Theatre NOVA to Present the World Premiere of David Wells' RESISTING

Theatre NOVA, Ann Arbor's professional theatre with an exclusive focus on new plays and playwrights, presents the world premiere of "Resisting" by David Wells.

From the playwright of the smash-hit "Irrational" comes this hard-hitting and topical play about systemic racism in the American legal system. Based on a true story, a young black woman who begins to film an incident of police brutality is subjected to shocking treatment herself and becomes embroiled in a legal battle that never should have been. As the case unfolds, she and her idealistic white public defender must decide whether the personal cost of justice is one they are willing to pay.

"Resisting" features Tayler Jones, Annie Dilworth, Will Bryson, and Patrick O'Lear, and is directed by Billicia Hines. The design team includes Forrest Hejkal (scenic design), Carla Milarch (costume design), Dan Walker (lighting design), and Billicia Hines (sound design).

This powerful drama is about injustice and inequality in the justice system, racial profiling and "broken windows" policing, family and friendship, choices and opportunities, right and wrong, and asks how we can change the world. It is inspired by real events and is based on a true story.

"Resisting" will run October 27 through November 19, 2017, at Theatre NOVA (410 W. Huron, Ann Arbor), a downtown performance space. Show times are 8:00 p.m. Thursday through Saturday and Sunday matinees start at 2:00 p.m. Theatre NOVA features free parking for patrons, as well as quick access to the city's restaurants, bars, bakeries, and coffee shops.

Tickets are $20, and Theatre NOVA continues its commitment to making theatre accessible by offering pay-what-you-can tickets for those who need them. For tickets, visit TheatreNOVA.org, call 734-635-8450 (Tuesdays through Fridays from noon until 3:00 p.m.), or buy them in person at the box office one hour before show time.

Theatre NOVA is Ann Arbor's resident professional theatre company. Its mission is to raise awareness of the value and excitement of new plays and playwrights and provide resources for playwrights to develop their craft by importing, exporting, and developing new work. This activity is supported by the Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs and the National Endowment for the Arts.

David Wells (PLAYWRIGHT) is a National New Play Network Showcase Finalist, a Motion Picture Academy Nicholl Fellowship in Screenwriting Semi-Finalist, and a recipient of the Edgerton Foundation New Play Award. His musical "Irrational" won the Wilde Award for Best New Script. His plays have been produced and developed at Tipping Point Theatre, Performance Network Theatre, Theatre NOVA, New Jersey Repertory Theatre, San Diego Repertory Theatre, and others. He has developed screenplays with producers at New Line Cinema, Walt Disney Studios, and Sony Studios. David is a National New Play Network Affiliate Artist, a member of the Writers Guild of America, and a graduate of the University of Michigan.

Billicia Hines (DIRECTOR) is an assistant professor and is director of the Black Theatre Program at Wayne State University. Previously, she was director of theatre at Elizabeth City State University. She began her formal training in drama in the high school program at the North Carolina School of the Arts. Thereafter, she attended NC Agricultural & Technical State University in Greensboro, NC (BFA, professional theatre) and University of Missouri at Kansas City (MFA, acting). She is a certified teacher of the Michael Chekhov Technique from the Great Lakes Michael Chekhov Consortium, an organization in which she proudly holds the position of associate artist. Billicia has presented Michael Chekhov Acting Technique workshops throughout various universities and theatre conferences. Also, she has performed the one-woman shows, "Hela: The Immortal Cell Line of Henrietta Lacks," "Testimonies of Truth: Truth, Parks, and Giovanni," and "Flying on Broken Wings: A Journey through Domestic Violence." She has also found time to do voice-over work, independent films, and many other promotional videos. To know more, visit her website, www.billicia.com.

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