PREVIEW: Angels in America at Spotlighters

This Friday, October 13^th, Spotlighters Theatre will embark on a heretofore unprecedented journey for that local theater.  They will be joining another company, MadShag Performance Group from New York, to produce perhaps the most important, and certainly most epic of American plays in decades: Angels in America, by Pulitzer, Tony and Emmy Award-winning playwright, Tony Kushner.  This new vision of the show begins with the fall opening of Part I, The Millennium Approaches, and ends in June 2007 with the presentation of Part II, Perestroika.  Both parts (as of press time) are scheduled to be performed by the same company of actors and theatre artists.

            Of this exciting new joint-venture, Spotlighters' Executive Director, Fuzz Roark says, "Spotlighters is thrilled to be collaborating with MadShag Performance Group.  This is an excellent opportunity for local talent to work with professional directors from New York.  MadShag brings a unique and powerful concept for Angels to Spotlighters' intimate space; this production is about the words, the relationship, not the spectacle."

            Like the ancient Greek dramas that inspire both the play and this particular production, Angels is ripe with meaning for everyone – an entertaining comic and dramatic journey into our own humanity.  Featuring such themes as modern religion, sexuality, politics, AIDS and even terrorism, Kushner's fantastical masterwork is a powerful statement about the world in which we live and about our collective future.  Director Gabriel Shanks, artistic director of the award-winning MadShag Performance Group explains, "Think of this play as more than a drama: a communal myth, a story told to a community by its own people… in this case, the community of Baltimore."  This concept is at the core of this all-new production.

            The cast, chosen from Baltimore's best theatre companies, includes Terry J. Long (director of the acclaimed Hedwig and the Angry Inch and Southern Baptist Sissies) as Roy Cohn, television performer Towanda Underdue as the Angel, Patrick Kilpatrick (winner of the Greater Baltimore Theatre Award for Outstanding Actor in CSC's A Midsummer Night's Dream, and director of their Taming of the Shrew) as Joe Pitt, and Shannon Maddox (critically acclaimed for roles in Fall of the House of Usher and Barely There, both in New York) as Harper Pitt.  The ensemble, playing multiple roles, includes David Gregory, Richard Goldberg, Suzanne Knapik and Don Mullins.

            Patrick Kilpatrick, who will be playing the deeply conflicted Joe Pitt, has much to say when asked about the relevance of Angels in America, some 15 years after its opening, and the media attention to the AIDS crisis has waned considerably.  "Some people would say that the lack of mainstream media coverage for AIDS lately is exactly what makes Angels in America relevant today.  The last thing America needs is to fall into the trap of thinking that AIDS has become an African problem; that we've got it under control in this country. Medicine has made the disease much more manageable today than it was in 1985, but that doesn't make it any less horrific. But my answer to that question would be that Angels in America is relevant today because it's not a play about AIDS, any more than The Merchant of Venice is a play about anti-Semitism.  Of course Merchant deals with anti-Semitism, but that's not what the play is about.  Of course Angels deals with AIDS, but it's about so much more than that.  I have often made the statement that Angels in America is the best play written since Shakespeare died.  And I say this because just like Shakespeare's plays, Angels in America is not about anything.  It's about everything.  This is not a play about AIDS, or homosexuality, or religion, or justice, or politics, or marriage, or guilt, or redemption; it's about all of those things and so much more.  And those things never lose their relevance.  The reason we can still do Shakespeare today is because the things he wrote about are no less relevant today than they were in 1595.  This play is exactly the same.  Plus, it's really funny."

            As far as the political nature of the epic drama, he goes on to say, "Let's see if any of this sounds familiar.  Angels in America takes place during the second term of a Republican president.  The people in charge have gotten so comfortable with their own power and the belief that they will never lose that power, that they think they are no longer subject to the rules that govern the rest of the country.  One of the characters asks another, "Do you want to make the law? Or subject to it?"  I think that question would get a hearty "Amen, brother!" from our beloved President, if he could take time out of his busy wire-tapping schedule to attend the theatre.  That same character in another scene says something like, "A homosexual is someone who in 15 years of trying can't get an anti-discrimination bill passed in congress."  Substitute "gay-marriage" for "anti-discrimination" and it was practically taken directly from today's newspaper.  The political landscape of Angels is hauntingly familiar to today's.  Reagan and Ollie sell weapons to whoever they want.  W starts wars with anybody who glances at him sideways.  Savings and Loan scandals.  Enron. Reagan and Jim Brady and John Lennon are all shot with legally purchased hand weapons.  A madman shoots up a school in Pennsylvania with weapons he bought over the counter.  New Millennium, same old sh*t."

            The creative team features Shanks, a recipient of the Theatre Project Honor for Outstanding Vision in the Theatre and Co-Director of The Drama League of New York.  Set designer Allen Cutler has designed for such acclaimed companies as La Jolla Playhouse and the Berkshire Theatre Festival, among others, and worked on the Broadway transfer of Enchanted April.  Composer Chris Meade was the original sound designer of the Obie and Tony winning Bridge and Tunnel, and lighting designer Jody Ratti, who designs in Philadelphia and New York.  Stage management will be by Shannon Hunt, dramaturgy by Andrew Syropoulos and costume designs by Shannon Maddox.

 

            Performances of Angels in America: The Millennium Approaches will by Friday and Saturday at 8PM, Sunday at 2PM, October 13 through November 12.  In addition to performances, Spotlighters will also have the following show-related events:

• Opening Night Reception, October 13^th, following the 8 PMperformance.  Lite fare and celebration with cast, crew and director is included in the admission.
• Talk Back with Cast and Crew, following the Sunday, October 22nd 2 PM performance, free with admission to that evening's show.
• Panel Discussion: AIDS in Baltimore – What Happens Next?, following the Sunday, October 29^th matinee.  Moderated by dramaturge Andrew Syrpouolos, the panel will feature experts from Chase-Brexton Health Services.  The discussion is free.

Spotlighters has instituted this parental advisory for Angels in America: The Millenium Approaches:  Due to adult language, sexual situations and nudity, no one 16 years old or younger will be admitted without an accompanying adult.

 

Tickets are $20 for adults, $17 for students, seniors, and BTA Members and $15 for BWW readers.  In order to receive the discount, "BroadwayWorld.com" must be mentioned at the time of reservation.  Tickets may be reserved by phone: 410-752-1225 or online at www.spotlighters.org/boxoffice.htm.  Reservations are STRONGLY recommended, as sold out houses are expected.

 

(PHOTO: Richard Goldberg (L) and Patrick Kilpatrick (R) by Amy Jones)

Portions of this article are taken from the official press release sent to J. Howard from Spotlighters Theatre.  Thank you to Fuzz Roark and Patrick Kilpatrick for their help and candid responses.

 

 

 

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