Virginia Rep to Premiere END OF WAR by David L. Robbins Next Month

Virginia Repertory Theatre opens the World Premiere of The End of War by David L. Robbins on March 10, 2017, on the Arenstein Stage at the Sara Belle and Neil November Theatre, 114 West Broad Street. The End of War will have two preview performances on March 8 and 9, 2017, and will run through March 26, 2017.

Set in embattled Berlin in the final days of WWII, the play examines the fears and atrocities of war from the perspective of a brilliant young cellist, her mother who is harboring one of the city's last Jews, and two Red Army soldiers fighting their way through the hellish Eastern front. Robbins takes us into the heat of battle, awaiting the fated, terrifying collision between Stalin's army and Berlin's civilian population. Virginia Rep is delighted to welcome the Weinstein Jewish Community Center and The Mighty Pen Project as community partners. This World Premiere is supported by the National Endowment for the Arts and the Muriel McAuley Fund for New Works and Contemporary Theatre.

Richmond native, David L. Robbins, is a novelist, essayist, screenwriter, and playwright. He has published thirteen novels, including a recent series on the U.S. Air Force Special Operations Guardian Angels. His stage plays include Scorched Earth (Virginia Rep) and Sam and Carol (Quill Theatre). Robbins has taught advanced creative writing at the university level for twelve years. He is the founder of James River Writers and co-founder of the non-profit Podium Foundation, which supports the practice and teaching of writing in Richmond Public High Schools. He is the founder of the non-profit Mighty Pen Project, giving Virginia veterans and their families training to turn their memories of military service into written narratives. He is currently at work on an epic novel set in Palestine during the tumultuous years of 1945-48.

Nathaniel Shaw, Virginia Rep's new Artistic Director, has worked with Robbins on the script over the past year and will direct the show. "David's courageous, bracing World War II drama allows us a glimpse into the human struggle of those trying to survive in Berlin just days before the fall. The play captures the operatic grandeur of the political landscape, while also allowing us an intimate portrait of what it took to survive those unimaginably difficult days. This project has been an immensely collaborative process between both the writer and the creative team. I am delighted to see all the elements come together to tell this story." Shaw's recent directing credits include Peter and the Starcatcher for Virginia Rep, Touch for the Libra Theater Company, West Side Story and A Chorus Line for Cortland Rep. Shaw founded and ran The Active Theater in New York for six seasons and served as an associate choreographer for Once on Broadway and the First National Tour.

The design team includes set designer, Ron Keller (Dreamgirls, Mame, The Color Purple, Scorched Earth, Thoroughly Modern Millie and Guys and Dolls for Virginia Rep), and projection designer Tennessee Dixon (The Boatwright, Ubu84 and The Boy in the Bathroom for Firehouse Theatre, Stupid f-ing Bird for Quill Theatre, and H2H and Human Terrain for 5th Wall Theatre). Julian Evans (Tick, Tick... BOOM! , John & Jen, Phoenix Rising for Theatre Row, I Like it Like That! for Pregones Theater) joins the creative team on sound design. Sue Griffin (1776, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, The Color Purple, and Mame for Virginia Rep) will design costumes and BJ Wilkinson (1776, Summer and Smoke, Peter and the Starcatcher and The Color Purple for Virginia Rep) will design lighting.

Lead cast members include Eva DeVirgilis (Last of the Red Hot Lovers, Tartuffe for Virginia Rep) as Lottie, Nicklas Aliff (last seen in Peter and the Starcatcher at Virginia Rep) as IIya, Scott Wichmann (1776, Last of the Red Hot Lovers, This Wonderful Life for Virginia Rep) as Julius, and Andrew C. Boothby (Brighton Beach Memoirs, 1776, Gypsy for Virginia Rep) as Gerhardt. Virginia Rep welcomes Wolf J. Sherrill as Konsta and Paige Larson as Freya, both making their Virginia Rep debut. Sherrill's regional theatre credits include roles at Indiana Repertory Theatre, The Arvada Center, and CATCO, The Toronto Medieval Festival and The Avignon Theatre Festival in France. Cellist, Erin Snedecor, is a multi-genre cellist based in Washington, DC who specializes in contemporary performance, improvisation, and collaborative art. The full cast list is below.

Tickets can be found at the Box Office 804-282-2620 and online at www.virginiarep.org. Full Price Tickets: Adults $38 - $46. Discounted Group Rates and Rush tickets available. U-Tix for college and high school students $10. Available by phone or in person, day of show only. Valid Student ID required.

Virginia Rep launched two new free ticket programs this fall. The Free-View Lottery will provide 50 free tickets through a lottery system on the first Wednesday Preview of all Signature shows. The Community Tickets Grant Program creates a process for nonprofit organizations to apply for up to 50 free tickets for the groups they serve who may not otherwise have the ability to attend a show. More information at www.virginiarep.org.

Four Thoughts discussion series will continue on Sundays, 30 minutes prior to the performance. Local experts on theatre will present four thoughts or ideas that provide context to the play. Open to public. No reservation needed.

The End of War is part of the Acts of Faith Theatre Festival. Virginia Rep will host Acts of Faith talkbacks on March 12 and March 19, 2017 following each performance.

The Sara Belle and Neil November Theatre is equipped with a state-of the-art induction loop hearing system that is compatible with all telecoil-equipped hearing aids and cochlear implants. A handheld receiver and headphone system is also available free of charge for anyone who is hearing impaired.

Valet parking is available for $8 at all performances and free self-park is available for patrons within blocks of the theatre. Valet is complimentary for patrons who dine at Max's on Broad, before or after the show.

PRODUCTION TEAM:

Direction & Design

Direction Nathaniel Shaw

Set Design Ron Keller+

Lighting Design BJ Wilkinson

Costume Design Sue Griffin

Projection Design Tennessee Dixon

Stage Management Anna K. Raines*

CAST:

Ilya Nicklas Aliff*

Konsta Wolf J. Sherrill*

Lottie Eva DeVirgilis*

Freya Paige Larson

Gerhardt Andrew C. Boothby*

Julius Scott Wichmann*

Cellist Erin Snedecor

Ensemble Joseph Bromfield, AdrIan Grantz, Austin Carlson, Sarah Velasco-Kent

* Member of Actors' Equity Association, the union of professional actors and stage managers in the U.S.A.

+ Member of USA United Scenic Artists: local 829

Virginia Repertory Theatre is the regional professional theatre in Richmond, Virginia. With a budget of $5 million, four distinct venues, an educational touring arm, and an annual audience over 530,000, Virginia Rep is one of the largest performing arts organizations in Central Virginia. Virginia Rep stages four seasons annually: the Signature Season at the Sara Belle and Neil November Theatre, Theatre Gym Season in partnership with Cadence Theatre Company, Virginia Rep's Children's Season at Willow Lawn, and the Hanover Tavern Season.

To post a comment, you must register and login.