday 7:30pm; Saturday 2:00pm; 7:30pm; and Sunday 2:00pm. Note: Detroit contains adult language and content; parental discretion is advised. The play runs 90 minutes with no intermission. Tickets range from $15-$45 ($10/Under 30) and are available at (479) 443-5600 or online at theatre2.org.

TheatreSquared is Northwest Arkansas' professional regional theatre, offering an intimate live theatre experience for 40,000 patrons each year at the theatre and in schools throughout the state. TheatreSquared was recognized by the American Theatre Wing, founder of the Tony Awards, as one of the nation's ten most promising emerging theatres. TheatreSquared has experienced remarkable growth in recent seasons, expanding its audience tenfold in the past five years. The theatre is currently in the design phase for a new 50,000 square-foot facility to be completed in mid-2019.

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