Issuu

2015/16 SEASON

Be a part of something INTENTIONALLY DIFFERENT... ENTIRELY ARTSEMERSON

BEST THEATER

ArtsEmerson’s work in its entiret y is focused on helping us understand our world, our place in it and how we each can contribute to its transformation. We put the world on stage and screen with the passionate belief that the arts belong to everyone. As we enter our 2015/16 Season, we invite you to join us as we explore how to make this vision of inclusivit y a realit y. We want to take you to places you have not been, in ways you could not anticipate, with a room full of strangers (who are your neighbors) to sort it all out. Let us begin to rediscover our communit y through the shared experience of art and conversation.

– ArtsEmerson Leadership Team

“

YOU CAN’T JUST COME TO ONE SHOW & UNDERSTAND IT... IT’S A CONVERSATION.

2015/16 SEASON

Our 2015/16 Season will be different. In the midst of a wild array of fresh stories from around the globe, we’ll invite you to be part of something wholly eclectic…and entirely ArtsEmerson. We’ll experience diverse cultures, multiple languages and unexpected musical forms; we’ll crack open the classics, travel to new lands and even battle space aliens. Together, we’ll continue to discover the world on stage and screen, celebrating that being different isn’t just okay, it might just be the best thing ever.

“Boston’s arts institutions have a central contribution to make to the vibrancy and resilience of our city. ArtsEmerson’s shows both captivate us and enlarge our understanding of our world. They set the stage for a season of transformative conversation in Boston.” – Marty Walsh, Mayor of Boston A sea shanty to inspire us all

An intergalactic escapade of two modern day superheroes

ERNEST SHACKLETON LOVES ME

THE WONG KIDS

Matt he w Kwatinet z :: N YC

How can we learn to dream again?

MR. JOY

Daniel B eat y :: B oston

ARTSEMERSON’S 2015/16 SEASON

The show MIGHT go on!

AN AUDIENCE WITH MEOW MEOW Tr ueFriend Pro ductions :: Par t s Unk no w n

World-renowned South African company returns!

uCAR MEN / A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREA M Isango Ensemble :: Sou t h Af rica

Reclamation of Poland’s famous composer

CHOPIN WITHOUT PIANO CENTR A L A :: Poland

Fresh remix of Shakespeare’s much loved comedy

T WELFTH NIGHT Filter Theat re :: London

THE HOTTEST PLAY OF 1859 IS BACK! Sort of...

AN OCTOROON

Co mpany One Theat re :: B oston

IN THE SECRET OF THE SPACE CHUPACABR A GO! Ma-Yi Theater Co mpany :: N YC

A luminous retelling of Chekhov’s masterpiece

THREE SISTERS

Maly Drama Theat re of St. Petersburg :: Russia

One-woman powerhouse of a Samuel Beckett trilogy

NOT I / FOOTFALLS / ROCK ABY A Lisa D wan Production :: UK

A twisted, violent tale with the grit and imagery of a graphic novel

HISTORIA DE A MOR Teat ro cine ma :: Chile

Remembrance of forgotten stories of Cuba’s Revolution

DAUGHTER OF A CUBAN REVOLUTIONARY Marissa Chibas :: L A

A comedic maze of marriage, murder and mayhem

PREMEDITATION

Latino Theater Co mpany :: L A p3 p3

Kat is a stressed-out single mom trying to make it as a working artist. After her son’s absentee father takes off on tour with a Journey cover band, Kat is fired from her day job as a video game composer and stays up for 36 hours straight. On an insomnia induced whim, she logs onto a dating website where she is contacted by none other than the legendary arctic explorer, Ernest Shackleton! Drawn to Kat’s innovative musical compositions, Shackleton invites her to join him on an Antarctic A SINGLE “KAT IS A PROTAGONIST FOR OUR TIMES. AS OBSTACLES SS NTLE MOTHER, SHE FACES THE SAME RELE AND SO MANY OF US ENCOUNTER IN OUR DAILY LIVES GRIT, WITH INSPIRES US TO FACE THEM HEAD ON

quest. Together, the two embark on Shackleton’s famous 1914 expedition, facing epic trials and tribulations as they conquer new horizons and forge a cross-time love affair for the ages. Complete with quirky original songs and a dazzling multimedia set, Ernest

DETERMINATION AND GUTS.”

Shackleton Loves Me is a new, geeky, high-tech musical adventure

– LISA PETERSON, DIRECTOR

about how a little strength and determination can help us overcome any odds.

VENUE:

Emerson/Paramount Mainstage

“THE MOST DELIGHTFUL NEW MUSICAL IN MANY A SEASON.”

AGES: 14+ RUNNING TIME:

90 minutes with no intermission

– TALKIN’ BROADWAY

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OCTOBER 2015

“IN THE SAME SPIRIT OF A WORK LIKE CHERYL STRAYED’S WILD, ERNEST SHACKLETON LOVES ME IS ABOUT ONE WOMAN’S JOURNEY TO FIND HER INNER

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STRENGTH AND RESILIENCE.”

– POLLY CARL, CREATIVE DIRECTOR

2PM

PRESENTED WITH SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT

by Matthew Kwatinetz BOOK BY:

Joe DiPietro MUSIC BY:

Brendan Milburn LYRICS BY:

Valerie Vigoda DIRECTED BY:

Lisa Peterson MUSICAL DIRECTION BY:

Ryan O’Connell p5

#LoveShackBoston

FEATURING:

Valerie Vigoda and Wade McCollum

How can we learn to dream again?

MR. JOY

What happened to Mr. Joy? A Harlem community is shaken when Mr. Joy, a Chinese immigrant whose shoe repair shop has been a neighborhood pillar for decades, is the victim of an attack. Through the lens of Mr. Joy’s customers, from the bubbly eleven-year-old Clarissa (who captured everyone’s heart in Daniel Beaty’s Emergency) to the sincere and savvy “gangsta granny” Bessie, we learn the profound yet unassuming impact the shop owner has had on each of their lives. Playwright and ArtsEmerson Artist-in-Residence Daniel Beaty (Breath & Imagination, Emergency) returns with another moving reflection on transforming pain into power, this time through the virtuosic performance by acclaimed actress Tangela Large. A poignant, funny and stirring solo piece, Mr. Joy invites us to consider how we respond

T AND ABOUT TANGELA’S SPIRI “THERE’S SOMETHING SO GLAD AM ALLY ASTONISHING. I HEART THAT IS JUST RE THIRD WORK DIENCES THROUGH MY SHE’LL BE GUIDING AU ERSON.” TO APPEAR AT ARTSEM YW – DANIEL BEATY, PLA

RIGHT

to violence as individuals and as a community, and the power of the invisible ties that bind us all. #MrJoyPLAY

VENUE: Emerson/Jackie Liebergott Black Box AGES: All Ages RUNNING TIME: 85 minutes with no intermission

SEP 22 – OCT 18, 2015 “A FUNNY, ENORMOUSLY ENTERTAINING STORY THAT TAPS INTO THE PULSE OF

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“A TRUE JOY OF THIS STORY IS HOPE. I CAN’T WAIT TO SEE THIS PLAY!” – AKIBA ABAKA, AUDIENCE DEVELOPMENT MANAGER

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CONTEMPORARY AMERICAN CULTURE.” – CITY THEATER

OCTOBER 2015

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SAVE THE DATE: OPENING ACTS! LOCAL ARTISTS SET THE STAGE OCT 7-11

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WRITTEN BY:

Daniel Beaty DIRECTED BY:

David Dower

STARRING:

Tangela Large

ARTSEMERSON AND TRUEFRIEND PRODUCTIONS PRESENT

You are invited to share a spectacularly intimate evening with international comedienne and singing sensation, Meow Meow in her brand new musical, An Audience with Meow Meow. Boston! So close to Broadway! Expectations are always high for Meow but whatever may happen, she is a professional and will undoubtedly deliver to you, her beloved audience, a BIG FINISH...though she may need your help to do ERSION IN TER AS AN ACT OF SUBV “THIS IS MUSICAL THEA AINING… FEROCIOUSLY ENTERT FISHNETS AND HEELS. D DELIGHTS!” MEOW MEOW STUNS AN NE – SAN JOSE MERCURY

it. Helmed by Tony-award nominated director Leigh Silverman, Meow Meow will sing and dance her way through a hilarious, poignant theatrical experience like no other.

#BostonMeowing

VENUE:

“SHE’S A PICTURE OF ALLURING GRACE ONE MOMENT AND A KLUTZ THE NEXT, WITH THE FUNNIEST WAY OF GETTING UP OUT OF A SPLIT THAT I’VE EVER SEEN.” – SAN FRANCISCO CHRONICLE

Emerson/Cutler Majestic Theatre

OCT 8 - 24, 2015 Su Mo 4

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“A COMIC WHO DRAWS ROARS FROM PRATFALLS, SUBTLE GLANCES, PUNCHLINES AND SENSUALITY.” – THE HUFFINGTON POST

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SAVE THE DATE! WELCOME TO BOSTON CAST PARTY MON, OCT 5 CREATED BY AND STARRING:

SCENIC & COSTUME DESIGN BY:

Meow Meow

Andrea Lauer

CHOREOGRAPHY BY:

LIGHTING & PROJECTION DESIGN BY:

Sonya Teyeh

MUSIC SUPERVISOR:

Lance Horne

Alexander V. Nichols

ADDITIONAL WRITING BY:

Rob Kaplowitz

Maria Dahvana Headley

SOUND DESIGN BY: ORIGINAL DESIGN CONCEPTS BY:

Neil Murray DIRECTED BY: Leigh Silverman

9 pp 9

WORLD PREMIERE PRODUCED IN SEPTEMBER 2014 BY BERKELEY REPERTORY THEATRE

Tony Taccone, Artistic Director Susan Medak, Managing Director

Take Chopin’s piano concertos, remove the piano and replace it with a monologue detailing the composer’s life and radical approach to music. The result is Chopin Without Piano, a staggeringly powerful production that coaxes new ways of considering this master composer— musically, emotionally and even politically. Accompanied by a full symphonic orchestra of Boston Conservatory musicians, actress Barbara Wysocka invites audiences WORLD CLASS RK IS ABOUT BRINGING “SO MUCH OF OUR WO TIONING AS A THE GLOBE AND FUNC THEATRE FROM AROUND OPIN WITHOUT E CITY OF BOSTON. CH UNIFYING FORCE IN TH ERAL SENSE. THESE EFFORTS IN A LIT PIANO WILL PRESENT POLAND WORK D CLASS ARTISTS FROM HERE WE’LL SEE WORL IANS TO CONSERVATORY MUSIC DIRECTLY WITH BOSTON OF THEATRE.” CREATE A NEW FORM NAGING DIRECTOR – DAVID C. HOWSE, MA

into an intimate and raw conversation about Chopin, his music and the struggles of cultural identity with his home country, Poland.

#ChopinwithoutPiano

VENUE:

Emerson/Paramount Mainstage RUNNING TIME:

90 minutes with no intermission PERFORMED IN POLISH WITH ENGLISH SURTITLES

NOV 11 - 14, 2015 Su Mo 8

7:30PM

7PM

8 PM

2PM 8 PM

PRESENTED WITH CENTRALA

“IN HIS NATIVE POLAND, CHOPIN’S LEGACY HAS BEEN TURNED INTO A PARALYZING MYTH THAT IGNORES THE FACT THAT HE WAS AN ARTISTIC REVOLUTIONARY AND INNOVATOR. TO

CONDUCTED BY:

Franck Ollu

PERFORMED BY:

Barbara Wysocka

DIRECTED BY:

Michał Zadara FEATURING:

BOSTON CONSERVATORY ORCHESTRA

CHALLENGE THIS, WE CREATED A PIECE THAT IS UNQUESTIONABLY STILL 100% CHOPIN AND SIMULTANEOUSLY 100% PERCENT NEW MUSIC. ” – MICHA Ł ZADARA, DIRECTOR

p 11 p 11

PLUS... SUN, NOV 15 @ 2PM CHOPIN WITH PIANO

Following the run of Chopin Without Piano, join us for a special concert to experience Chopin’s complete concertos with piano accompaniment. Performed by the Boston Conservatory Orchestra. This event is free and open to the public.

TWO JOYFUL, REIMAGINED CLASSICS FROM THE WORLD RENOWNED SOUTH AFRICAN COMPANY

uCARMEN / A Midsummer Night’s Dream After the nonstop joy parade that was last season’s The Magic Flute, the world-renowned South African Isango Ensemble returns to Boston with two new reimagined classics: uCarmen and A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Based on the famous opera, uCarmen transports us to a modern South African township to follow the story of Carmen, a strong, independent woman who will not be tamed. Meanwhile, A Midsummer Night’s Dream uses the text of Shakespeare’s comedy and the score of Benjamin Britten’s opera to invent a joyful new world wherein a better understanding of humanity can be found in each soaring melody. LETELY AND MPANY THAT SO COMP “WHEN WE MEET A CO Y, WE LOOK E ARTSEMERSON STOR JOYFULLY EMBODIES TH C OF THEIR ES THE COMPLETE AR TO BRING OUR AUDIENC TRANSMUTE TIONS EFFORTLESSLY WORK. THESE PRODUC RICAN N FORMS TO DEEPLY AF CLASSICALLY WESTER O IS ECSTATIC THAT ISANG EXPERIENCES. WE ARE !” RETURNING TO BOSTON – DAVID DOWER, ARTIST

IC DIRECTOR

Known around the globe for their commitment to creating work that reflects and unites a diverse South African nation, Isango’s productions speak across racial, economic and political divides through an experience that can only be described as “pure Isango.” Join us in welcoming this extraordinary company back to Boston, and revel in what it means to have music in your heart and soul. #IsangoBos

“THE ISANGO ENSEMBLE IS UNIQUE. I BELIEVE NO OTHER THEATRE GROUP IN THE WORLD SO SUCCESSFULLY BRINGS OLD THEATRE CLASSICS INTO A MODERN, WHOLLY AFRICAN EXPRESSION.” – SIR IAN MCKELLEN, ACTOR

VENUE:

Emerson/Cutler Majestic Theatre AGES: All Ages RUNNING TIME:

2 hours

PERFORMED IN ENGLISH WITHOUT SURTITLES

NOV 10 – 22, 2015 Su Mo

7:30PM

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2PM 8 PM

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“ISANGO IS SO EXCITED TO BE

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COMING BACK TO BOSTON...LOTS OF THEATRES ‘TALK THE TALK’ BUT ARTSEMERSON REALLY DOES ‘WALK THE WALK’.”

ISANGO

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– ISANGO ENSEMBLE

ENSEMBLE

A Midsummer Night’s Dream

uCarmen

SAVE THE DATE! WELCOME TO BOSTON CAST PARTY MON, NOV 9TH

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ISANGO US TOUR PARTNER:

TRAVEL ASSISTANCE PROVIDED BY:

MR. JOY

A FRESH, FAST REMIX OF SHAKESPEARE’S MUCH LOVED COMEDY

TWELFTH

NIGHT In this fresh, fast-paced remix of Shakespeare’s comedy, classical verse meets mayhem as two worlds collide. Olivia’s puritanical household is clashing with Sir Toby’s insatiable appetite for drunken debauchery, while the lovesick Orsino enlists the cross-dressing Viola to aid him in relentless pursuit of Olivia. With a radically deconstructed Y H NIGHT IS UNLIKE AN

ON TWELFT “FILTER’S UNIQUE TAKE THAT YOU BE ANY SHAKESPEARE— TWELFTH NIGHT—MAY ER TOO.” BEFORE. AND IT’S CLEV WILL HAVE EVER SEEN UC – SIMON READE, PROD

script and ferocious music and sound, Twelfth Night takes you on a rollercoaster through the madness of love in one of the most exciting and accessible Shakespeare productions in recent years. #12thNightFilter

“FILTER IS A COMPANY BLESSED WITH WIT, STYLE AND A TOUCH OF MAGIC…

ROCK-AND-ROLL SHAKESPEARE’S A BLAST!” – THE TELEGRAPH

“BEST SHAKESPEARE I HAVE EVER SEEN!” – @OLLYWILLIAMS

VENUE:

Emerson/Paramount Mainstage AGES: 13+ RUNNING TIME:

90 minutes with no intermission

JAN 20 – 30, 2016 Su Mo

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Sa 23

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7:30PM

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2PM 8 PM

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8 PM

2PM 8 PM

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7:30PM

7:30PM 7:30PM

PRESENTED BY:

Filter Theatre in association with the Royal Shakespeare Company PRODUCED ON TOUR IN THE USA BY PEMBERLEY PRODUCTIONS WRITTEN BY:

William Shakespeare CREATED BY:

Filter Theatre DIRECTED BY:

Sean Holmes MUSIC AND SOUND BY:

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Tom Haines and Ross Hughes

ARTSEMERSON AND COMPANY ONE THEATRE PRESENT

THE HOTTEST PLAY OF 1859 IS BACK! Sort of...

There’s trouble at the plantation: no one is falling in love with who they should be, someone has been murdered and unless the mail comes soon all hope is lost! OBIE-Award winner Branden Jacobs-Jenkins (Neighbors) transforms a 19th century melodrama for today’s “post-racial,” spectacle-obsessed world. An Octoroon, directed by Summer L. Williams, is an incendiary, ENKINS E A BRANDEN JACOBS-J “THERE IS NOTHING LIK PLAYWRIGHTS E BEST AND BRAVEST PLAY. HE IS ONE OF TH OF OUR TIME. ” – SUMMER L. WILLIAMS

subversively funny exploration of identity, jammed with sensation and surprises.

, DIRECTOR

#AnOctoroon

THEATRICAL STATEMENT ON RACE IN AMERICA TODAY.”

PHOTO CREDIT: JESSE DITTMAR/REDUX

“THIS DECADE’S MOST ELOQUENT

– THE NEW YORK TIMES

VENUE:

Emerson/Jackie Liebergott Black Box

JAN 29 - FEB 27, 2016 Su Mo

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FEBRUARY 2016 Th

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8 PM

2 PM 8 PM

ATTEMPT TO TELL STORIES ABOUT THE THEATRE COMPANIES WHO RECOGNIZE

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WE’RE COMMITTED TO PRESENTING CHALLENGING THEATRE THAT CAN DEEPEN OUR UNDERSTANDING AND FURTHER OUR

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CONVERSATIONS OF RACE IN THE CITY OF BOSTON.”

WRITTEN BY:

Branden Jacobs-Jenkins

– POLLY CARL, CREATIVE DIRECTOR

DIRECTED BY:

Summer L. Williams A CO-PRODUCTION WITH: p 17 p 17

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THE REALITY OF THAT SHAKY GROUND,

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HISTORY OF RACE IN AMERICA, AND AS TWO

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ON VERY SHAKY GROUND WHENEVER WE

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“AN OCTOROON CONFIRMS THAT WE’RE

AN INTERGALACTIC ESCAPADE OF TWO MODERN DAY SUPERHEROES

Using a mix of action-driven storytelling, puppetry and visual magic, The Wong Kids transports its audience into the far reaches of the galaxy. Violet and Bruce Wong just don’t fit in with the other Earth kids. Sure, they have superpowers, they’re just not very good ones. But when an evil beast called the Space Chupacabra appears, intent on universal destruction, the Wong Kids must travel to outer space in order E UNITIES TO EXPERIENC

FOR OPPORT “AS A PARENT, I LOOK S. THE WONG IN BOSTON WITH MY KID LIVE PERFORMANCES AT IT IS FUN D RARE SOLUTION IN TH KIDS IS A PERFECT AN NTS.” TH CHILDREN AND PARE AND ENGAGING FOR BO NAG – DAVID C. HOWSE, MA

to stop it... if they can only stop bickering! Violet and Bruce ultimately realize that being different isn’t just okay, it might be the most important thing ever.

ING DIRECTOR

#WongKidsBoston

VENUE:

Emerson/Paramount Mainstage

“THERE’S SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE IN

AGES: All ages

THE WONG KIDS: FROM THE ZANY

RUNNING TIME:

90 minutes with no intermission

MEL BROOKS-LIKE HUMOR, TO THE CRAZY COLORFUL PUPPETS, TO THE

FEB 19 - MAR 6, 2016

MUSICAL NUMBERS (OH, YES, THERE ARE MUSICAL NUMBERS). NO MATTER YOUR AGE,

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YOU’LL LOVE THIS SHOW.”

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– SASHA DIAMOND, PERFORMER

“EXUBERANTLY IMAGINATIVE.”

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1PM 5PM

7:30PM 7:30PM

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MARCH 2016

ART BY NOAH SCALIN | NOAHSCALIN.COM

– THE NEW YORK TIMES

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SAVE THE DATE! WELCOME TO BOSTON CAST PARTY MON, FEB 15 PRESENTED BY:

Ma-Yi Theater Company WRITTEN BY:

Lloyd Suh p 19 p 19

DIRECTED BY:

Ralph B. Peña CO-CREATED WITH CHILDREN’S THEATRE COMPANY AND IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE ENSEMBLE STUDIO THEATRE

THREE SISTER One of Russia’s premiere theatre companies presents this luminous retelling of Chekhov’s masterpiece, which follows three sisters who are forced to leave Moscow for life in a provincial town. The family bravely confronts the tragic rift between personal desires and harsh, everyday realities. In this surprisingly sexy and emotionally raw production, Three Sisters gives us the chance to reflect on issues of economic recession and class disparity through the lens of the personal, cultural and political changes that shook Russia at the end T, AND LEV GREATEST PLAYWRIGH “CHEKHOV IS RUSSIA’S BURG IS THEATRE IN ST. PETERS DODIN FROM THE MALY DISTINCTIVE DIRECTOR. THE COUNTRY’S MOST THE WORLD, HAS MADE HISTORY IN THIS IS THEATRE THAT E FIRST TIME.” NOW IN BOSTON FOR TH – ROB ORCHARD, FOU

of the 19th century. Directed by renowned director Lev Dodin and performed in Russian with English surtitles, this staging is a testament to the legacy of one of the world’s greatest playwrights.

NDER

#3SistersinRussian

“DODIN’S THREE SISTERS IS ONE OF THE FEW TRANSCENDING EXPERIENCES YOU CONSTANTLY LONG FOR BUT RARELY ENCOUNTER.” – DAILY NEWS EGYPT

VENUE:

Emerson/Cutler Majestic Theatre AGES: All Ages RUNNING TIME:

3 hours and 10 minutes including one intermission PERFORMED IN RUSSIAN WITH ENGLISH SURTITLES

“THIS IS THE KIND OF THEATRE THAT PEOPLE STAND IN LONG LINES IN

MAR 2 - 6, 2016

ST. PETERSBURG TO SEE. BOSTON IS SO

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LUCKY TO SEE A PRODUCTION OF THREE

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– ANYA KUSIANKOVA, SENIOR MANAGER OF CREATIVE SERVICES

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SISTERS DIRECTED BY ONE OF THE TRUE MASTERS OF CHEKHOV.”

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PRESENTED BY:

Maly Drama Theatre of St. Petersburg DAVID EDEN PRODUCTIONS DIRECTED BY:

Lev Dodin

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A ONE-WOMAN POWERHOUSE PERFORMANCE OF A SAMUEL BECKETT TRILOGY

In this critically acclaimed staging of three one-woman plays by Samuel Beckett, directed by the playwright’s longtime friend Walter Asmus, the obsessive rhythms of existence are laid bare. In Not I, a woman—reduced to a mere mouth suspended in total darkness—seeks solace in a relentless stream of her own broken speech. In Footfalls, a tattered soul drained of life paces outside her dying mother’s bedroom. And in Rockaby, a woman slowly withdraws from the world, rocked to eternal , HE DOESN’T G TO SELL US ANYTHING “BECKETT ISN’T TRYIN OVER US US, HE’S NOT STANDING HAVE AN ‘AGENDA’ FOR R WITH HIS HEART. HE’S AT WA WITH HIS HAND OVER OUR TRUTH, HIS POETRY TOUCHES SENTIMENTALITY. BUT OUR SOULS.”

ME – LISA DWAN, PERFOR

sleep in her mother’s chair. Lisa Dwan, who drew ecstatic reviews for her performances at BAM, the Royal Court Theatre and in the West End, stars in all three of these shorts, performing with mastery and grace. #BeckettTrilogy

“YOU WILL NOT BREATHE AND YOU WILL NOT BLINK.” – NAOMI GORDON, FOUNDER’S COUNCIL

VENUE:

Emerson/Paramount Mainstage RUNNING TIME:

60 minutes with no intermission

MAR 16 – 20, 2016

“THE ASTONISHING ACTRESS LISA DWAN… DOESN’T JUST UNCOVER LAYERS; SHE DIGS ALL THE WAY TO THE VOID BENEATH THEM.”

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– THE NEW YORK TIMES WRITTEN BY:

Samuel Beckett PERFORMED BY:

Lisa Dwan

DIRECTED BY:

Walter Asmus PRODUCED IN ASSOCIATION WITH ARKTYPE / THOMAS O. KRIEGSMANN

Originally co-produced with the Royal Court Theatre, in association with Cusack Projects Limited p 23 p 23

A TWISTED, VIOLENT TALE WITH THE GRIT AND IMAGERY OF A GRAPHIC NOVEL

HISTORIA DE AMOR

With the grit and imagery of a dark graphic novel comes this violent story that destroys the boundaries between domination and submission. Based on the French novel by Régis Jauffret, Historia de Amor is the unflinching portrait of an English teacher who abducts a young woman and turns her into his victim, concubine and mother. Internationally renowned Teatrocinema employs a dizzying array of 2D and 3D effects to fuse virtual and physical worlds. Questioning the very meaning of love, Historia de Amor paints a stark, black and white landscape where impulses of humanity are made visible.

W FORM... “SEE THE BIRTH OF A NE ORY.” A MOST SURPRISING ST – PAULA MAGAZINE

“METICULOUSLY CHOREOGRAPHED, WITH STYLIZED FREEZE FRAMES AND SHIFTING PERSPECTIVES – THE ACTORS ARE NEVER AN INCH OUT OF PLACE, NEVER BREAKING THE SPELL.” – FINANCIAL TIMES

VENUE:

Emerson/Cutler Majestic Theatre AGES: 18+ Sexual content and strong adult themes RUNNING TIME:

1 hour 35 minutes PERFORMED IN SPANISH WITH ENGLISH SURTITLES

“UNLIKE MOST LOVE STORIES, THIS ONE DELVES DEEP

APR 21 - 24, 2016

INTO THE DARKEST PARTS.”

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– PAULA MAGAZINE

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PRESENTED BY:

TEATROCINEMA BASED ON THE NOVEL BY:

Régis Jauffret DIRECTED BY:

Juan Carlos Zagal WITH SUPPORT FROM:

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#HistoriadeAmor

7PM

2PM

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REMEMBRANCE OF FORGOTTEN STORIES OF CUBA’S REVOLUTION

DAUGHTER OF A CUBAN REVOLUTIONARY Daughter of a Cuban Revolutionary presents the astonishing tale of three towering figures in the life of versatile performer Marissa Chibas. As she recalls her father, Raul Chibas (who co-wrote the manifesto for the Cuban Revolution with Fidel Castro), her uncle, Eddy Chibas (who was the frontrunner for the Cuban presidency in 1951), and her mother, Dalia Chibas TIONARY N REVOLU A B U C A F TRO TER O AW DAUGH S, ENCUEN “WHEN I S E COMMON R T A A S E H IS T R Y. MA TINA/O LOWN AWA AT THE LA B LY E H JUST T IC E H L S COMP STORY, W E IF L T N 2014, I WA W ER O IGNIFICAN RFORMS H HE MOST S T F O T S Y A N DEFTLY PE L A ON M IN THE NS TO HIT PPENINGS A H L IA SO HAPPE C O DS LITICAL AN CUBAN PO CENTURY.”

(Miss Cuba runner-up in 1959), Daughter unfolds into an impassioned, live-wire performance propelled by Chibas’s magnetic presence and storytelling. This solo tour de force illuminates the intersection of the personal and historical through Chibas’s own stories and key episodes in the history of her illustrious family.

, UND . GAH LON , HOWLRO – JAM IE M RODU CER RE ATIVE P C R IO N SE

#CubanDaughter

“THIS NEED TO SEEK A SOURCE TO THE YARN OF OUR LIVES AND WHAT WE ARE CONNECTED TO DRAWS AUDIENCES IN. PEOPLE LEAVE THIS SHOW FEELING THE IMPORTANCE OF TRACING THEIR OWN HISTORIES AND FAMILY STORIES.”

VENUE:

Emerson/Jackie Liebergott Black Box AGES: 12+ RUNNING TIME:

65 minutes with no intermission

– MARISSA CHIBAS

APR 27 - MAY 1, 2016 Su Mo

24 25

7PM

7:30PM

8PM

2 PM 8 PM

MAY 2016 Su Mo 1

2PM

SAVE THE DATE! WELCOME TO BOSTON CAST PARTY MON, APR 25TH

“SHE HOOKS US

WRITTEN AND PERFORMED BY:

EMOTIONALLY AT THE

Marissa Chibas

OUTSET, AND WE’RE

DIRECTED BY:

Mira Kingsley

RIGHT WITH HER

PRODUCED BY CALARTS CENTER FOR NEW PERFORMANCE

FOR THE REST OF HER JOURNEY OF SELF-DISCOVERY.” – THE LOS ANGELES TIMES

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A COMEDIC MAZE OF MARRIAGE, MURDER AND MAYHEM

N O I T A I T PREMED Fifty percent of marriages end in divorce, but how many end in murder? Meet two disgruntled housewives from opposite sides of the tracks: Esmeralda, sophisticated and calculating, and Lydia, foul-mouthed and pragmatic. Both are about to discover the lengths they’ll go to get their husbands’ attention. Premeditation takes audiences on a noir-inspired journey through the intricacies of marriage, while highlighting the Latino Theater Company’s impeccable comedic chops, honed over T AMERICAN URES ONE OF THE GREA “PREMEDITATION FEAT Y YEARS, E. TOGETHER FOR THIRT ENSEMBLES OF OUR TIM EIR CRAFT, O HAVE MASTERED TH THESE ARE ACTORS WH NOIR IS ING IN THIS HILARIOUS AND THEIR COMEDIC TIM SIMPLY PERFECTION!” VE – POLLY CARL, CRE ATI

DIRECTOR

their thirty years in performance together.

#Premeditationtheplay

“I HAD A NAGGING DESIRE TO KILL MY HUSBAND. I WROTE A PLAY INSTEAD.” – EVELINA FERNANDEZ, PLAYWRIGHT

VENUE:

Emerson/Paramount Mainstage AGES: 13+ RUNNING TIME:

90 minutes with no intermission

MAY 4 - 14, 2016 Su Mo 1

Su Mo 8 2PM

7:30PM

7PM

8PM

2 PM 8 PM

Tu 10 7:30PM

7:30PM 7:30PM

8PM

2PM

PRESENTED BY:

The Latino Theater Company WRITTEN BY:

Evelina Fernandez DIRECTED BY:

José Luis Valenzuela FEATURING:

Evelina Fernandez, Sal Lopez, Geoffrey Rivas and Lucy Rodriguez

“LIGHT, DARK, HILARIOUS AND DEEP” – LA EXAMINER p 29 p 29

THE WORLD ON SCREEN ARTSEMERSON’S 2015/16 FILM PROGRAMS ArtsEmerson’s 2015/16 Film program partners with companies and festivals near and far to host a wide array of offerings in our Bright Family Screening Room at the Emerson/Paramount Center. Through our Live On Screen series and Festivals & Events, you’ll have a chance to experience the world on stage and screen at ArtsEmerson this season.

LIVE ON SCREEN Bringing professional broadcasts from some of the best of theatres around the world, our Live On Screen series provides the opportunity to experience the world on stage from the National Theatre, San Francisco Opera, Shakespeare’s Globe and the Royal Shakespeare Company.

LIVE ON SCREEN

FILM FESTIVALS AND EVENTS

SEP 4 – 6, 2015 THE MERCHANT OF VENICE Royal Shakespeare Company

OCT 30 – NOV 1, 2015 OF MICE AND MEN National Theatre Live

SEP 11 – 13, 2015 EVERYMAN National Theatre Live

NOV 13 – 15, 2015 HAMLET National Theatre Live

SEP 18 – 20, 2015 MAN AND SUPERMAN National Theatre Live

NOV 21 – 22, 2015 HENRY V Royal Shakespeare Company

SEP 25 – 27, 2015 SKYLIGHT National Theatre Live

NOV 27 – 29, 2015 JOHN National Theatre Live

OCT 2 – 4, 2015 OTHELLO Royal Shakespeare Company

JAN 8 – 10, 2016 TREASURE ISLAND National Theatre Live

OCT 16 – 18, 2015 COMEDY OF ERRORS Shakespeare’s Globe on Screen

JAN 29 – 31, 2016 BEHIND THE BEAUTIFUL FOREVERS National Theatre Live

ArtsEmerson greatly values and actively seeks community partnerships that bring the world and city to our screens. This season, ArtsEmerson is proud to host a series of festivals and special engagements that spotlight the diversity of talent and voices on film today. OCT 7 – 11, 2015 THE BOSTON GLOBE’S GLOBE DOCS FILM FESTIVAL OCT 23 – 25, 2015 THE BOSTON ASIAN AMERICAN FILM FESTIVAL APRIL 15-17, 2016 THE BOSTON INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL SEP 26, OCT 31, DEC 5, JAN 23, FEB 20 & MAR 19 THE REEL LIFE EXPERIENCE p 31

p 31

#WorldonScreen

OUR CITY ON STAGE “Our programming is a reflection of our values— to bring a wide array of cultural options to the city that include theatre, film and music while constantly listening to our community through civic-minded activity that seeks to invite everyone in Boston to our venues.” – David Dower, Artistic Director

PUBLIC DIALOGUE SERIES Naming Ourselves: Provocative Conversations on Identity and Representation Our free Public Dialogue series is in service to our organizational mission—to foster civic transformation through the shared experience of art and public dialogue. The series is aimed at connecting the work on our stages, our artists, our community partners and our audiences through conversations that address the concerns and challenges of our contemporary moment.

ARTIST-IN-RESIDENCE: DANIEL BEATY PHOTO CREDIT: NICOLE O’NEIL PHOTOGRAPHY

PUBLIC DIALOGUE SERIES TUE, OCT 13, 2015 @ 7PM Jackie Liebergott Black Box Theatre

TUE, FEB 9, 2016 @ 7PM Jackie Liebergott Black Box Theatre

TUE, MAY 10, 2016 @ 7PM Jackie Liebergott Black Box Theatre

EXPLORING THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN REAL AND IMAGINED BODIES ON STAGE

INTERROGATING WHITENESS (PART 2)

“SOME OTHER RACE”: EXPLORING THE DIVERSITY WITHIN THE LATINO STORY

Moderated by Polly Carl, Director of HowlRound and Creative Director of ArtsEmerson WED, NOV 4, 2015 @ 7PM Bright Family Screening Room INTERROGATING WHITENESS (PART 1) Moderated by Future Boston Alliance Featuring Walter Mosley, American novelist and PEN America’s Lifetime Achievement Award winner

Moderated by Sylvia Spears, Vice President for Diversity & Inclusion at Emerson College TUE, APR 5, 2016 @ 7PM Jackie Liebergott Black Box Theatre CURATION AND THE POLITICS OF LISTENING Moderated by Abe Rybeck, Artistic Director of The Theater Offensive Featuring the ArtsEmerson Leadership Team

Moderated by Noe Montez, Assistant Professor of Drama, Tufts University

For more information on ArtsEmerson’s Public Dialogue Series, visit artsemerson.org

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“ArtsEmerson realizes its global vision while remaining audience-focused and community-centric.” - Boston Magazine (Best Theater of Boston, 2015)

PHOTO CREDIT: PAUL MAROTTA

OUR CITY ON STAGE

(CONTINUED)

BOSTON TAP COMPANY PERFORMS AT THE WELCOME TO BOSTON PARTY FOR THE TRIP TO BOUNTIFUL. PHOTO BY PERSPECTIVE PHOTOGRAPHY

LET’S TALK! Master’s program. To register for the Play Reading

MUSIC

provocation and the conversation is the point. We

Book Club please contact audience@artsemerson.org

Black Box Sounds is the name of ArtsEmerson’s

invite you to stick around after the curtain falls

or 617.824.3071.

concert series inside the Jackie Liebergott Black Box

ArtsEmerson firmly believes that the art is the

to meet your neighbors and see all the ways our sea-

Theatre at The Paramount Center. Local Boston bands

son’s productions resonate in the city of Boston. After

OPENING ACTS

haven’t had the opportunity to perform downtown for

Friday and Saturday night performances, there will

In the spirit of community and exposure, we proudly

decades, and this new series provides a venue to bring

be an opportunity for a dialogue with fellow audience

feature local artists who warm the stage a half hour

the best area bands and performers back to the heart

members, artists and members of the ArtsEmerson

before select performances.

of the city. Early concerts in the series have presented

staff. These events will range from Lobby Chats (our informal conversations in the Randall Lobby) to artist interviews, guest moderated talkbacks and panel discussions.

diverse, powerful musical artists including Marissa

WELCOME TO BOSTON CAST PARTIES

Nadler, Tigerman WOAH, Faces on Film, Sidewalk

A tradition of beloved arts pioneer and Emerson Col-

Driver, Quilt and Julia Easterlin.

lege alumna, Ms. Elma Lewis, WELCOME TO BOSTON is a community hosted cast party that celebrates the

PLAY READING BOOK CLUB

arrival of national and international artists in our sea-

The Play Reading Book Club is an innovative

son. While being feted by performances from Boston’s

theatre-literacy initiative that creates a space for

finest poets, vocalists, dancers, actors and

audiences to deeply engage with theatre on both a

entertainers, this warm and vibrant event

textual and artistic level. Participants read, discuss,

presents our artists to the community before seeing

see and analyze plays in the ArtsEmerson season in

them perform on stage.

conversational sessions facilitated by teaching artists from the Emerson College Theatre Education

HOLIDAY PROGRAMMING This holiday season stars three iconic programs from Boston-based arts organizations. José Mateo Ballet Theatre’s The Nutcracker will return to the Emerson/ Cutler Majestic Theatre after over a decade away, and Brian O’Donovan’s Christmas Celtic Sojourn performs for its eleventh year in our theatre. Around the corner p 35

in the Emerson/Paramount Center, The National Center of Afro-American Artists presents the forty-fifth season of Langston Hughes’s Black Nativity.

OUR STORY “I founded ArtsEmerson to bring to Boston theatre from around the world that’s entertaining, intellectually stimulating, emotionally engaging and with a power that’s celebrated in a variety of cultures. We want our theatre to make a difference in your life and contribute to a healthy and sustainable community.” – Rob Orchard, Founder

ArtsEmerson is the professional presenting and

OUR HISTORY

producing organization of the Office of the Arts at

Founded in 2010 by Robert J. Orchard, ArtsEmerson

Emerson College. Through our international

is designed to address gaps in Boston’s cultural

programming and local community partnerships,

landscape through international programming and by

we serve the city of Boston, the Emerson community

inviting new audiences into our downtown venues.

(students, faculty and staff) and the global field of performance practice. Founded in 2010, the same

ArtsEmerson quickly established a reputation for

Artistic Director David Dower, Creative Director Polly

year that the US Census confirmed Boston as a

putting great work from around the world on its

Carl and Managing Director David C. Howse. This

majority-minority city, we are building a cultural

stages—work that emanates from the language of

shared leadership model reflects the organization’s

institution that embraces and reflects the changing

theatre, yet pushes the boundaries into dance, music

values: multiple voices are essential to leading a 21st

demographics of our city. We operate from the core

and opera. In 2015, Orchard moved into the role of

century arts organization.

belief that the arts are for everyone.

Creative Consultant. Currently, ArtsEmerson is led by

PARAMOUNT CENTER

559 WASHINGTON ST BOSTON

“There are many reasons we’re proud that

PARAMOUNT CENTER MAINSTAGE Originally a 1930s cinema palace, the Paramount Mainstage has been enchantingly restored in lively Art Deco style and evokes the thrill of American cinema’s Golden Age while hosting world-class performing artists.

ArtsEmerson is part of Emerson College, but chief among them is the vibrancy, life and talent they bring to the two historical venues in their charge — the Paramount

JACKIE LIEBERGOTT BLACK BOX (“THE JACKIE”)

and the Cutler Majestic. As Boston’s

The intimate, 150-seat Jackie Theatre (named for former Emerson College President Jacqueline

Theatre District continues to change and

Liebergott) provides the artists and audiences a more flexible and intimate performance space.

grow, we are so proud that ArtsEmerson

Exposed brick, tall windows and an open room invite artists to envision their own worlds and

honors the past even as it helps to shape

create unique experiences for audiences.

the future of theatre in our city.”

BRIGHT FAMILY SCREENING ROOM This room was named for the family of Emerson alumnus and Trustee Kevin Bright, producer

– Lee Pelton, President, Emerson College

of the hit series “Friends” and son of vaudeville performer and manager Jackie Bright. A venue for both film and live performance, the Bright Family Screening Room features 16 millimeter, 35 millimeter and digital projection equipment with seating for 170 people.

CUTLER MAJESTIC THEATRE 219 TREMONT ST BOSTON

Originally built in 1903 as the second performance venue in Boston’s historic Theatre District, the Majestic underwent a magnificent restoration, made possible by Ted and Joan Benard-Cutler. The theatre now serves the Boston community by showcasing first class performing arts groups in its exquisite 1,186-seat auditorium, and is recognized as a Boston Historic Landmark.

OUR VENUES

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“We want to make it possible for anyone and everyone to have access to the same quality experience at ArtsEmerson. It means so much to us that you choose to be part of our audience. We want you to feel that every time you come to an ArtsEmerson event. Even more than that, we want to reward you for coming! ArtsEmerson’s new Loyalty Program is just one example of how we are actively exploring ways to make our vision of inclusivity a reality.” - ArtsEmerson Leadership Team

2015/16 LOYALTY PROGRAM It’s our way of saying thank you We’ve created a rewards program that’s a free benefit to all ticket buyers. Every time you purchase tickets (whether it’s a play, film or concert), you’ll earn 100 points that unlock rewards such as discounts on parking, free tickets, drink vouchers and more. There’s no cost and nothing to pay. It’s just our way of saying thank you for supporting ArtsEmerson. And, if you buy an ArtsEmerson ticket package, you’ll also receive extra points that will jump you a few point levels to get the maximum value of your purchase. For more information on our Loyalty Program visit artsemerson.org PHOTO CREDIT: PAUL MAROTTA

2015/16 SEASON PACKAGES Experience the world on stage at the best prices Here are five reasons to choose an ArtsEmerson ticket package: 1. You can save up to 20% on tickets for the season 2. Packages are now available at every ticket price, starting at $25 3. More package options are now available, starting with as few as 2 projects 4. You can get all additional tickets at your package price for the whole season 5. Packages come with extra points from our Loyalty Program, which means more rewards for you

PACKAGE

TICKET SAVINGS

LOYALTY REWARDS PER PACKAGE

CHOOSE YOUR OWN ANY 2 PROJECTS (Starts at $42) 100 Loyalty Points per ticket PLUS: 500 Loyalty Points per package

Pick 2 or more projects and save 15% off all tickets for the entire season.

Parking discounts, restaurant discounts, Circle of Friends Card, 1 free theatre ticket

CHOOSE YOUR OWN ANY 4 PROJECTS (Starts at $84) 100 Loyalty Points per ticket PLUS: 1,000 Loyalty Points per package

Pick 4 or more projects and save 15% off all tickets for the entire season.

Parking discounts, restaurant discounts, Circle of Friends Card, 1 free theatre ticket, 2 free drink vouchers and an ArtsEmerson mug

THE WORLD ON STAGE 13 PROJECTS (Starts at $268) 100 Loyalty Points per ticket PLUS: 1,500 Loyalty Points per package

Have it all! Pick a performance from each of our 13 projects and save 20% off all tickets for the entire season. Package includes your choice of uCarmen, A Midsummer Nightâ€™s Dream or both!

Parking discounts, restaurant discounts, Circle of Friends Card, 1 free theatre ticket, 2 free drink vouchers, an ArtsEmerson mug, a backstage tour and 2 free film tickets

BUY YOUR PACKAGE TODAY!

Call the ArtsEmerson Box Office at 617.824.8400 or visit artsemerson.org

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Emerson College 120 Boylston Street Boston, Massachusetts 02116 ARTSEMERSON.ORG P 617.824.8400

YOU DON’T HAVE TO WAIT FOR THE PERFORMANCE TO START THE CONVERSATION... LET’S START TALKING!

@ArtsEmerson

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