Representation stage, the professional regional theater in residence at Howard Community College, will return to live productions with its 2021-2022 season. by Jason Robert Brown Songs for a New World will kick off the season from December 2 to 19, 2021, followed by the world premiere of Dane Figueroa Edidi Ghost writer February 17-March 6, 2022, then wrap up with an exciting new production of Tennessee Williams’ seminal classic Glass factory April 28-May 15, 2022.
“To say I’m more than happy to see us all back in the theater is an understatement. The 2021-2022 Rep Stage season looks at the past, present and future in a way that reexamines history and re-imagines what the world that awaits us might look like, ”said Joseph W. Ritsch, artistic director of production. of the representation stage. “From Brown’s cycle of songs that explores how our future can drastically change through the choices we make at any given time, to Edidi’s groundbreaking new piece that clashes with past and present to trigger a call to action for justice, and watching Williams’ historic American classic with a new lens that asks us to expand our idea of what family is and what memories are like, this season will bring us together again as an experimenting community. these various stories and invoking ways of seeing ourselves in the experiences of others.
Songs for a New WorldDecember 2 – 19, 2021 CANCELED
Music and lyrics by Jason Robert Brown
Directed by Joseph W. Ritsch
Musical direction by Tiffany Underwood Holmes
With Justine Icy Moral, Ben Lurye and Sarah Corey
It’s about a moment. It’s about making a choice … or taking a stand … or following your heart. Songs for a New World takes us on a journey from the past to the present where we meet a surprising array of characters standing on the precipice of change. With joy, emotion and passion, this cycle of songs by Tony Award winner Jason Robert Brown (The last five years, parade, and Bridges from Madison County) celebrates life, love and the choices we make. This production is in partnership with the Columbia Festival of the Arts.
Ghost writer
WORLD PREMIERE
February 17-March 6, 2022
Written by Dane Figueroa Edidi
Directed by Danielle A. Drakes
With Dane Figueroa Edidi and Steve Polites
Family secrets spanning decades unfold as history and fiction collide. In 1920, just outside Tulsa, Patrick, an Irish immigrant, enlisted the services of Mrs. Ruby, a mysterious black woman from Baltimore known to help exorcise the ghosts of her clients, but the price she charged was maybe too high. Meanwhile, in 2019, Charles Ross hires infamous ghost writer Rebecca Warren to help him get through her writer’s block, but what she invokes could be her salvation or her downfall. Edidi’s new play examines the intersections of race and gender, inviting us to explore the role of love, justice, and joy in a world where ghosts of the past have yet to be buried.
Glass factory
April 28-May 15, 2022
By Tennessee Williams
Directed by Joseph W. Ritsch
With Grace Bauer, Heather Gibson, Alejandro Ruiz and Samy Nour Younes Figaredo
Ghosts from the past continue to haunt Williams’ flagship piece Glass factory. Amanda Wingfield is a faded remnant of the Southern nobility who now lives in a cramped St. Louis apartment with her seemingly aimless son, Tom, and shy, debilitating daughter, Laura. With their father absent and the Great Depression on the march, the siblings find solace in their distractions – alcohol, movies and writing for Tom and a collection of glass animals for Laura. When a gentleman arrives for dinner, the Wingfield family is flooded with hope. But it’s unclear whether this mysterious visitor will change things for the better or shatter a family’s fragile illusions. This exciting new production asks us what memories really look like and how is that answer different for each of us?
Rep Stage tickets for the 2021-2022 season will be on sale mid-October in line. For more information call 443-518-1510 or visit www.repstage.org.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Rep Stage has always prioritized the health, safety and well-being of its customers and the community. The 2021-2022 season of Rep Stage follows the college’s reopening plan, which was developed in accordance with county, state and federal government guidelines.
An earlier version of this story reported that the season opener of Rep Stage, Songs for a new world, would have earlier run dates (September 30 to October 15, 2021). But production was postponed (December 2 to 19, 2021) after Rep Stage requested revisions to its Actors’ Equity’s contract rider – to ensure it was aligned with the college plan, as well. that clarity of language and adjustments to honor Maryland’s self-assurance. law – and Actors’ Equity would not accept the few revisions requested. Customers with existing tickets for the race announced earlier will be contacted by the ticket office to arrange an exchange or refund.
“Thank you to our patrons for their continued patience and flexibility as we continue to navigate live theater production at this time,” said Joseph W. Ritsch, artistic director of production for Rep Stage. “Our plan put safety first and followed all college, county, state and federal government guidelines. As Actors’ Equity could not agree to our requested changes, we look forward to celebrating the holiday season with Songs for a new world, the cycle of restorative and glorious songs from Tony Award-winning songwriter / lyricist Jason Robert Brown.
