THE WOLVES Makes its Minnesota Debut at The Jungle

The Jungle Theater puts on its game face with the Minnesota premiere of The Wolves, a portrait of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness for nine American girls who just want to score some goals. Jungle Artistic Director Sarah Rasmussen directs this Pulitzer Prize Finalist play by Sarah DeLappe, on stage March 31-April 29.

From the safety of their suburban stretch circle, a girls' high school soccer team navigates big questions and wages tiny battles with all the vigor of a pack of teen warriors. At its most straightforward, The Wolves is a fly-on-the-wall look at the team as they go through a series of their pre-game warm-ups. Beyond the surface, however, is the thoughtful and eloquent way the play delineates each of the young women in the space of 90 minutes and six scenes.

In addition to being a 2017 Pulitzer Prize finalist, The Wolves' NYC production won an Obie Ensemble Award, a special Drama Desk Award for its acting ensemble, and was nominated for Lucille Lortel and Drama League awards for Best Play, as well as for the Outer Critics' Circle John Gassner Award for Outstanding New American Play. It also received the American Playwriting Foundation's inaugural Relentless Award, and was a finalist for the Susan Smith Blackburn Prize and the Yale Drama Series Prize.

The New York Times named The Wolves one of the best plays of 2016. Critic Ben Brantley said, "A thrilling debut play. First-rate ensemble acting and theater that keeps you on the edge of your seat." New York Magazine called it "an astonishing new play. Extraordinary." In Chicago, where the play is currently on stage at The Goodman Theatre, the Sun-Times deemed it a "marvelous coming-of-age tale" and the Chicago Tribune named it "...a truly beautiful exploration [of] our adolescent years."

Of her acclaimed debut play, DeLappe said, "I wanted to see a portrait of teenage girls as human beings - as complicated, nuanced, very idiosyncratic people who weren't just girlfriends or sex objects or manic pixie dream girls but who were athletes and daughters and students and scholars and people who were trying actively to figure out who they were in this changing world around them."

The Wolves soccer team features Chloe Armao, Megan Burns, Meredith Casey Michelle de Joya, Becca Hart, McKenna Kelly-Eiding, Isabella Star LaBlanc, Rosey Lowe, Shelby Rose Richardson, all of whom are making their Jungle debuts, and Jennifer Blagen (Fool for Love) as Soccer Mom.

Rasmussen's creative team includes Sarah Bahr (set and costume design), Karin Olson (lighting design), Katharine Horowitz (sound design) and Amanda Bowman (stage manager).

The Wolves is on stage at the Jungle, the intimate Lyn-Lake neighborhood theater, 2951 Lyndale Ave. S. in Minneapolis. The Jungle offers post-show Stay Late discussions with an actor after every performance to give audience members the opportunity to ask questions and talk about the play's themes.

Performances are Tuesdays ($37), Wednesdays ($37), Thursdays ($37), Fridays ($47) and Saturdays at 7:30 p.m. ($47), and Sundays at 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. ($42). The Preview performance ($15) is March 28-29 at 7:30 p.m. Rush tickets are offered every night of the week, based on availability two hours prior to the performance, and there is special Friday night pricing for students, 55408 neighborhood residents and employees, and those under 30 years of age. Tickets and more information are available at (612) 822-7063 or online at www.jungletheater.com.

About the Jungle Theater

The Jungle Theater is a neighborhood theater with a national impact. As one of the region's most dynamic theaters, the Jungle is known for its definitive productions, exquisite design, masterful acting and compelling storytelling. Since its founding in 1991, the Jungle has been a flagship example of the transformative power of the performing arts, playing a vital, continuing role in the economic, social and cultural life of its Minneapolis Lyn-Lake neighborhood.

DATES

Previews Wednesday-Thursday, March 28-29 @ 7:30 p.m.

Media Night Friday, March 30 @ 7:30 p.m.

Opening Night Saturday, March 31 @ 7:30 p.m.

Audio-Described Thursday, April 12 @ 7:30 p.m.

Closes Sunday, April 29 @ 7:30 p.m.

Photo via: http://www.jungletheater.com/thewolves/

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