Riverside Theatre presents Lucas Hnath's THE CHRISTIANS

Riverside Theatre, led by Producing Artistic Director/CEO Allen D. Cornell and Managing Director/COO Jon R. Moses, present the contemporary play by Lucas Hnath, The Christians. Sponsored by Riverside Theatre's Patron Producers Group, The Christians performs on the Waxlax Stage from March 21 - April 9, 2017.

Twenty years ago, Pastor Paul's church was a modest storefront. Now it houses thousands, with a coffee shop in the lobby and a baptismal font as big as a swimming pool. But on the day they celebrate the end of their indebtedness, Pastor Paul is about to share some news his congregation isn't used to hearing. It is a sermon that will shake the foundation of his congregation's beliefs. How could one's convictions change overnight? From one of America's new, exciting playwrights, comes this mesmerizing play about faith and redemption and its power to unite or divide.

Playwright Lucas Hnath grew up in Orlando and moved to New York City in 1997 to study pre-med. He changed to dramatic writing at the Tisch School of the Arts at New York University earning an MFA in 2002. He teaches at New York University and is a resident playwright at New Dramatists.

A prolific playwright, Mr. Hnath's play, Red Speedo, won the 2016 Obie Award for Playwriting. His plays and have been produced in New York and all over the country. Mr. Hnath has received the Kesselring Prize, a Guggenheim Fellowship, the Whiting Award, two Steinberg/ATCA New Play Award Citations, and an Outer Critics Circle Award for Best New Play.

His play The Christians was produced at the Humana Festival in 2014 and premiered Off-Broadway at Playwrights Horizons in 2015.

Riverside's production of The Christians will be directed and scenically designed by Riverside CEO Allen D. Cornell and stars Brian Myers Cooper as Pastor, Vanessa Kai as Wife, Ryan George as Associate, Mitch Tebo as Elder, and Jewel Blakeslee as Congregant.

The design and production crew includes: Richard Crowell (Lighting Designer), Anna Hillbery (Costume Designer), Andrew Stroud (Sound Designer), and Kristin Sutter (Production Stage Manager). Casting was done in New York City by Wojcik / Seay Casting.

The Christians performs March 21 - April 9, 2017 on the Waxlax Stage at Riverside Theatre. Tickets are $45. Tickets can be purchased by calling the Box Office at 772-231-6990 or online at www.riversidetheatre.com.

Performances are Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays at 7:30pm; Opening Night (the first Tuesday performance), Fridays, and Saturdays at 8pm; with matinees on Wednesdays, select Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays at 2pm.

The Stark Stage season also includes: Saturday Night Fever (April 11 - 30).

The Christiansis presented by Riverside Theatre's Patron Producers Group: Lois Appleby, Linda Aronberg, Anita Astrachan, Carol Atkinson, Barbara Baldwin, David & Cynthia Bardes, Paul & Jayne Becker, Sam & Susie Bell, Dick & Sue Bergeman, Ted & Debbie Berghorst, Jerry & Anne Blatherwick , Este Brashears, John & Anita Brennan, Peter & Susie Brinckerhoff, Bill & Laura Buck, Tim & Carol Buhl, Bill & Karen Campbell, Don & Rose Ciampa, Jim & Dottie Currie, John & Sue Dobbs, Bill & Laura Frick, Mary Jane Grant, Herb & Ann Gullquist, Bill & Eva Gurley, Duke & Gael Habernickel, Robert & Pat Hall, Dick & Rosemary Haverland, Calvin & Sally Hills, Dave & Jayne Horner, Ronald F. Hunt, Allen & Ann Jones, John & Pam Kean, Paul & Nancy Knapp, Judy & Lou LaFage, Bill Lane, Doug & Julie Macrae, Whit & Betty MacMillan, John & Marilyn McConnell, Ray & Sonia McGowan, Brooke Megrue, Ted & Dawn Michael, Bob & Susan Morrison, Bobbie Olsen, Don & Connie Patterson, Michael & Kathie Pierce, Helen Post, Ted & Carol Price, Mike & Anne Rhoades, John Roberts & Juli Blunt, Ron & Nancy Rosner, Bill & Judy Schneebeck, Van Schreiber, Bill & Marlynn Scully, Ned & Emily Sherwood, Joe & Mary Alice Smith, Orin & Stephanie Smith, Dick & Stephanie Solar, Diana Stark and The Dorothea L. Leonhardt Foundation, Charlotte Stifel, Dick & Barbara Stockton, Doug & Dhuanne Tansill, John & Tobey Taylor, Wat & Jane Tyler, Lorne & Heidi Waxlax, Pat & Carol Welsh, Ken & Liz Whitney, Gail D. Williams, and Don Wilson.

The 2016-2017 Season is sponsored by: Wilmington Trust, Fidelity Investments, Dale Sorensen Real Estate, O'Haire Fessler Group-Merrill Lynch Wealth Management, Sea Turtle Real Estate, Indian River Medical Center, Northern Trust, Indian River Press Journal, 93.7 The Breeze, Vatland Honda, Marriott SpringHill Suites, and PNC Wealth Management.

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