New Play About Paul Cezanne Receives World Premiere

Red Rover Theatre Company presents the world premiere of "Visiting Cezanne", a play by Duane Kelly, at 18th & Union Arts Space in Seattle.

About the show: Unknown painter Nora Baker visits the Metropolitan Museum in New York in 2016, where things get really weird. From there she travels to an artist's studio in southern France in 1900. Nora desperately wants to get back to 2016 but Paul Cezanne, another obscure artist with his own problems, is not being helpful. Also ensnared in Nora's crisis are an art historian from Utah and Cezanne's gardener.

"Visiting Cezanne" explores what represents failure and success for artists. Cezanne is one of those artists who achieved modest success in his lifetime but whose reputation exploded after he died. The play was inspired by the author's visit to a Cezanne exhibition at the Metropolitan Museum in 2011 and a subsequent visit to Cezanne's studio in Aix-en-Provence, France.

Duane Kelly is an award-winning Seattle-based author of seven full-length plays. He also writes a weekly arts-oriented blog at www.duanekelly.net. "Visiting Cezanne" continues Kelly's exploration of 19th century artists and their impact on the 20th century. His play "Das Ende", produced last year, focused on the controversial composer Richard Wagner.

Following several performances, audience members are invited to stay for a discussion of Cezanne's life and his immense influence on 20th century art. Discussions will be led by art historians and working artists.

"Visiting Cezanne" is the third full production presented by Red Rover Theatre Company.

Director: Andrew McGinn is a veteran director and actor who teaches at Cornish College of the Arts, Seattle University, and Freehold Theatre Lab. He is a graduate of the Juilliard School in New York.

Cast: Libby Barnard (Bessie Shaw), Molly Hall (Nora Baker), Bill Johns (Paul Cezanne), Dara Lillis (Germain Vallier)

Production Team: Amelia Modlin, Scenic Design; Gwyn Skone, Lighting Design; Mario Gomez, Sound Design; Fawn Bartlett, Costume Design; Liza Vaughn, State Manager.

Where

18th & Union Arts Space, 1406 18th Ave., Capitol Hill, Seattle

When

March 22, 7:30

March 23, 7:30

March 24, 7:30

March 25, 2:00

March 29, 7:30

March 30, 7:30

March 31, 2:00

March 31, 7:30

Tickets

$16 to $20. Available online at Brown Paper Tickets and at the door.

https://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/3223201

https://redrovertheatre.com

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