South Bend Civic Theatre Launches 2016 with WATER BY THE SPOONFUL Tonight

South Bend Civic Theatre catapults into the 2016 season with Quiara Alegria Hudes' WATER BY THE SPOONFUL, directed by Marlon D. Deleon. In 2012, Hudes was awarded the Pulitzer Prize for Drama with this work that drags its audiences through a gritty, honest examination of family dynamics, dating, and simply making a genuine, personal connection in the 21st century. Performing from tonight, January 8th, through the 17th in the Warner Theatre, tickets are available at sbct.org or by calling 574-234-1112.

After receiving an Honorable Discharge from the United States Marine Corps, a young man has returned home to Philadelphia following his second tour in Iraq, and his attempt to find some stability in his life after the Corps involves him making sandwiches at a local Subway restaurant. His aunt, his cousin, his mother, and his sister are all in the City of Brotherly Love as well, but what develops is miles away from a joyous family reunion.

Somewhere in cyberspace, a chat room is an anchor for those fighting their way out of the clutches of drug addiction. Behind screen names and without faces they reach out across international waters, state lines, and time zones, baring their souls and scrambling for a connection beyond the keyboards and touchscreens of their online persona, while still remaining far enough to keep themselves safe.

In the driver's seat for this theatrical journey is Marlon D. Deleon, a California native who had his acting debut with the Civic in November 2014 as Kawabata in Richard Greenberg's Take Me Out (directed by Aaron Nichols). He's proud to be making his directorial debut with Spoonful, laughing, "I never thought leaving California would help my theatre career, but since I met Aaron [Nichols], it's been fantastic." But when talking about Spoonful, his tone quickly shifts. "This play is very personal to me on multiple levels. I received an Honorable Discharge from the Navy back in 2004, for a service-connected disability, and shortly after is when I decided to return to the theatre and get my degree in Theatre directing. During my enlistment and afterwards, I had my own bouts with addiction as well, but I'm very proud to say I made it through with the help of family, friends, and theatre."

What many don't realize is that they're more familiar with Quiara Alegria Hudes' work than they know. With the recent announcement of acclaimed musical Hamilton launching in Chicago, the name Lin-Manuel Miranda is leaping from the lips of Americans. For many, Miranda was welcomed into the ears and hearts of theatregoers everywhere as the lyricist and composer for In the Heights, the 2008 Tony Award winner for Best Musical. Hudes was also a key player on the Heights team--as the playwright. She is lauded as one of today's great Latina playwrights. Born in Philadelphia, her work has been produced and translated internationally.

IF YOU GO:

South Bend Civic Theatre presents WATER BY THE SPOONFUL
written by Quiara Alegria Hudes, directed by Marlon D. Deleon

When: January 8-17, 2016; Wed.-Sat. evenings at 7:30 pm, Sun. matinees at 2 pm.

Where: Inside the Warner Theatre, 403 N. Main St, South Bend, IN 46601

Tickets: Call the SBCT Box Office at 574-234-1112 or visit www.sbct.org to reserve tickets.

South Bend Civic Theatre's Mission Statement: Enrich our community through live theatre. Founded in 1957, the nationally recognized, award-winning South Bend Civic Theatre is the oldest, continuously operating community theatre in the South Bend/Mishawaka area. Like us on Facebook and Follow us on Twitter/Instagram @SBcivic | www.facebook.com/events/726001667533293.

To post a comment, you must register and login.