Reverse the Curse: A RAISIN IN THE SUN

 This past Wednesday night marked a miracle: Liesl Tommy finally opened a Huntington show on schedule. Liesl’s previous two Huntington Openings were canceled –from a huge snowstorm January 5, 2011 (Ruined) and because of the Back Bay Blackout in March 13-14, 2012 (Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom). But the third time is a charm, and A Raisin In The Sun went off without a hitch!

To be fair, rehearsals for this production were delayed by a half-day due to the Blizzard of 2013 (an actor got stuck across the country), and then last Friday’s snowstorm arrived on the run’s first preview. It’s been a nerve-wracking month to say the least, but we made it through, and if the reviews pouring in are any indication, Liesl has done some tremendous work on this production. 

Which of course is no surprise to us. We love Liesl and her work, which is why we keep having her back in spite of the bad luck that seems to follow her to Boston.

Celebrating with Liesl tonight: the cast, Huntington staff, Trustees, and Overseers, Jon Abbott (WGBH), Karen Holmes Ward (WCVB), Rep. Gloria Fox, Attorney Wendell Taylor (Huntington Overseer), and Cambridge resident and Director of the Lorraine Hansberry Trust Joi Gresham. Gresham was Hansberry’s widower’s step-daughter, grew up in the playwright’s house after her death, and was greatly influenced by her work. Here's a picture of Liesl and Joi before the show on Wednesday night:

A Raisin In The Sun (which, incidentally, celebrated the 54^th anniversary of its Broadway debut on Monday) runs through Sunday, April 7 at the Avenue of the Arts / BU Theatre. The Boston Globe calls it, "A shattering production [that] reminds us how fully and richly Raisin continues to reverberate....All the passion Hansberry poured into her play comes surging through in the performances by Tommy's ensemble." Tickets are still on sale, but they're going fast, so don't miss out!

A RAISIN IN THE SUN First Rehearsal: the Meet & Greet

Tuesday marked the first day of rehearsal for A Raisin In The Sun by Lorraine Hansberry here at the Huntington. It’s only the second show that we’ve produced more than once in the last 31 years (the other being Candide in 1989 and again in 2011). Back in 1995, Kenny Leon took the helm as director, and this time, we’ve invited Liesl Tommy back to tell the story anew. She also directed 2011’s Ruined  and last year’s production of Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom, both of which were tremendous hits, so we’re excited to have her back in the building. I think I speak for the entire staff here when I say that we look forward to having her around, because she not only delivers these breathtaking theatrical feats, but also because she’s always so full of warmth and enthusiasm, making her an absolute pleasure to work with.

Check out our photo album from the Meet & Greet luncheon.

Fun fact: Liesl Tommy was born in South Africa, and moved to Newton when she was young. She saw Joe Turner’s Come and Gone at the Huntington when she was still in high school, and she cites the experience as a defining moment in her development as a theatre artist. In fact, growing up in the Boston area has inspired this production of Raisin as well. "My father was an urban planner who worked on low-income housing in Boston, and we often talked about how destructive to family life tiny apartments can be," she told us. "With Raisin, I'm looking to explore just how desperate poverty can make you when you don't have the space to be yourself."

And another fun fact: Liesl actually auditioned for our 1995 production of A Raisin In The Sun, and although she didn't get the part, she felt so accomplished just by being asked to come in for an audition at the Huntington that the experience cemented her decision to apply to grad school and dedicate her life to being a theatre artist.

You can hear her tell the story in her own words in this exclusive behind-the-scenes video from the first rehearsal, which also features opening remarks from Artistic Director Peter DuBois and Managing Director Michael Maso:

A Raisin in the Sun plays March 8 - April 7, 2013 at the Avenue of the Arts / BU Theatre.

Huntington Sweeps IRNE Awards!

It was a joy-filled night for the Huntington at the Independent Reviewers of New England (IRNE) Awards presentation yesterday as our our 2011 productions of Candide, Sons of the Prophet, and Ruined were honored with a combined total of 17 awards!

Huntington dramaturg
Charles Haughland with Stephen Karam
(Sons of the Prophet)

The second award of the night went to recently-named Pulizter Prize finalist Stephen Karam for Best New Play (Large Theatre) for Sons of the Prophet. In his speech, he praised and thanked Boston audiences for coming to a play they'd never heard of by a writer they didn't know. Our production of Sons..., which was directed by Huntington Artistic Director Peter DuBois, transferred to the Roundabout Theatre Company last fall where it was extended through January 1. The accolaides continue: the NYC production has just been nominated for 3 Outer Critic's Circle Awards (Best new Off Broadway Play, Best Actor in a Play - Santino Fontana, and Best Actress in a Play - Joanna Gleason), to be announced on May 14. It was wonderful to have Stephen back in Boston with us for the night to celebrate all of his recent success.

Then the night got busy, as Huntington productions and artists were honored in 17 of the 24 categories recognizing large theatre productions.

Cheryl Stern and Mary Zimmerman

Candide director Mary Zimmerman and cast member Cheryl Stern (Old Lady) were with us to celebrate the success. For Candide:

 

The cast of Candide, photo: T. Charles Erickson

Best Actor – Musical: Geoff Packard

Best Supporting Actress – Musical: Cheryl Stern

Best Choreography: Daniel Pelzig

Best Music Director: Doug Peck

Best Set Design: Daniel Ostling

Best Costume Design: Mara Blumenfeld

Best Lighting Design: T. J. Gerckens

Best Sound Design: Richard Woodbury

 Best Director of a Musical: Mary Zimmerman 

Best Ensemble: Candide

 Best Musical: Candide

The cast of Ruined, photo: Kevin Berne

For Ruined:

Best Supporting Actor – Drama: Oberon K.A. Adjepong

Best Supporting Actress – Drama: Pascale Armand

Best Actress – Drama: Tonye Patano 

Best Director of a Drama: Liesl Tommy

Best Play: Ruined

In addition, a number of members of the Huntington family were honored with IRNE Awards, including the Actors' Shakespeare Project production of Huntington Playwriting Fellow John Kuntz's The Hotel Nepenthe, which we'll present this June as part of the Emerging America festival.

See the full list of winners. Congratulations all!

Our two most honored productions from the year are certainly different in a number of key ways, but each tell a story about characters' experiences with hardship and their resulting world-views, which perhaps suprisingly prove to be more optimistic than their expereinces should inspire.

Which Huntington production from 2011 was your favorite?

We've Received 39 IRNE Award Nominations!

We've received 39 IRNE Award nominations from the Independent Reviewers of New England, which recognized each our 2011 productions. The 39 nominations are five more than we received for our 2010 productions and more than twice as many as any other company in New England.



The cast of Candide, photo: T. Charles Erickson

Our September-October 2011 production of Leonard Bernstein’s glorious musical Candide received 13 nominations, more than any other production of 2011, and was nominated in every category in which it is eligible: 

In search of a reason to email Oprah? We've got one!

Many of you remember Oberon K.A. Adjepong, the fabulous actor who played Christian, the traveling salesman and admirer of Mama Nadi, in our production of Ruined last January. 

Oberon K.A. Adjepong (Christian) and Tonye Patano (Mama Nadi) in Ruined

Critics and audiences praised our production, which received the 2011 Elliot Norton Award for Best Production (Large Theatre).

We recently received an email from him asking for help from the Huntington audience. As you may know, Oprah Winfrey is producing a film version of Ruined in which Oprah herself will play Mama Nadi. 

As of yet, the role of Christian has not been cast. Oberon would very much like reprise that role -- but first he must be granted an audition. He and his agent are working the standard channels, but he's trying some non-tradtional techniques, as well. Oberon is asking his fans, friends, and family to launch a letter-writing campaign in support of his recent work with Ruined and to recommend him for the opportunity to audition for the role. This is where you come in!


It's pretty simple: write a letter to Oprah via her website. Tell her that you saw Oberon in the Huntington's 2011 production of Ruined (You can also mention that he played the role at La Jolla Playhouse and Berkeley Rep). Tell Ms. Winfrey how much you liked (or loved!) Oberon's work as Christian. Be specific if you can. And ask her to consider casting him in the role of Christian for her film.

As you know, the theatre world is very small, and the West Coast arm of this campaign is already being spearheaded by our friends at Berkeley Rep. Let's help to make this a national effort and extend some East Coast support to Oberon!

RUINED: Audience Comments

Have you seen Ruined? Please share your thoughts with us.

Oberon K.A. Adjepong and Tonye Patano, photo by Kevin Berne

Whose stories moved you? How and why?

What do you think happens to Mama Nadi, Christian, Sophie, and Josephine after the curtain comes down?

Did you attend a post show conversation? What comments surprised you or made you think differently about the play? Would you attend a post show conversation again? What were you thinking about on the way home from the theatre?


Leave your comments here

The Huntington Theatre Company production of Ruined by Lynn Nottage plays now through February 6, 2011 at the B.U. Theatre, 264 Huntington Avenue, Boston. Get tickets and information or call our Box Office at 617 266-0800

RUINED by Lynn Nottage: Coming Soon!

contributed by Todd Williams

Where did the fall go??? I can't believe the holidays are upon us and we're gearing up for production #4 of the season. Ruined is currently running at La Jolla Playhouse to great response. The Vengeance is the Lord's set has been cleared from the BU Theatre stage and we've been working with the LJP tech staff and Ruined designers to make all the arrangements to get the show here and up and running. The show will close in California on Sunday Dec 19, get packed up and on a truck and arrive here on Dec 27. The cast and creative teams will arrive for rehearsals starting January 4 and we begin previews on Jan 7 with our press opening on Jan 12. And most of us will squeeze in at least a five day holiday break. Yay!

Here's a video slide show - take a sneak peek at what you're in for.



This production of Ruined was just nominated for eleven 2010 Craig Noel Awards, awarded by the San Diego Theatre Critics: Outstanding Direction of a Play; Music for a Play; Choreography; Set Design, Lighting Design, Sound Design, Outstanding Ensemble, Featured Performance in a Play - Carla Duren, Featured Performance in a Play - Zainab Jah, Lead Performance in a Play - Tonye Patano, Dramatic Production. The awards will be presented on January 10. Playbill and TheaterMania announce.

And Variety reports that  "Oprah Winfrey may star in an HBO Films adaptation of Lynn Nottage's play "Ruined." HBO's developing the project as a potential TV movie starring vehicle for Winfrey that's a Harpo Films production, with Nottage adapting the script from her Pulitzer Prize-winning play." Cool.

I think it's a pretty exciting way to start off the New Year!

The Huntington Theatre Company production of Lynn Nottage's Pulitzer Prize-winning Ruined plays January 7 - February 6, 2011 at the Boston University Theatre, 264 Huntington Avenue, Boston, MA 02115. For tickets and information click here or call our Box Office at 617 266-0800

RUINED Actor's Blog: Adrien Roberts

Ruined is currently in rehearsals at La Jolla Playhouse and will come to the Huntington in Boston. Actor Adrian Roberts offers an inside look at the process.

Greetings from the Congo,

We have been in rehearsal now for two weeks. It has been both inspiring and challenging. The cast and stage management staff have immersed ourselves in the world of this play. From doing choreography with Randy Duncan to dialect work with Robert Barry Fleming, we have begun forming our piece. The work has been fantastic and everyone is digging deep, but we have just begun to scratch the tip of the iceberg. Liesl [Tommy, the director] has created an environment that is both challenging and fun to explore and play in. Again, I cannot stress enough, by doing this kind of work and living in the culture, I am struck by how we are all connected. This story belongs to everybody. Until next time.

Best regards,

– Adrian, November 2, 2010

“Emancipate yourself from mental slavery; none but ourselves can free our minds.” – B. Marley

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Adrien Roberts is playing Commander Ossembenga in Ruined. He previously appeared in the Huntington's production of A Raisin in the Sun. Other credits includeTough Titty (Magic Theatre), Playboy of the West Indies(Lincoln Center Theatre), Top Dog Under Dog(Sacramento Theatre Co.), and First Person Shooter (San Francisco Playhouse).

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The Huntington Theatre Company production of Lynn Nottage's Pulitzer Prize-winning Ruined plays January 7 - February 6, 2011 at the Boston University Theatre, 264 Huntington Avenue, Boston, MA 02115. For tickets and information click here or call our Box Office at 617 266-0800

RUINED Actor's Blog: Adrien Roberts

Ruined is currently in rehearsals at La Jolla Playhouse and will come to the Huntington in Boston. Actor Adrian Roberts offers an inside look at the process.
 

The Ruined cast for the La Jolla Playhouse/Huntington Theatre Company/Berkley Rep production, directed by Liesl Tommy, gathered in NYC on October 14 for three days of table work before coming to the Playhouse for rehearsals. Meeting everybody for the first time was great; we all seemed to click right away. I think it’s really important for the cast to be close, not only because we’re going to be together for a long haul, but especially when dealing with the subject matter of this play.
 

Ruined deals with the complicated armed conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo and the war being waged against women with sexual violence. We started out by watching a few documentaries. The first was King Leopold’s Ghost, an adaptation of Adam Hochschild’s book about Belgian King Leopold the II. He looted the Congo of its natural resources in the late 19th century by enslaving the Congolese and wreaking all manner of human rights abuses and atrocities on them. His exploits paved the way for what is happening in the Congo today.