Borderlands Theater Presents THE MERMAID HOUR
By: Julie Musbach Feb. 28, 2018
The Mermaid Hour is a journey into the complexities of parenting, one of the most challenging and rewarding undertakings of the human experience. The Mermaid Hour's mixed race family negotiates a tween child's gender transition and opposing parenting styles. The play reflects the spectrum of the world we live in with a diverse cast, showcasing varying sexual orientations. The beauty of the play lies in its ability to resonate with all types of families. It's heartwarming, humorous and poignant.
THE PLAY
For Pilar and Bird, navigating their tween daughter Violet's transition is tricky as they juggle not only their own opposing parenting styles, but also her impulsive nature. Vi is just as concerned about her best friend Jacob, who she wishes was her boyfriend, and when nothing is going as she wants, she makes a YouTube video that pushes everyone's buttons. As her parents wrestle with all of Vi's choices, they confront the gaps between them as a couple--and which they'll have to overcome to see them all through.
ABOUT THE NATIONAL NEW PLAY NETWORK ROLLING WORLD PREMIERE OF THE MERMAID HOUR
In an NNPN Rolling World Premiere, the Network provides production support to the playwright and the partnering theaters, including assistance with the creation and the contracting of the premiere agreement, collaborative interactions between the theaters, and travel and housing funds for the playwright to further develop the play in each city.
The Mermaid Hour by David Valdes Greenwood will roll through Borderlands Theater (Tucson, AZ; March 15-April 1, 2018), Milagro (Portland, OR; March 22-April 14, 2018), and Actor's Theatre of Charlotte (NC; May 2-19, 2018). Mr. Valdes Greenwood adapted the play into a musical with Eric Mayson, composer, which will be produced as part of the Rolling World Premiere at Mixed Blood Theatre as Mermaid Hour: ReMixed (Minneapolis, MN; April 5-29, 2018). The Mermaid Hour was presented at the 2016 National Showcase of New Plays and is NNPN's 75th Rolling World Premiere.
MORE ON THE PLAYWRIGHT
David Valdes Greenwood- Playwright- is a Company One PlayLab Fellow, and previous a Huntington Theatre Company Playwriting Fellow, Cimientos Fellow, Brother Thomas Artist Fellow, and Sloan Project commission recipient from Ensemble Studio Theatre. His plays have been presented in public readings across the US and UK, most recently with Boulder Ensemble Theatre Company, Actor's Theatre of Charlotte, the National Showcase of New Plays, Pride Films and Plays, and IATI Theatre. His play The Last Catastrophist is receiving development and readings in 2017 from Company One, Huntington Theatre Company, and The Bechdel Project. He has worked with Fresh Ink, Argos Productions, Stage Left, Ensemble Studio Theatre, and The Theater Offensive, and his plays have appeared at the Humana Festival, New York International Fringe Festival, Portland Stage Little Festival of the Unexpected, and New York Theatre Workshop Thursday Studio. His plays have published and anthologized by Samuel French.
MORE ON THE DIRECTOR:
Glen Coffman- Director- is a co-founder of Winding Road Theater Ensemble. He has an MA in theatre studies from the U of A and studied acting at Herbert Berghof Studios in NYC. In 2015 he was one of 40 directors chosen internationally to participate in Lincoln Center's Director's Lab West. He has directed for Live Theatre Workshop, Borderlands Theatre, and Invisible Theatre in addition to Winding Road. Directing credits for Winding Road include August Osage County, Death of a Salesman, The Fifth of July, Row After Row, and Burn This. He is excited to part of Borderlands /National New Play Network's rolling world premiere of The Mermaid Hour.
PERFORMANCE SCHEDULE AND TICKET INFORMATION
Temple of Music and Art Cabaret Theater, 330 S Scott Ave, Tucson, AZ 85701. Tickets: $13-$30 with various discounts.
- 9/27 - 7:30 pm Preview (HALF OFF All tickets $13!)
- 9/28- 7:30 pm Preview (HALF OFF All tickets $13!)
- 9/29- 7:30 pm Opening Night: Light refreshments plus meet and greet the actors and director. ($30)
- 10/1 - 2 pm Matinee ($16/$22/$27)
- 10/4 - 7:30 pm ($16/$22/$27)
- 10/5 - 7:30 pm ($16/$22/$27)
- 10/6 - 7:30 pm ($16/$22/$27)
- 10/7 - 7:30 pm ($16/$22/$27)
- 10/8 - 2 pm Matinee ($16/$22/$27)
- 10/11 - 7:30pm (($16/$22/$27)
- 10/12 - 7:30pm ($16/$22/$27)
- 10/13 - 7:30pm ($16/$22/$27)
- 10/14 - 7:30pm ($16/$22/$27)
- 10/15 - 2 pm Matinee ($16/$22/$27)
PLEASE CONTACT BORDERLANDS THEATER BOX OFFICE AT (520) 882-7406.
ORDER TICKETS ONLINE: www.borderlandstheater.org
In person at 151 S Granada, TUCSON 85701.
For handicap accessibility please call the Box Office.
PHOTO: Sean Dupont, Jay Garcia, Alida Holguín Gunn
PHOTO CREDIT: Marc David Pinate
Comments
Videos