Vive la Révolution at The Gordon

VIVE LA RÉVOLUTION VIVE LA RÉVOLUTION

AT THE GORDON

BY DARIEN HARDY

The Cincinnati Enquirer called it “A sassy, holdon-to-your-seats theatrical adventure...wonderfully wild and raucous,” and for the first time in Pensacola, The Gordon Community Art Center and PenArts will present The Revolutionists.

The comedic play is a revolutionary dream-fugue based on a fictional imagining of three historical figures coming together.. Original playwright, Lauren Gunderson, is said to be the most popular and prolific American playwright today. Set in 1793 amid the Reign of Terror during the French Revolution, this comedic yet moving tale, follows a quartet of women who historically existed at the same time and place but never actually met as they fight for equality, justice and their rightful place in history.

The play blends the stories of four infamous women, three of whom are historical figures: Olympe de Gouges, a playwright; Charlotte Corday, the assassin of Jean Paul Marat; and Marie Antionette, the infamously dethroned queen. The fourth woman is a compilation of the strong women in Saint Domingue who fought against racism and gender inequality.

Owner of The Gordon Community Art Center and PenArts Artistic Director, Christine Kellog, will direct this Pensacola premiere and performances will be held July 21 to 24 at The Gordon Community Art Center in downtown Pensacola. “While the story is a creatively imagined meeting of these women and takes place almost 230 years ago, many of the issues remain relevant today. It is a play that will make you laugh, think and feel,” Kellog said.

In 2017, Kellog and a group of local creatives established the nonprofit organization PenArts as a way to help bring the local community together. In 2020, PenArts officially moved to its location at The Gordon where they continue to host their programs and mainstage productions. PenArts members also assist with managing the facility so that other members of the community can use it to host classes and performances. Since its inception, PenArts has produced eight professionallystaged production premiers in Pensacola. This small nonprofit features local talent, pays all actors and creative teams and has a large and active community outreach program. “Now, in its new home at The Gordon Community Arts Center in the Historic Belmont-DeVilliers District, PenArts truly uses the arts to help bring the community together with open mics, artist mingles, afternoon jazz concerts, dance classes, community gatherings and many other classes and productions every month,” Kellog said. The PenArts production of The Revolutionists will feature a younger cast than the cast of the original show, which was originally produced and performed at the Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park. As the production is truly an ensemble show, the lead actors in order of appearance are Keeley Morgan, Klarissa Moore, Harper Garcia and Carissa Ferguson. “It is a talented group of young women, and three of them are appearing with PenArts for the first time. Harper Garcia was last seen in the PenArts production of I AND YOU. They all have extensive performing resumes, and we are thrilled that Keeley Morgan (a UWF student), Klarissa Moore (new to Pensacola from Oklahoma) and Carissa Ferguson (a PensacAdditionally, The Revolutionists will feature the work of sound designer and PenArts Music Director, Tom Baroco (Director of Music at Cathedral of the Sacred Heart); Costume Designer, Kristen Taylor (graduate of UWF); Assistant to the Director, Bethany Elswick (MFA student at Regents University); and Social Media Content Director, Jenna Smith (UWF senior). “We are grateful to the theater department at UWF for their help with this production,” Kellog said.

WHILE THE Keeley Morgan will be perform-

STORY IS A CREATIVELY ing with PenArts for the first time in her role as Olympe de Gouges, who was a feminist playwright and IMAGINED MEETING OF THESE WOMEN activist for abolition and women’s rights during revolutionary France. AND TAKES PLACE “She is incredibly nerdy and fun, but at the same time desperately ALMOST 230 YEARS AGO, MANY wants to make an impact on the world and be remembered. Her character is so entertaining and

OF THE ISSUES interesting to watch because we get to see the human side of an REMAIN RELEVANT TODAY. IT IS A PLAY important historical figure that most people have only ever read about if they have even heard of THAT WILL MAKE her at all. I am so excited to share her quirky character with everyone YOU LAUGH, THINK AND FEEL. and let people learn a little more about French playwright Olympe de Gouges,” Morgan explained. According to Kellog, audience members can expect witty dialogue in an anachronistic play. Although the production is set in 1793, some of the banter is straight out of the 21st Century. The Revolutionists will pose audiences with the following questions: • Are terror and violence necessary components of change? • Can art (in its various forms) lead to positive societal changes? • What is the value of theater and art today? • Can one person make a difference? “The show is not vulgar or risqué, but the topics are rather cerebral and may go above the heads of

Cast Member Photo: The Revolutionists will feature a younger cast than the original production; (in order from left to right) Carissa Ferguson, Keeley Morgan, Harper Garcia and Klarissa Moore will be playing the lead roles. PenArts has produced multiple plays for the community such as their past production, The Hello Girls.

younger viewers. Anyone from middle school and up, French history buffs, theater buffs, and those who enjoy intelligent dialogue will enjoy this play,” Kellog explained.

“I am beyond excited about the show! We officially start rehearsals at the beginning of July. So far, we have all been doing a lot of character work and line memorization on our own and with the help of our amazing director, Christine Kellogg, and Assistant to the Director, Bethany Elswick. My castmates are extremely talented so I cannot wait for audiences to see what we have in store with this incredibly entertaining show,” Morgan said.

Kellog added that they have recently implemented a “PenArts Patrons Program.” Patrons can choose from three tiers of donations to give. A “Curtain Call” level tax-deductible gift of $50 to $100 will guarantee a patron two tickets to an upcoming production and your name in the program. An “Applause” level tax-deductible gift of over $100 and up to $500 will guarantee a patron two tickets to an upcoming production in preferred seating, their name in the program and their name or logo on our social media as a sponsor or donor. Finally, the “Standing Ovation” tax-deductible gift of $500 or more will guarantee the patron two tickets to our productions in preferred seating, your name in the program, your name or logo on our social media as a sponsor or donor and an invitation to an event with the cast and crew.

Performances will be held July 21, 22 and 23 at 7:30 pm, and July 24 at 2:30 pm at 306 N DeVilliers Street in downtown Pensacola. Tickets are currently on sale for $15 each and can be purchased on Eventbrite.com. The runtime for this production is a little under two hours.

Follow @penartsinc on social media or visit penarts.org for complete performance details and information on other upcoming PenArts events. FIRST TIME HOME BUYER SPECIALIST

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