12 Peers Theater will start their 2018 Main Stage Season with Building the Wall by Robert Schenkkan. The Pittsburgh Premiere is directed by Ricardo Vila-Roger and features Tom Kolos and Lauren A. Bethea. Building the Wall examines hatred, fear, and institutional racism in an imagined 2019 in a post-Trump America and runs May 24 - June 10, 2018.
"Building the Wall is a cautionary tale, not a history play," artistic director Vince Ventura says. "We want to start discussions around the fairness of our systems, the balance of security and freedom, and the sometimes uncomfortable topic of institutional racism."
On January 20, 2017, 2017, Donald J. Trump was sworn in as the 45th president of the United States. Over the next sixteen months, events would unravel that test every American's strength of character: executive actions, an immigration round-up of unprecedented scale, and a declaration of martial law. Rick finds himself caught up as the frontman of the new administration's edicts and loses his humanity. In a play that recalls George Orwell's Nineteen Eighty-Four and the Nazi regime, Building the Wall is a terrifying and gripping exploration of what happens if we let fear win.
Building the Wall is directed by Ricardo Vila-Roger and features Tom Kolos as Rick and Lauren A. Bethea as Gloria, with scenic design by Hank Bullington, prop and costume design by Madison Hack, lighting design by Paige Borak, and sound design by Shannon Knapp.
Robert Schenkkan is a Pulitzer Prize-winning, Tony Award-winning, Writer's Guild Award-winning, three-time Emmy-nominated writer of stage, television, and film. He is the author of fourteen original full-length plays, two musicals, and a collection of one-act plays. He co-wrote the feature film, HACKSAW RIDGE (six Academy Award nominations) and THE QUIET AMERICAN, and his television credits include: ALL THE WAY, THE PACIFIC, THE ANDROMEDA STRAIN, and SPARTACUS.
PERFORMANCE SCHEDULE
Thursdays at 8:00 p.m.
Fridays at 8:00 p.m.
Saturdays at 8:00 p.m.
Sundays at 2:00 p.m.
Industry Night: Monday, June 4 at 8:00 p.m.
For a complete listing of performance times, please visit 12peers.org or call 412-626-6784
PRESS AND OPENING NIGHT
May 24, 2018 at 8:00 p.m.
BOX OFFICE INFORMATION
412-626-6784 or www.12peers.org.
Single Tickets range from Name Your Own Price to $20 and are on sale now
DISCOUNTS
Artist: $15
Student: Name Your Own Price
Senior: Name Your Own Price
Dramatists Guild Members: Free through the Playwrights Welcome Program
All Sunday and Monday performances in the 2018 Main Stage season are Name Your Own Price.
WHERE
4200 Fifth Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15260 (Oakland)
Port Authority bus routes: 54, 61A, 61B, 61C, 61D, 71A, 71B, 71C, 71D
PARKING
Parking is available on Bigelow Blvd., Forbes Ave., Fifth Ave, or at the Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Parking Garage on Bigelow Blvd.
ABOUT THE COMPANY
Founded in 2011 and taking their name from the Twelve Peers of Charlemagne, 12 Peers Theater is a 501(c)(3) organization operating in the Greater Pittsburgh Area. 12 Peers Theater's mission is to provide challenging and engaging theater through contemporary works exploring myth and cultural identity.
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