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Providence Black Rep Announces 2008-2009 Theater Season

PROVIDENCE, RI: Black Rep's electrifying 2008-2009 Theater Season includes a dark comic thriller by Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Tracy Letts, the first play in August Wilson's Century Cycle, and the American premiere of an epic, yet intimate, story of civil war in Africa. Completing the line up is an eclectic reading series and a workshop of a new musical based on Providence's storied Celebrity Club.

Kicking off the season in October is Tracy Letts' unique thriller, Bug. A tale of love, paranoia, and government conspiracy, Bug will get under your skin! In February, Black Rep is proud to present the U.S. premiere of Ugandan playwright and Black Rep Affiliate Artist Charles Mulekwa's play, A Time of Fire. Directed by Artistic/Executive Director Donald W. King, A Time of Fire goes beyond media and Hollywood gloss to provide an intensely personal perspective on violence and power in contemporary Africa. The season will conclude with a production of Gem of the Ocean, the first play in world-renowned playwright August Wilson's 20th century charting of black folks in America.

"Our 08-09 season is made up of three incredibly distinctive plays."  Artistic/Executive Director Donald W. King says, expressing enthusiasm for Black Rep's most ambitious season to date. "Of course, August Wilson is one of our most important story tellers and I have been wanting to do another one of his plays for awhile. And I can't wait to continue Black Rep's important work in telling stories from around the African Diaspora as I work on A Time of Fire with Charles Mulekwa. Out of all the plays, Bug may not seem like an obvious choice for Black Rep, but we latched onto the play's ambiguous stance on how our government may or may not take advantage of those who are poor, abused, and voiceless. Black Rep's production of Bug will tell a story of anxiety, loss, and invisibility familiar to those who struggle at the margins – in the guise of an surprising and luridly involving thriller!"

The FIRST LOOK Reading Series for New Plays in Development will continue throughout the season, engaging audiences in conversations about new scripts. In December, a group of Black Rep's Affiliate Artists in Theater, Music, and Humanities, come together for an exciting collaboration – the development of a new musical based on a piece of local history: The Celebrity Club, a legendary integrated R&B/Jazz club in Providence in the 1950's and 60's.

As always, every Sunday Matinee at Black Rep is The People's Matinee, a pay what you can performance, followed by a talkback. Sunday Matinees are at 3 p.m., while all Thursday, Friday, and Saturday curtain times are now at 7:00 p.m.

Black Rep has a range of season subscriptions and memberships available, ranging from the comprehensive Black Membership (which guarantees access to the entire season of Theater, Music, Public Programs, and Sound Session, with lots of perks!) to the unique People's Subscription – allowing audience members to pay whatever amount they choose and still be a Black Rep season ticket holder!

The Providence Black Repertory Company: 2008-2009 Theater Season

October 2 - November 9, 2008 - Bug
By Pulitzer Prize winner Tracy Letts
Directed by Megan Sandberg-Zakian
A handsome drifter. A lonely waitress. A cheap motel. But what's that
crawling across the bed? And why does the phone keep ringing with no
one on the other end? Reality slowly blurs and suspense turns to
horror as this darkly comic thriller explores the line between
conspiracy theory and actual conspiracy. In our culture of fear,
what's just hype and what is truly scary? A tale of love, paranoia,
and the grip of government, Bug will get under your skin. (This play
contains some violence and brief nudity; recommended for mature
audiences only.)

December 12 - 14, 2008 - Celebrity Club: A New Musical
A Workshop Production
Conceived by Donald W. King, Wayne Jones, Micah Salkind, and Megan
Sandberg-Zakian
Performed by the 2008/2009 Black Rep Affiliate Artists
Join Black Rep's Affiliate Artist company as we workshop a new musical
based on the fascinating story of Providence's legendary Jazz and R&B
institution of the 1950's and 60's, The Celebrity Club.

February 5 - March 15, 2009 - A Time of Fire
By Charles Mulekwa
A U.S. Premiere Directed by Donald W. King
An unnamed African country. A civil war. A student, a thief, and a
soldier. Who would you trust with your life? This electrifying new
play by Ugandan playwright Charles Mulekwa brings us the story of
crisis in Africa – not with media or Hollywood gloss – but from an
intimately personal, African point of view.

April 9 - May 17, 2009 - Gem of The Ocean
By August Wilson
Directed by Don Mays
Guilt. Love. Heritage. World renowned playwright August Wilson
commences his charting of black folks in America with this powerful,
haunting tale of a spiritually tormented young man who pays a visit to
the sage Aunt Ester on the eve of her 287th birthday. As the 20th
century dawns and the legacy of slavery lingers, Wilson –and Aunt
Ester – ask us "What use do we make of our freedom?"

FIRST LOOK: Reading Series for New Plays in Development
Mondays at 7 p.m.
November 17, 2008
January 12, 2009
March 23, 2009
Get the first look at new American plays in our award-winning reading
series – and be a part of the development by telling us what you think
in post-show discussions!

Showtimes:
Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays at 7 p.m.
Sundays at 3 p.m. is The People's Matinee, followed by a talkback

Single Tickets: $20 general; $10 students/seniors
Every Sunday is Pay-What-You-Can
Tickets may be purchased through Arttix RI ( www.arttixri.com, 401-621-6123).
Group rates and student/senior matinees are available! For information, contact the Black Rep Box Office at 401-351-0353 x2, or boxoffice@blackrep.org