Forum Theatre Presents ANGELS IN AMERICA 10/5-11/22

Forum Theatre starts its sixth season next week with its most ambitious production to date, both parts of Tony Kushner's Angels in America: A Gay Fantasia on National Themes. The twin productions-Millennium Approaches, directed by Jeremy Skidmore, and Perestroika, directed by Forum artistic director Michael Dove-kick off Forum's two-year residency at Round House Theatre's Silver Spring black box space. Angels runs October 5 to November 22 and features a cast of DC heavy hitters and newcomers.

"The challenge for action that Tony Kushner calls for in Angels is just as relevant and pertinent today as it was over 16 years ago," artistic director Michael Dove says. "Many questions the plays raised are still unanswered, and many circumstances of mid-1980s' America are either still apparent or have transformed into larger issues that we deal with daily."

Company member Alexander Strain returns to Forum as a performer for the first time since his critically acclaimed performance in 2006's The Memorandum. Strain plays Louis opposite Karl Miller (Rorschach's This Storm Is What We Call Progress, Rep Stage's Hamlet) as Prior. Jim Jorgensen, who played Satan in Forum's critically acclaimed The Last Days of Judas Iscariot, plays Roy Cohn, arguably a man with his own demonic impulses. Daniel Eichner (Woolly Mammoth's Fever/Dream) and Casie Platt (Forum's dark play) play dysfunctional couple Joe and Harper Pitt, with Helen Hayes Award-winner Jennifer Mendenhall as Hannah Pitt. Fellow Helen Hayes-winner Nanna Ingvarsson plays the prophetic Angel, and Ro Boddie, a recent graduate of the North Carolina School of the Arts, makes his DC debut as Belize.

The Angels creative team includes set designer Tony Cisek, lighting designer Colin K. Bills, costume designers Heather Lockard and Ivania Stack, properties designer Elspeth Ridout McCormick, sound designer/composer Matt M. Nielson, and composer Jesse Terrill.

Millennium Approaches runs October 5 to November 21 and Perestroika runs October 26 to November 22 at Round House Silver Spring. The two plays perform in repertory; the full schedule is available on http://www.forumtheatredc.org/Angels.shtml. Tickets are $25 for all performances ($20 for seniors, groups, and Round House subscribers; $15 for students and patrons under 30). To purchase, visit www.forumtheatredc.org or call the Round House box office at 240-644-1100.

There will be four pay-what-you-can previews: October 3 and 4 for Millennium and October 24 and 25 for Perestroika. All previews start at 8pm.

With an adventurous and unorthodox style, Forum Theatre tells relevant and challenging stories that inspire discussion and build community around productions that are accessible, affordable, and entertaining. For more information about Forum and Angels in America, call 202-255-1065 or e-mail fiona@forumtheatredc.org.

 

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