  
FEATURING
    
Phyllis Johnson Ian Bedford Jered McLenigan Aria Jones Akeem Davis
ABOUT THE PLAY
Originally commissioned by InterAct in 2009, this intense and theatrical drama about lust, culture clash, and betrayal marks the arrival of one of the most exciting new voices in American theatre. The compelling story follows Jules, an African-American painter who has fled the U.S. under ambiguous circumstances and embraced a whole new life and family in Iceland. As Barack Obama’s meteoric presidential campaign makes Jules more homesick than ever, her husband presents their biracial daughter with a shocking present, and a mysterious visitor shows up at Jules’ studio. This whirlwind of events brings the demons of Jules’ past crashing down on her new family and challenges her sense of racial and personal identity.
ABOUT THE PLAYWRIGHT
is the author of several plays include ETCHED IN SKIN ON A SUNLIT NIGHT (2010 PlayPenn Conference), JULIUS BY DESIGN (world premiere: Penumbra Theatre, winter 2011; New York premiere: The Fulcrum, summer 2011), HOLLY DOWN IN HEAVEN (Princess Grace Award), SPOOKWATER (O’Neill Conference Finalist), and WILD BLACK-EYED SUSANS (Helen Merrill Award). Kara recently received The Vineyard Theatre’s 3rd Annual Paula Vogel Playwriting Award. Other honors include: Lincoln Center’s Lecomte du Nouy Prize (three-time recipient), an E.S.T./Sloan Commission, the Theodore Ward Prize, the New Professional Theatre Writers Award, residencies at MacDowell, Skriðuklaustur (Iceland), the Millay Colony, and Ledig House and she was twice finalist for New Dramatists membership (‘08 and ‘09). Current commissions: South Coast Rep, InterAct, New Georges, and Naked Angels. Play development: African Continuum (D.C.), ACT Seattle/Hansberry Project, CenterStage (Baltimore), Electric Pear Productions, Horizon Theatre (Atlanta), Naked Angels, New Dramatists, New Georges, The Orchard Project, Page 73 Productions, Penumbra, The Shalimar, the Vineyard Theatre, and Voice and Vision among others. TV: staff writer for NBC’s "Kings" (2008-2009). Kara is a Juilliard alumna, resident playwright at The Fulcrum and member of the 2010 Play Group at Ars Nova, Wright On! Play Group (co-founder), Blue Roses, the Dramatists Guild and is a New Georges Affiliated Artist.
ABOUT THE DIRECTOR
 WHIT MACLAUGHLIN (Director) is the OBIE and Barrymore Award-winning Artistic Director of New Paradise Laboratories. He has conceived, directed, and designed 15 original performance works with the company since its inception in 1996, including the recent web-based EXTREMELY PUBLIC DISPLAYS OF PRIVACY (2011), FREEDOM CLUB (2010), a collaboration with Adriano Shaplin and the Riot Group, and FATEBOOK (2009). At InterAct, he directed DRINK ME and FROZEN, both cited with numerous Barrymore nominations. He also maintains a practice directing works for young audiences, at the Tony-award winning Children's Theatre Company of Minneapolis and at the Arden Theatre where he has directed 16 productions, including 4 of the top 5 most popular productions in the company's history. MacLaughlin's work with NPL has been presented at the Ontological Theatre, the Connelly Theatre, and PS 122 in NYC, at the Walker Art Center, the Warhol Museum, by commission at the Humana Festival of New American Plays and Children's Theatre Company in Minneapolis, and at the Prague Quadrennial. His free-lance career extends to theatres around the country. He is a founder of the Bloomsburg Theatre Ensemble along with the renowned Alvina Krause and a recipient of a 2002 Pew Charitable Trust Fellowship in Performance Art.
ABOUT THE ACTORS AND DESIGNERS
PHYLLIS JOHNSON (Jules) recently finished shooting the feature film, Archaeology of a Woman, with Oscar Nominee Sally Kirkland, and starred in the short, Hug (Sundance 2009 & AFI Dallas Grand Jury Prize Winner). Broadway credits include A NAKED GIRL ON THE APPIAN WAY (dir. Doug Hughes). Off-Broadway credits include YOKASTAS (LaMama; dir. Richard Schechner) and BLUE BEFORE MORNING (dir. Gia Forakis) - New York Innovative Theatre Award Nominations (Best Featured Actress, Best Ensemble). Other New York credits include productions with New York Stage & Film, Ensemble Studio Theatre, Lark Theatre and New Dramatists. Regional credits include productions with Yale Rep. And the Williamstown Theatre Festival. Phyllis has appeared in "Law & Order," "Law & Order: Criminal Intent," "As The World Turns," and a pilot for Fox Television Studios, "The Wedding Album." Phyllis produced I'M THROUGH WITH WHITE GIRLS (www.turnsoul.com), which won 7 International Audience Favorite Awards and is available on Showtime, Blockbuster & Netflix. She received her MFA from the Yale School of Drama, and is the recipient of a Fox Family Foundation Grant and the Oliver Thorndike Prize.
IAN BEDFORD (OLAFUR) was last seen by Philadelphia audiences as Lennie in OF MICE AND MEN at People's Light and Theatre. Also in Philadelphia he has appeared in SUPERIOR DONUTS (Arden Theatre), A PASSING WIND (Kimmel Center) and TREASURE ISLAND (People's Light and Theatre). In New York and regionally his credits include Petruchio in THE TAMING OF THE SHREW (Chicago Shakespeare Theater), THE SCHOOL OF NIGHT (Mark Taper Forum), THE BEAUX STRATAGEM and RICHARD III (Shakespeare Theater, Washington, DC) and title roles in MACBETH (Orlando Shakespeare Theater) and Richard III (Lake Tahoe Shakespeare). In six seasons with the Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival he has appeared as the title role in HENRY V, Oberon in A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM, and in MACBETH, OTHELLO, AS YOU LIKE IT and HENRY IV, Part 1. On television, Ian recurred on “Law and Order: SVU” and has appeared on “Nurse Jackie,” “Blue Bloods,” “Guiding Light,” “One Life to Live” and “Nash Bridges.” Ian earned his M.F.A. from UC San Diego and his B.A. from Yale.
JERED MCLENIGAN (Jonsi/Man on the Street) is pleased to make his InterAct debut with this wonderful group of artists. Recent credits include TITUS ANDRONICUS and TWELFTH NIGHT (Philadelphia Shakespeare Theatre), KNIVES IN HENS (Theatre Exile), ALL MY SONS (Delaware Theatre Company) and DUBLIN BY LAMPLIGHT (Off-Broadway, Inis Nua Theatre/59E59). Other favorite Philadelphia credits include GAGARIN WAY (Inis Nua), HENRY IV PART I (Lantern Theater), ROCK 'N' ROLL, THE PILLOWMAN (Wilma Theater). Barrymore Award recipient: IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE; A LIVE RADIO PLAY (Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Play).
ARIA JONES (Kina) is so grateful to InterAct Theatre Company for selecting her for the role of Kina. This is Aria's debut performance in a professional theatrical production. Aria is an emerging artist. She is talented in visual arts, dance and music. Aria has performed in several amateur productions including DO YOU HEAR WHAT I HEAR, MISSION FITNESS TRAINING VIDEO and I SAW THE PROMISE. Aria's creative skills have also earned her a spot on the Odyssey of the Mind team at her elementary school. Aria loves being a 3rd grader and participating in her local Girl Scouts troop. She is thankful to her family, friends and church for all of their support. Thank God for this awesome opportunity.
AKEEM DAVIS (Warton) is from Miami, Fl and a graduate of the Florida State University. This is his first project with InterAct Theatre Company. He has recently acted with the National Constitution Center, Philadelphia Young Playwrights and Flashpoint Theatre Company.
Scenic Designer - Tim Brown
Lighting Designer - Maria Shaplin
Costume Designer - Rosemarie McKelvey
Sound Designer - Robert Kaplowitz
Proerties Designer - Avista Custom Theatrical Services, LLC
Stage Manager - Tom Helmer
Technical Director - Britt Plunkett/Campbell Studios
SPECIAL PERFORMANCES
Opening Night - Wednesday, June 6
InterAct celebrates Opening Night of ETCHED IN SKIN ON A SUNLIT NIGHT with a free reception immediately following the 7:00 p.m. performance. Sponsored by Saul Ewing LLP and hosted at Slate Restaurant, located 1 block west from InterAct's home at The Adrienne, at 102 South 21st Street. Join InterAct's loyal supporters as they mix and mingle with InterAct's cast, crew, board, and artisitc & administrative staff for an evening of good friends and great food.
Speaker Sundays
During the run of ETCHED IN SKIN ON A SUNLIT NIGHT, InterAct will host several post-performance talk-backs to encourage further discussion on the issues it raises. Speaker Sundays, a series featuring invited scholars, community leaders and artists, are scheduled to follow 2:00 p.m. matinee performances on:
Sunday, June 10
Guest Speaker T.B.A.
Sunday, June 17
Guest Speaker T.B.A.
Sunday, June 24
Guest Speaker T.B.A.
Coffee Conversations
Following the 2nd and 3rd Tuesday and Wednesday performances of every production, we invite patrons to grab a delicious cup of joe provided by Nook Bakery & Coffee Bar, then join us for Coffee Conversations, informal discussions with company artists. During ETCHED IN SKIN ON A SUNLIT NIGHT, Coffee Conversations are scheduled for:
Tuesday, June 12
Wednesday, June 13
Tuesday, June 19
Wednesday, June 20
The 2011/2012 Season Coffee Conversations Sponsor |
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PERFORMANCE CALENDAR
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SUBSCRIPTIONS & TICKETS
Purchasing Tickets or Subscriptions:
215.568.8079
InterAct's Box Office at The Adrienne, 2030 Sansom St., Phila
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Kara Lee Corthron (Playwright)
