City Theatre to Continue 2016-17 Season with Colman Domingo's WILD WITH HAPPY

For the penultimate show of the 2016-17 season, City Theatre presents Wild With Happy by Colman Domingo, a magical and madcap comedy about death that will give you life.

Directed by City Theatre Artistic Producer Reginald L. Douglas, Wild With Happy marks his Main Season directorial debut, as well as the Pittsburgh premiere of the Off-Broadway hit. It is also the first of any work by playwright Colman Domingo (star of Fear the Walking Dead) at City Theatre. The play runs April 8 - May 7, 2017 in the Lester Hamburg Studio; tickets are on sale now.

About Wild With Happy: When struggling actor Gil returns home to bury his mother, he learns what a funny thing grief can be. Gil searches for a way to send her off in style, while his outrageous (and overbearing) Aunt Glo, hilarious best friend Mo, and an intriguing new-age funeral director do their best to derail his plans. Overflowing with love and laughter, this bright new comedy will transport audiences from the church to the Magic Kingdom, with a whole lotta fabulous in between.

"I am thrilled for City Theatre to share Wild With Happy with Pittsburgh audiences," says Playwright Colman Domingo. "I am excited that this show can be included in a season with Sharon Washington [playwright and performer of Feeding the Dragon], who created the roles of Aunt Glo/Adelaide from its inception, and for it to be at the brand new artistic hands of Reginald and his company of artists who will shape and give new life to this fractured fairy tale."

Colman Domingo is the author of the produced works Dot, Wild With Happy, A Boy and His Soul, and Up Jumped Springtime. His work has won the OBIE, Lucille Lortel, GLAAD, Connecticut Critics Circle, Bay Area Theater Critics Circle, and Internet Theater Bloggers awards. As an actor, Mr. Domingo has starred on Broadway in Wild With Happy, Passing Strange, Chicago, Well, and The Scottsboro Boys and has co-starred in films such as The Butler, Lincoln, Red Hook Summer, Passing Strange, Miracle at St. Ana, King of the Bingo Game, Selma, and Newlyweeds, among others. He currently stars on AMC's Fear the Walking Dead, recurs on The Knick as Dr. Russell Daniels, and guest starred on Lucifer.

"Wild With Happy is a celebration of life, family, and the power of dreaming without ceasing," says Director Reginald L. Douglas. "Colman has created a fun and fabulous world that embraces the unique magic of the theater and the steadfast joy of the African-American experience. I am thrilled to be bringing it to life with this talented cast and crew, and can't wait for Pittsburgh audiences to experience this poignant new play filled with music and laughter.

Reginald L. Douglas line-produces and directs City Theatre productions, the Momentum Festival of new plays, and the Young Playwrights Festival; oversees casting operations and artistic initiatives; administers City's Directing Observership program; and builds community and artistic partnerships locally and nationally. He directs throughout the country, including TheaterWorks Hartford, Playwrights Center, McCarter, Luna Stage, and Harlem Stage. He has lectured at the National Theatre Institute and Point Park University, where he recently directed Big Love. Named "One of Top 10 People to Meet" by The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Reginald's work has been hailed by The New York Times, The Village Voice, and more. He joined City Theatre in March 2015.

The cast of Wild With Happy includes Corey Jones as Gil, Jason Shavers as Terry/Church Nurse, Monteze Freeland as Mo/Elder Bovane, and C. Kelly Wright as Adelaide/Aunt Glo. Tony Ferrieri is scenic designer, Karen Perry is costume designer, Andrew David Ostrowski is lighting designer, and Zachary Beattie-Brown is sound designer.

City Connects/LOVE with Proud Haven is Saturday, April 22, following the 1:00 p.m. matinee. City Connects is a program designed to relate City Theatre plays with relevant community organizations, stimulating conversation and activism through art. City Connects/LOVE will touch on the themes of Wild With Happy in conjunction with Proud Haven's mission. This panel conversation is moderated by David Brzozowski, Proud Haven Fundraising Chair, and includes Kyle Webster (Proud Haven Board Chair), Lindsay Cashman (Proud Haven Board Vice-Chair), and Alana Fields (Proud Haven Board Member). Up to 40% of homeless youth identify as LGBTQ+ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender or queer). Proud Haven's mission is to provide a safe shelter for homeless LGBTQ+ youth in Pittsburgh and to provide emotional support and resources to help these youth develop the skills necessary to live independently. More information can be found at www.proudhaven.org. The performance is pay-what-you-want at the door, beginning two hours before curtain.

IF YOU GO:

WILD WITH HAPPY

April 8 - May 7, 2017
Press/Opening Night: Friday, April 14 at 8:00 p.m.

Schedule:
Tuesdays at 7:00 p.m.
Wednesdays at 1:00 p.m. and/or 7:00 p.m.
Thursdays and Fridays at 8:00 p.m.
Saturdays at 1:00 p.m., 5:30 p.m., and/or 9:00 p.m.
Sundays at 2:00 p.m. or 7:00 p.m.

For a complete listing of show times, visit CityTheatreCompany.org or call 412-431-2489.

SPECIAL EVENTS:

Sipping Sunday - April 9 at 7:00 p.m.

Sample wines specially chosen to complement the production.

Talkbacks - April 19 & 23

A conversation with the artists immediately following the performances, moderated by City Theatre artistic staff.

Greenroom Young Professionals Night - Friday, April 21 at 8:00 p.m.

$25 Greenroom ticket includes complimentary snacks, beer, and wine after the performance, and mingling with the cast. Use code GREENROOM when ordering. Special guest and activity to be announced. Food provided by Nakama.

Pay-What-You-Want - Saturday, April 22 at 1:00 p.m.

A limited number of tickets are reserved for PWYW and go on sale two hours before curtain, walk up sales only. Call the box office in advance to check on availability.

City Connects/LOVE: A Conversation with Proud Haven - Saturday, April 22

Immediately following the 1:00 p.m. performance, a free dialogue with representatives from Proud Haven will take place on the stage.

ACCESSIBLE PERFORMANCE DATES:

ASL Interpretation Tuesday, May 2 at 7:00 p.m.

Open Captioning and Audio Description Sunday, April 30 at 2:00 p.m.

All performances play the City Theatre, 1300 Bingham Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15203 (South Side). Patron parking is available in the lot across from the City Theatre entrance for $8.

Box Office: 412.431.CITY (2489) or citytheatrecompany.org
Single tickets start at $37.50.

Audiences under 30 may reserve $15 tickets in advance for all performances except Fridays at 8:00 p.m. and Saturdays at 5:30 p.m.; on Fridays and Saturdays, rush tickets are available two hours prior to show time and based on availability. Seniors age 62 and older may purchase $22 rush tickets at the Box Office beginning two hours before show time, based on availability. Groups of 10 or more are eligible for discounts - contact Joel Ambrose at 412.431.4400 x286.

City Theatre is now in its 42nd season. Located in the historic South Side, City Theatre is Pittsburgh's home for bold new plays, commissioning and producing work by playwrights including Daniel Beaty, Jessica Dickey, Christopher Durang, Michael Hollinger, Willy Holtzman, Tarell Alvin McCraney, and Madeleine George. Under the leadership of Artistic Director Tracy Brigden, Managing Director James McNeel, and the Board of Directors, City Theatre's mission is to provide an artistic home for the development and production of contemporary plays of substance and ideas that engage and challenge a diverse audience. Visit CityTheatreCompany.org for more.

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