INTIMATE APPAREL Comes to TheatreSquared

Next week, TheatreSquared will open the award-winning, poignant, and uplifting new American drama Intimate Apparel, winner of five national awards for Best Play. This turn-of-the-century story about the empowerment of Esther, an African American seamstress who sews brilliantly intricate "intimates" for high society and red-light women alike, was written by Pulitzer Prize and MacArthur "genius" grant recipient Lynn Nottage. Shana Gold (Rapture Blister Burn, Proof) directs a professional cast hailing from Northwest Arkansas, Chicago and New York. Performances are scheduled for March 22-April 16, 2017, with tickets ($15-$45) available at theatre2.org or (479) 443-5600.

"Intimate Apparel is an incredibly compelling play, seamlessly interweaving threads of race, class, and religion into a beautiful story," said T2 Artistic Director Robert Ford. "It's set in a New York boarding house more than 100 years ago, but it resonates powerfully today. Just as it did off-Broadway and in many of our country's best theatres, Intimate Apparel will spark meaningful conversations in Northwest Arkansas after a transporting theatrical experience."

The Chicago Tribune describes Intimate Apparel as "a justly acclaimed, beautifully written and intensely personal play from a newly prominent African-American theatrical voice...with an ability to cut to the emotional quick with striking veracity."

The production is directed by Shana Gold, who previously directed Rapture Blister Burn, Reasons to be Pretty, 4000 Miles, Proof and Underneath The Lintel at TheatreSquared. Her off-Broadway and world premiere credits include Food and Fadwa (New York Theatre Workshop / Noor Theatre), Goldor & Mythyka: A Hero is Born (New Georges), Polaris (Urban Stages), and In the Crossing (The Culture Project, Women Center Stage). Her regional credits include Hkeelee (Talk to me) (Arena Stage), The Storyteller (The Kennedy Center), and Tennis at Nablus (NYU-Abu Dhabi), among many others.

Playwright Lynn Nottage is the winner of the Pulitzer Prize for Drama and a MacArthur "genius" grant recipient whose most recent play, Sweat, is currently on Broadway following a sold-out run at The Public Theater. Her plays include By The Way, Meet Vera Stark (Lilly Award, Drama Desk Nomination), Ruined (Pulitzer Prize, OBIE, Lucille Lortel, New York Drama Critics' Circle, Audelco, Drama Desk, and Outer Critics Circle Award), Fabulation, or The Re-Education of Undine (OBIE Award), and others. She is currently working with the Metropolitan Opera and Lincoln Center Theatre to adapt Intimate Apparel as a full-length opera.

The cast includes Ryan Anderson, Joslyn Jones, Laura Shatkus, Jason Shipman, Toya Turner, and Britney Walker-Merritte. The lead creative team includes scenic designer Jean Kim, lighting designer Shawn Irish, sound designer Sinan Zafar, costume designer Ruby Kemph, properties master Brodie Jasch, and production stage manager David A. Loranca.

TheatreSquared's production is made possible in part with support from lead show sponsors Nick and Carolyn Cole and show sponsor SAndy Edwards.

Performance Schedule
Performances are scheduled March 22-April 16, 2017, Wednesdays through Sundays at Walton Arts Center's Nadine Baum Studios (505 W. Spring St., Fayetteville, AR).

Monday-Tuesday No Performances

Wednesday-Friday 7:30pm

Saturday 2:00pm; 7:30pm

Sunday 2:00pm

Intimate Apparel contains occasional adult language and references and is recommended for ages 13+.

The approximate running time is two hours and 15 minutes including one intermission.

Tickets range from $15-$45 ($10/Under 30) and are available at (479) 443-5600 or online at theatre2.org.

Through T2's Lights Up! For Access program, supported by the Walmart Foundation, SNAP benefit recipients can purchase $5 tickets and patrons under the age of 30 can purchase $10 tickets and. For more, visit Intimate Apparel is made possible in part by lead show sponsors Nick and Carolyn Cole and by show sponsor SAndy Edwards.

Major funding for TheatreSquared Season 11 is provided by The Walton Family Foundation, Inc.; by the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation; by the Walmart Foundation; by the Willard and Pat Walker Charitable Foundation; by the Shubert Foundation; by the Arkansas Arts Council, an agency of the Department of Arkansas Heritage; and by the National Endowment for the Arts.

Major marketing support for TheatreSquared Season 11 is provided by the Fayetteville Advertising and Promotions Commission. Media sponsors include Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Fayetteville Flyer, Cox Communications, KNWA, AMP Sign & Banner, CitiScapes, KUAF, and Mailco USA.

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