ANGELS IN AMERICA is Next Up at Cygnet Theatre

This spring the epic drama Angels in America: A Gay Fantasia on National Themes comes to Cygnet Theatre. At once intimate yet expansive, this Tony and Pulitzer prize winning drama runs March 6 through April 20, 2019 in rotating rep. There will be two Opening Nights for Media. Opening Night for Part One: Millennium Approaches is on Saturday,March 9 at 7:00PM and Opening Night for Part Two: Perestroika is Sunday,March 24 at 7:00PM.

Part one, Millennium Approaches, begins in 1985. Ronald Reagan has been elected to a second term. New York City is in the clutches of a mysterious plague that people are grasping to understand. Prior, a young man in the trenches of this health crisis, discovers devastating news that his lover, Louis, just cannot accept. Mormon couple Joe and Harper struggle with his identity crisis and her self-medicating Valium habit. Roy Cohn, a notorious lawyer from the McCarthy hearings, is in blustery full-blown denial of his own life-changing predicament.

Part two, Perestroika, begins as Prior, now a reluctant prophet set on a mission by a testy angel, must begin the work of rebuilding a devastated world. Characters, having faced annihilation, must now confront their own stubborn indestructibility. Perestroika is a story about locating hope in the midst of chaos.

While the character of real-life Roy Cohn made his mark during the McCarthy hearings, his connection to our America today is especially noteworthy. He was an early and influential mentor to Donald Trump. Journalists and biographers familiar with the pair often note their similarities. Investigative reporter Wayne Barrett said that Cohn began to "assume a role in Donald's life far transcending that of a lawyer. He became Donald's mentor, his constant adviser."

Both full length plays will be presented in rotating rep. Audiences can experience the rare opportunity to view this extraordinary epic in its entirety when both shows will be shown in order on March 30 and April 7, 13 and 20.

Director Sean Murray explains "Angels in America is all-encompassing when it comes to the human experience - identity, sexuality, politics, justice, judgement, spirituality, existence, transformation...and the list goes on. A quarter of a century later, what strikes me the most is that no matter what year you may have seen it, it's always about the now. No matter how much things have changed, or not changed, it reminds us that we must come together. That we must keep moving forward."

The cast tasked with bringing this divine yet earthly and humorous story to life is a mix of Cygnet veterans and newcomers. Making Cygnet debuts are Wil Bethmann, who plays Louis, and Alex Bodine who plays Prior. Both are New York City residents and graduates of the University of North Carolina School of the Arts. Returning to the Cygnet stage is Kevane La'Marr Coleman(Shockheaded Peter) as the highly insightful Belize. James Newcomb plays the ruthless lawyer and powerbroker Roy Cohn. Veteran actor Rosina Reynolds (When the Rain Stops Falling) is Hannah Pitt. Unhappily married Mormons Joe and Harper are played by Connor Sullivan and Rachael VanWormer (When the Rain Stops Falling). And last but not least, the Angel, played by Debra Wanger (A Little Night Music).

The creative team includes Blake McCarty as Projection Design/Assistant Director and Andrew Hull as Set Designer. Chris Rynne is Lighting Designer. Costumes are by Shirley Pierson, and Peter Herman will provide wigs and makeup. Bonnie Durben is Properties Designer. Steven Leffue will provide Sound Design. Craig Campbell will stage manage.

Tickets are on sale now and may be purchased in person at the box office located at 4040 Twiggs Street in San Diego Old Town Historic State Park, by calling 619-337-1525 or by visiting www.cygnettheatre.com. Children 15 and under receive half price tickets with each paid adult.

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