Penumbra Presents Timely Story Of Love In The Crucible Of The #BlackLivesMatter Moment

Penumbra Theatre proudly announces the regional premiere of This Bitter Earth, an arresting new work by award winning playwright Harrison David Rivers. This Bitter Earth opens on Thursday, April 26 and continues through Sunday, May 20. Previews are April 24 and 25. Tickets range in price from $15 for students/youth to $40 for adults, and are on sale through Penumbra Theatre's box office at 651.224.3180 and online at www.penumbratheatre.org.

Directed by Talvin Wilks, this contemporary, poetic masterpiece follows the budding relationship of Neil and Jesse during the defining years of the #BlackLivesMatter movement. Neil is a handsome, wealthy white man who is a passionate advocate for civil rights. Jesse is an introspective black playwright coming to terms with his own activism. As tensions mount with the extrajudicial killings of black men throughout the country, the young couple is forced to contend with the politics of their love. Join our all-star cast and creative team as we explore love in the crucible of the #BlackLivesMatter movement.

Based in Saint Paul, Minnesota, Harrison David Rivers plays include: [New York] Only You Can Prevent Wildfires (Ricochet Collective), And She Would Stand Like This (Movement Theatre Company), Sweet (AUDELCO nomination for Best Play, National Black Theatre), Look Upon Our Lowliness (Movement Theatre Company), When Last We Flew (GLAAD Media Award for Outstanding New York Theater: Off Off Broadway, New York International Fringe Festival). [Regional] Where Storms Are Born (Berkshire Theatre Award Nomination for Best New Play, Edgerton Foundation New Play Award, Williamstown), This Bitter Earth (New Conservatory Theatre Center, Penumbra), A Crack in the Sky (History Theatre), Five Points (Theatre Latte Da), When Last We Flew (TheatreLaB, Diversionary Theatre). [Awards] Emerging Artist of Color Fellowship (New York Theatre Workshop), Van Lier Fellowship (New Dramatists), Jerome Many Voices Fellowship, McKnight Fellowship for Playwrights, Core Writer (Playwrights' Center) and New York Stage & Film's Founder's Award. He has twice been named a finalist for the O'Neill National Playwrights' Conference and the Jonathan Larson Grant. He was a Kleban Prize finalist in 2016. [Affiliations] Alum of The Public Theater's Emerging Writers' Group, Interstate 73, NAMT and The Lincoln Center Directors' Lab. Member of NYTW's Usual Suspects. Harrison was the 2016 Playwright-in-Residence at the Williamstown Theatre Festival. He serves on the Board of Directors of the Playwrights' Center in Minneapolis. [Education] M.F.A, Columbia School of the Arts; B.A., Kenyon College.

Talvin Wilks, Director

Talvin Wilks is a playwright, director and dramaturg. His plays include Tod, the Boy, Tod; The Trial of Uncle S&M; Bread of Heaven; and An American Triptych. Directorial projects include the world premiere productions of Eyewitness Blues, by Mildred Ruiz and Steven Sapp (New World Theater/New York Theatre Workshop), UDU by Sekou Sundiata (651Arts/BAM), The Love Space Demands by Ntozake Shange (Crossroads), No Black Male Show/Pagan Operetta by Carl Hancock Rux (Joe's Pub/The Kitchen), Banana Beer Bath by Lynn Nottage, (Going to the River Festival/EST), the Obie Award/AUDELCO Award winning The Shaneequa Chronicles by Stephanie Berry (Ensemble Studio Theatre), Relativity by Cassandra Medley (Ensemble Studio Theatre - AUDELCO nomination for Best Director 2006) and On the Way to Timbuktu by Petronia Paley (Ensemble Studio Theatre - AUDELCO nomination for Best Director 2008). He has served as co-writer/dramaturg for ten productions in Ping Chong's ongoing series of Undesirable Elements, and dramaturg for four collaborations with the Bebe Miller Company, Necessary Beauty, Going to the Wall, the Bessie Award winning, Verge, and Landing/Place for which he received a 2006 Bessie Award for Dramaturgy.

Pricing: Adult $25; Senior 62+ with ID $20; Student with ID $15

Tickets: Tickets may be purchased online at www.penumbratheatre.org

Penumbra Box Office: 651.224.3180

Box Office hours: 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday

Access Performances

If you have specific program questions or need an accommodation, please contact Anita Baccus Robinson at 651-224-3180. There will be an ASL interpreted performance of This Bitter Earth on Saturday, May 19 at 7:30pm.

ABOUT PENUMBRA THEATRE

Penumbra Theatre creates professional productions that are artistically excellent, thought provoking, and relevant and illuminates the human condition through the prism of the African American experience.

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