Jutting Directs McIntyre in SEA WALL at OZ Arts 7/20

Jaclynn Jutting directs a new production of Simon Stephens' acclaimed monologue Sea Wall, presented as part of OZ Arts' local spotlight series, on Thursday, July 20, starring Nat McIntyre. Sea Wall is the first theater production within OZ Arts' TNT local spotlight series.

Jutting curates the evening's presentations and sets the stage with an installation of photography by Tina Gionis, which plays off the profession of the play's protagonist. The performance starts at 7 p.m. (doors open at 6:30 p.m.). Tickets are $20 and are available in advance at www.ozartsnashville.org.

"This simple one-man play is one of my favorite plays of all times," said Jutting, an assistant professor for the Department of Theatre & Dance and head of Belmont's B.F.A. Directing program. "One father onstage talking about his daughter, wife and father-in-law reminds me of how lucky we are to have these minutes and moments on earth with those that we love in a universe where anything can happen at any time. Sea Wall reminds me that powerful theater can be one person looking us in the eye and sharing their story with us. It makes me want to hold the hand of the loved one next to me a little tighter."

In Sea Wall, things for Alex (Nat McIntyre), the play's protagonist, are good. He loves his wife, his daughter, his city and his job. But sometimes life can turn. Everything you thought you could always depend on can be taken away without notice. Sea Wall is an unforgettable story about family, fear and the things that can't be undone.

The Irish Times has described Sea Wall as "perfectly formed" and "masterfully wrought." The Independent (UK) has called it "devastating." It premiered in 2008 at London's Bush Theatre.

About the principals Jutting is a professional stage director and the former Associate Artistic Director of Vitalist Theatre, with whom she directed numerous productions, including Brecht'sMother Courage and her Children (as Associate Director), which won an After Dark Award for Best Direction. Select credits include The Amish Project (Actors Bridge Ensemble & Belmont University), the Jeff-nominated The Seagull (Eclectic Theatre), Animals Out of Paper (Steppenwolf Garage) and Love and Understanding(Redtwist). Jutting currently lives in Nashville and directs in both Nashville and Chicago.

McIntyre's Nashville credits include acting in A Midsummer Night's Dream (The Nashville Shakespeare Festival); Othello (The Nashville Shakespeare Festival); As You LIke It (The Nashville Shakespeare Festival); Frost/Nixon (Studio Tenn); The Diary of Anne Frank & Becky Shaw (Actor's Bridge); and directing End Days (FDR). His Broadway credits include War Horse (Lincoln Center). He has also appeared in numerous TV shows and films.

Tina Gionis (www.tinagionis.com) is a conceptual portrait photographer currently based in Nashville. A selection of her works from two series, entitled A Frame of Reference and Legacy, will be projected onto oversized photo frames installed within OZ Arts' Grand Salon.

About OZ Arts Nashville Since opening in 2014, OZ Arts Nashville, a 501(c)(3) contemporary arts center, has changed the cultural landscape of the city. Housed in the former C.A.O. cigar warehouse owned by Nashville's Ozgener family, OZ Arts, under the artistic leadership of Lauren Snelling, brings world-class performances and art installations to the city, and gives ambitious local artists opportunities to work on a grand scale. The flexible 10,000 square-foot, column-free venue, nestled amidst five acres of artfully landscaped grounds, is continually reconfigured to serve artists' imaginations, and to challenge and inspire a diverse range of curious audiences. TNT is a curated series of newly created artworks by Tennessee-based artists. The TNT series is supported in part by the Tennessee Arts Commission and the Danner Foundation.

For more information, go to www.ozartsnashville.org.

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