SWEAT at Arena Stage - World Premiere Co-Production with Oregon Shakespeare Festival is Riveting Theater

I am a huge fan of Lynn Nottage and SWEAT is my 6th play of hers I have had the privilege to see. My first was INTIMATE APPAREL at Center Stage. I remember meeting Nottage many years ago during a play at Lincoln Center and telling her I thought the play would make a great musical. She informed me that she preferred it to become an opera. Well, after meeting her again prior to SWEAT, she informed me she's almost done with the opera which is being commissioned through the Metropolitan Opera and Lincoln Center Theater.

She is a brilliant writer.

SWEAT is another theatrical work which deals with the plight of union workers and the loss of jobs. I was reminded of the hit musical BILLY ELLIOT which dealt with the loss of jobs suffered by the coal miners after a long and bitter strike in England and Sting's homage to the loss of the ship-building business in his hometown of Wallsend, England, THE LAST SHIP.

When Nottage was informed that a friend was having a hard time economically in New York City, she took part in a Occupy Wall Street demonstration. After Nottage received a co-commission between Oregon Shakespeare Festival's "American Revolutions: The United States History Cycle" and Arena Stage, she and her director/friend Kate Whoriskey spent two years in Reading, PA, at one time the poorest city in the country. They interviewed those who in the past had successful union jobs in the steel and textile industries. The jobs were handed down from generation to generation until the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) caused many of the plants to shut down and work was shifted to union-free North Carolina or Mexico. Workers were forced to choose to reduce their wages or strike. They felt betrayed and many chose to strike. New immigrants were ready and able to take the jobs at reduced wages which caused friction in the community. This is the background for SWEAT.

The heart of SWEAT deals with a diverse group of workers, their friendships, and their families when suddenly their way of life is brought to an end.

The play opens in 2008 when a parole officer (Tyrone Wilson) is dealing with two ex-convicts who were involved in the same crime back in 2000. There is Jason (Stephen Michael Spencer) who has tattoos on his face and neck who is still filled with anger. His former friend Chris (Tramell Tillman) is an African-American has plans to go back to college.

The set turntable (by Tony-winning Set Designer John Lee Beatty) then reveals a local bar where the factory workers of the metal tubing plant imbibe in much alcohol, celebrate birthdays together, and discuss their hopes and dreams after retiring with their healthy pensions. The time is now turned back to 2000 (projections by Jeff Sugg).

The bar reminded me of the television hit series "Cheers" where "everybody knows your name". The barkeep Stan (Jack Willis) used to work at the factory until he injured his leg due to the negligent unsafe machinery in the factory. He now limps around serving drinks tenuously to his former co-workers who see the writing on the wall about their futures being at stake. He's the peace-keeper when things get out of hand. His assistant is Oscar (Reza Salazar) who is from Colombia (not the Dominican Republic) and dreams of one day getting work at the factory. He's a good worker, constantly cutting fruit, vegetables, and even scrapping away chewing gum under the bar tables. Things begin to change when Oscar is found reading a Spanish-language flyer offering non-union work at the plant.

When is the last play you saw that features three middle-aged women, friends for years, who have worked together since high school? Well SWEAT does. There's Jessie (Tara Mallen) who passes out a lot. There's the birthday girl Tracey (Johanna Day) who we find out is ex-con Jason's mother. And the third member of the trio is Cynthia (Kimberly Scott, Tony-nominated for JOE TURNER'S COME AND GONE). Her son Chris is the other ex-con. Her ex-husband Brucie (Kevin Kenerly) is now unemployed, locked out of his job, is usually high on drugs or alcohol, and has moved back in with Cynthia. The three women have a love of life as it is and they cherish their time together.

But when an opening for a supervisor comes up, trouble starts when Cynthia is hired over Tracey who hints at racism. Soon, Cynthia is caught in a web when she hears about possible lay-offs but cannot inform her friends about this impending doom.

When the truth is finally revealed about whether the workers should take a huge pay cut or strike, there is little doubt what the workers decide. After they are locked out, Jessie reveals that she has always had a place to go work ever since high school and wonders "What do I do now?" It's a powerful monologue.

The violence that erupts at the end of the play, even though expected, still shocked the audience.

Director Kate Whoriskey does a superb job with this amazing ensemble. Jennifer Moeller's costumes reflect the times. There is terrific Original Music and Sound Design by Rob Milburn and Michael Bodeen and effective lighting by Peter Kaczorowski.

The talented ensemble was so realistic, I truly did not see any actors on stage but the people who worked at the factory. They were that good.

The play has New York on its radar and I will not be surprised if Nottage doesn't collect another Pulitzer Prize (as she did for RUINED).

This is MUST SEE theater!!

SWEAT continues at Arena Stage to February 21, 2016. For tickets, call 202-488-3300 or visit www.arenastage.org.

Due to the snow, there are now two additional performances that have been added: Sunday afternoon,Feb. 7 at 2 p.m. and Sunday afternoon, Feb. 14 at 1 p.m.

The Arena Stage has for sale most of Nottage's work: CRUMBS FROM THE TABLE OF JOY ($20), RUINED ($16), and INTIMATE APPAREL and FABULATION ($16).

There are Post-Show Discussions on January 27, 28, Feb. 2, 3, and 9.

Next up at Arena Stage is THE CITY OF CONVERSATION running January 29 to March 6, 2016.

Wednesday night, January 27, 2016 at 7:30 p.m., Arena Stage is presenting a free event - "An Evening with Ayad Akhtar". The discussion with Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright and author Ayad Akhtar will be led by the Washington Post Theater Critic, Nelson Pressley. Akhtar's play DISGRACED runs at Arena Stage beginning in April. While the event is free, reservations are required. Visit www.arenastage.org

THIS AND THAT

There has never been a time when Broadway musicals are getting so much exposure on television.

Congratulations to Rachel Bloom for receiving the Golden Globe Award for Best Actress in a Television Series Comedy or Musical for "My Crazy Ex-Girlfriend". You can catch the show which features many musical numbers tonight on the CW at 8 p.m.

THE COLOR PURPLE'S Danielle Brooks will perform Wednesday night, January 27 on "The Late Show".

This Friday, January 29, 2016 on PBS, "American Masters" kicks off its 30th Anniversary Season with the premiere of "Mike Nichols: American Masters", a new documentary directed by Elaine May featuring new interviews with Meryl Streep, Steven Speilberg, Tom Hanks, Dustin Hoffman, Alex Baldwin, Paul Simon, Matthew Broderick, Nathan Lane, Bob Balaban, Tony Kushner, Neil Simon, Frank Langella, James L Brooks, and many others. His theatrical productions BAREFOOT IN THE PARK, LUV, and THE ODD COUPLE will be explored. Look for new documentaries about music legends B. B. King (Feb. 12), Carole King (Feb. 19), Fats Domino (Feb. 26), Loretta Lynn (March 4), Janis Joplin (May 3), and The Highwaymen (May 27).

Also don't miss the ABC series "Galavant" Sunday nights at 8 p.m. which features musical numbers from Alan Menken.

Get ready for GREASE: LIVE on Fox, January 31, 2016. Thomas Kail, Director of the hit musical HAMILTON, is directing his first fling at television. The creative team includes Baltimore's Marc Platt, producer of WICKED and HAMILTON scenic designer David Korins.

GREASE:LIVE will thankfully incorporate an audience (unlike the three NBC television musicals). The action will take place both on a sound stage and outside (a full-scale carnival).

Sandy is played by Julianne Hough ("Dancing With the Stars"), Danny by Aaron Tveit (Signature's DINER and Arena's NEXT TO NORMAL, and Rizzo by Vanessa Hudgens (GIGI at the Kennedy Center). Choreography is by Zach Woodlee ("Glee"). There will be elements of both the film and stage version and there will be two new songs by Tom Kitt and Brian Yorkey (NEXT TO NORMAL). Didi Conn will also be in it as a Frosty Palace waitress. Boyz II Men will perform in the Teen Angel role .

Also just announced that NBC's next musical "LIVE" will be HAIRSPRAY.

ABC is working on DIRTY DANCING with Andy Blankenbuehler (HAMILTON) doing the chorography.

Speaking of Blankenbuehler, he will choreograph CATS which will return to Broadway this summer. Previews begin July 14 with an opening on August 2 at the Neil Simon Theater.

Finally, Baltimore's own Pippa Pearthree will be in the new Broadway cast of TUCK EVERLASTING. The cast also includes Carolee Carmello,Terrence Mann, and Fred Applegate. It will be directed by Casey Nicholaw.

cgshubow@broadwayworld.com

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