TheatreWorks Silicon Valley Presents World Premiere of CONFEDERATES, Beginning Tonight

TheatreWorks Silicon Valley opens its 47th season with the world premiere of the high stakes political drama Confederates. This fresh, fascinating, and headline-hot show explores the voracious nature of contemporary media during a national campaign.

Perfectly in time for election year, playwright Suzanne Bradbeer sets the stage with a dad who is running for President, a daughter with her own agenda, and reporters who are looking for a scoop, trying to make their own careers, and running out of time. With the campaign in full swing, someone unearths photos involving a Confederate flag and a scandal hits the fan. A provocative hit of TheatreWorks' 2015 New Works Festival, this political thriller takes a riveting look at today's muckraking media and the world it relentlessly pursues. This production will be directed by Lisa Rothe, with performances tonight, July 13, through August 7 (press opening: July 16) at Lucie Stern Theatre, 1305 Middlefield Road, Palo Alto. For tickets ($19-$80) and information the public may visit www.TheatreWorks.org or call (650) 463-1960.

Confederates follows the story of Will, an idealistic and ambitious news reporter on a mission to cover the presidential primaries. With more newspapers folding and stories going online, Will uncovers a story concerning the upcoming presidential candidate's daughter, Maddie. Will and his more established colleague Stephanie must figure out what the next steps will be in the competitive 24-hour news cycle: to run the story and ruin a life or find a new one. Confederates made its debut as part of TheatreWorks' 2015 New Works Festival. The annual festival provides theatergoers from across the country an opportunity to experience plays and musicals in the Early Stages of their development and has premiered acclaimed productions such as Emma, Triangle, and Broadway's Tony Award winning Best Musical Memphis. Confederates was also included in LAByrinth Theatre Company's Summer Intensive and was nominated for the L. Arnold Weissberger Award in 2014.

The production was presented by the Lark Play Development Center in its Studio Retreat Program, and further developed at The Actors Studio in New York.

TheatreWorks Silicon Valley has assembled an outstanding cast for this production. Tasha Lawrence is making her TheatreWorks debut as Stephanie, the seasoned journalist. Her work on stage includes Broadway roles in Proof and Good People, Off Broadway performances at Playwrights Horizons, Cherry Lane Theatre, Circle in the Square, and regionals such as Denver Center Theatre, and Huntington Theatre. She has appeared on television in Law & Order, Royal Pains, Third Watch, Life with Boys, as well as in a number of feature films.

Richard Prioleau is returning to TheatreWorks playing the role of Will, the new journalist trying to make his mark. He previously performed in the TheatreWorks production of Wild with Happy in the role of Terry. He has appeared regionally on stage at Actors Theatre of Louisville, American Conservatory Theater, The Guthrie Theater, and Shakespeare Santa Cruz. He can be seen on television in the HBO-Ryan Murphy TV movie The Normal Heart and in episodes of Madam Secretary and 30 Rock.

Jessica Lynn Carroll returns to TheatreWorks, where she was seen in Auctioning the Ainsleys, to appear as Maddie, the daughter of the candidate. Regionally she has been seen at San Jose Repertory, Marin Theatre Company, Magic Theatre, and Center REPertory.

Playwright Suzanne Bradbeer is a playwright, librettist, and children's story writer. Her plays include Shakespeare in Vegas (Playwrights Theater of New Jersey/Dreamcatcher Rep), The House That Jack Built (finalist for the Stanley Drama Award), The Sleeping Girl, Naked Influence (winner of Capital Rep's NEXT ACT! New Play Festival), Full Bloom (published by Smith & Kraus), and The God Game (winner of the Ashland New Plays Festival). Ms. Bradbeer is a member of the Ensemble Studio Theatre (company member and member of the Playwrights Unit), the Dramatists Guild, Actors Studio P/D Workshop, and the BMI Workshop.

Director Lisa Rothe, who helmed Confederates at TheatreWorks' New Works Festival, returns to direct this production. She was nominated for SDC's Joe A. Callaway Award for Direction for Hold These Truths and has had subsequent productions at ACT in Seattle, Playmakers Repertory Theatre in North Carolina, the Honolulu Theatre for Youth and the SoloNova Festival in NYC. She has worked with New York Theatre Workshop, is an Artistic Affiliate with New Georges, a Drama League alum, a Women's Project Director's Lab member, a Fox Fellow recipient, a member of The Actor's Center, a recent board member of the League of Professional Theatre Women as the VP of Membership, and a new member of the National Theater Conference. Ms. Rothe received her MFA from New York University's Graduate Acting Program before being invited by mentor Zelda Fichandler to be a part of the inaugural class of the Directing program. She has workshopped, developed, and directed a multitude of new works with award winning writers. She has developed and presented work across New York, including HERE, NYTW, New Georges, The Lark, The Culture Project, The Foundry, Ensemble Studio Theater, The 52nd Street Project, Naked Angels, Epic Theater Ensemble, Summer Play Festival, among others. As the Director of Global Exchange at The Lark in NYC, she expanded opportunities for playwrights to advance new works to production, both nationally and globally (connected to programs with Mexico, Russia, Romania & China).

With some 100,000 patrons per year, TheatreWorks Silicon Valley has captured a national reputation for artistic innovation and integrity, often presenting Bay Area theatregoers with their first look at acclaimed musicals, comedies, and dramas, directed by award-winning local and guest directors, and performed by professional actors cast locally and from across the country. A home for artists developing new works, it was at TheatreWorks that Memphis, the 2010 Tony Award-winning musical that played on Broadway for three years before embarking on a 19-month national tour, was first workshopped and received its world premiere. It recently concluded an extended run on London's West End, where it captured two Olivier Awards.

Previews: Wednesday, July 13, 2016 - Friday, July 15, 2016

Press Opening: Saturday, July 16, 2016

Closes: Sunday, August 7, 2016

SHOWS: Previews: 8:00 PM

Tuesdays: 7:30 PM

Wednesdays: 2:00PM, 7:30PM

Thursdays and Fridays: 8:00 PM

Saturdays: 2:00 PM, 8:00 PM
Sundays: 2:00 PM, 7:00 PM

WHERE: Lucie Stern Theatre
1305 Middlefield Road, Palo Alto

TICKETS: $19 (30 and under) - $80; savings available for educators, seniors, and patrons 30 and under. A $6 convenience fee will be assessed for online and telephone orders.

Pricing subject to change.

INFO: For information or to order tickets visit theatreworks.org or call (650) 463-1960

Photo: Tasha Lawrence, Jessica Lynn Carroll, and Richard Prioleau

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