TheatreFIRST to open U.S. Premiere of powerful, provocative Future Me
Last year, a play opened at a small theatre in a London pub to almost no controversy. Plenty of emotion, yes, but no mud-slinging, no outrage. Stephen Brown had achieved with Future Me the almost impossible: he had written a play about one of the most rage-inducing social taboos - and had humanized the monster.
TheatreFIRST is delighted to be presenting the U.S. premiere of a play that might well have enjoyed a higher profile opening off- Broadway. Instead, Stephen Brown recognized TheatreFIRST’s unique credentials to produce this compelling piece: our commitment to plays that provoke and challenge, and that explore deeply some of the most urgent social issues; our audience that seeks plays that challenge their perceptions and prejudices; our history of premiering some of the most important British playwrights’ works in the United States (David Hare, Moira Buffini, Shelagh Stephenson, Robin Soans, Edward Kemp, Sue Townsend…).
Peter, Brown’s protagonist, is a successful, intelligent, articulate, sensitive young man. But somehow he falls into a vortex of unlawful desire, and commits an act that makes us ask: are there some crimes that are just too heinous to forgive? Brown’s play is so finely balanced, it makes knee-jerk responses seem trivial and irritating. Instead, we are forced to ask: Is he more than what he’s done? And should he be allowed to build a “Future Me”? Brown’s depth of research into this subject, which few people take the time to consider, pays off handsomely as he presents a range of characters and viewpoints that are bound to unsettle and provoke. This is high-stakes playwriting, underpinned by unswerving honesty and deeply-felt compassion.
TheatreFIRST, which was forced to vacate its downtown premises in Old Oakland last June, has since been involved in a highly challenging quest for a new performance space in Oakland. Unlike Berkeley and San Francisco, Oakland has no small spaces with a performance history that match the needs of TheatreFIRST, or the dozen and more other companies that have since expressed an interest in sharing such a space. The search goes on, and last month the company entered negotiations for a building in the nascent arts district of uptown Oakland (near the Paramount and Fox theaters). If all goes well, the company hopes to announce a four-show season there, opening in the fall of 2008.
Meanwhile, TheatreFIRST will return to the venerable Berkeley City Club, where it presented the highly successful Mooi Street Moves in 2004, for this production. Dylan Russell returns to direct it; she last directed the company’s award-winning production of World Music (starring L. Peter Callender) for the company in 2006. TheatreFIRST has assembled an extremely strong cast for this production, including veterans Dana Kelly (Racing Demon, A Map of the World, etc.), Allison Studdiford (Racing Demon, Death & The Maiden) and Dana Jepsen (Loveplay), along with TheatreFIRST newcomers Maggie Mason (who was featured in the longest-running BBC TV program Grange Hill in the nineties), Ryan Purcell and Peter Ruocco.
Playwright Stephen Brown will be flying in from London for the opening, and a reception and discussion after the show; press are warmly invited to attend this event on Friday, April 4th at 8pm. He will also be available in person for interview between March 29th and April 3rd. Post-show talkbacks will also be held throughout the run: details will be announced soon.
Production details:
Future Me by Stephen Brown
Directed by Dylan Russell
Featuring: Dana Jepsen*, Dana Kelly*, Maggie Mason, Ryan Purcell, Peter Ruocco, and Allison Studdiford*.
(*Members, Actors’ Equity Association)
Dates and location:
Berkeley City Club Theater
2315 Durant Avenue, Berkeley
Preview: Thursday, April 3rd - 8pm
Opening: Friday, April 4th - 8pm (including reception with the playwright)
Run: Thursday - Saturday 8pm, Sunday 3pm, through May 4th.
Location is wheelchair accessible.
Ticket prices: Thursday, Sunday $23; Friday, Saturday $28; Preview $10
Under 25’s: Always half price.
Seniors, students, TBA members: $3 discount
Pay what you can: Thursday, April 10th.
Box Office and Information: 510 436 5085
www.theatrefirst.com