PRESS RELEASE: Virginia Stage Company Opens Season 44 with Tennessee Williams’ Most Acclaimed Work Cat on a Hot Tin Roof

Norfolk, VA - Virginia Stage Company welcomes theatre lovers of Hampton Roads and all around as it opens the curtain on it’s Forty-Fourth Season with Cat on a Hot Tin Roof written by Tennessee Williams at The Historic Wells Theater (108 East Tazewell Street, Norfolk VA) to be performed September 14th - October 2nd, 2022.

Virginia Stage Company joins the ranks of other performing arts organizations returning from the pandemic with a renewed vigor to connect world-class live theater with the passionate audiences of Hampton Roads. Khanisha Foster, a familiar artist to VSC Audiences, returns to bring the three year long awaited Williams play to life on the stage. Having directed such thought-provoking works at the Wells like The Bluest Eye and Disgraced; the beginning of this season promises to be unforgettable. Khanisha is joined by an incredible creative team made up of some of VSC’s most memorable designers; scenic design by Josafath Reynoso (The Bluest Eye, Disgrace), costume design by  Bryce Turgeon (The Legend of Georgia McBride, Dreamgirls), lighting design by David Castaneda (Parchman Hour, The Bluest Eye), and sound design by Steven Allegretto (Guys & Dolls, Dreamgirls)

Cat on a Hot Tin Roof is one of Tennesee Williams’ most famous works, and arguably his most controversial. Penned in the 1950s and revised in the 1970s to make it more ‘digestable’ to the  mainstream, this Pulitzer Prize-Winning Drama paints a portrait of a family in crisis in the steamy Mississippi South. A birthday celebration brings secrets to the surface as everyone gathers at the family home. With Big Daddy’s dwindling health, Brick’s troubled past, and Maggie’s desperation for love and money, will the truth ever be revealed? As Khanisha read this work, stories and histories from her own past bubbled up and led to a unique approach to this work that she has come to be known for.  She states:

“What really led me to bring this living history into Cat was Strom Thurmond. He and a Black woman…had a love affair. She got pregnant. They didn’t marry as they wanted to, but they had the child. For years Strom Thurmond would visit his daughter at college... and ask after her mother. Well, one year she told him that her mother had died. It was after this news that Strom Thurmond started to enact laws that devastated Black people.  What does it mean to repress your feelings for someone you love so much that after they die you want to punish everyone that looks like them? Is like them? That’s Cat on a Hot Tin Roof. After that, our path for this play became clear.”

Producing Artistic Director Tom Quaintance is thrilled with the team of artists that are working on this production.. “This cast can only be described as a force of nature…Big Daddy (Jeff King) and Marsha Estell (Big Mama) command the space in a way that’s indescribable. Maggie (Anna Sundberg) and Brick (Greg Warren) have this electric interaction that made me miss live theatre more than I ever have.” The fiery conviction of Williams’ words will surely deliver a powerhouse experience of live theater that arts lovers in Hampton Roads will not want to miss.

ENTRY POLICY 

We have updated our Entry Policy on 8/26/22.  For this upcoming production, we request all patrons to continue to wear masks inside the theatre. To review our policy, visit: https://www.vastage.org/entry  

TICKETS

Performances of Cat on a Hot Tin Roof are scheduled Tuesday - Saturday at 7:30pm, Saturdays & Sundays at 2pm at The Historic Wells Theatre, located at 108 E. Tazewell Street, Norfolk Va. Tickets range from $25 - $68. Membership packages for Virginia Stage Company include a five show package starting at $125.00, or our flexible Theatre on Demand Packages starting at $196.00. Virginia Stage Company Members receive numerous benefits, including 20% savings on every show, unlimited exchanges with no exchange fees, discounts at local Hampton Roads establishments. and additional discounts for in-house concessions and drinks.

The Young Professionals Membership is available for Young Professionals ages 20 - 45 starting at $125.00. This membership includes invitations to preshow receptions to network with local professionals in the Hampton Roads area. The Hampton Roads Pride Night membership starts at $135.00 and includes networking opportunities around VSC performances to connect and meet members of the Hampton Roads LGBTQIA+ Community.

Subscription packages and single tickets can be purchased by calling the Box Office at (757) 627-1234 Monday through Friday from 10am - 5pm or visiting https://tickets.vastage.org/packages 

Interviews can be arranged by contacting Director of Marketing, Maris Smith, at msmith@vastage.org.

Virginia Stage Company is Southeastern Virginia’s leading theatre destination, serving an audience of over 58,000 annually, both at the Wells Theatre and throughout the community. Virginia Stage Company’s mission is to “enrich, educate, and entertain the region by creating and producing theatrical art of the highest quality.”

Facebook: /vastage | Twitter: vastage | Instagram: vastage

###

Dreamgirls featured on CoastLive!

In case you missed it…the wonderful talents of Katelan Corprew, ShaaNi Dent, and Amorise White were featured on CoastLive as they promoted the exciting co-production between Virginia Stage Company and Norfolk State University Theatre Company for Dreamgirls. Catch the full interview below!

If this dazzling and dreamy performance has got you excited to see the show, make sure you get tickets at www.vastage.org/dreamgirls before we sell out. This is one show you will NOT want to miss!

Dreamgirls Interview: Tom Quaintance and Anthony Stockard

Virginia Stage Company couldn’t be more excited to welcome the Hampton Roads Community to the Wells Stage as it marks it’s fifth co-production with the talented and accredited artists at Norfolk State University Theatre Company in the form of Dreamgirls.

If you’re not excited yet then please take a listen to the words from Dreamgirls director and Norfolk State University Theatre Company Producing Artistic Director Anthony Stockard and VSC’s PAD Tom Quaintance as they exclaim the excitement, joy, and energy that is going to grace the Wells Theatre Stage.

This is a show you won’t want to miss! Make sure to get tickets at www.vastage.org/dreamgirls today!

PRESS RELEASE: Norfolk State University Theatre Company and Virginia Stage Company Partner to Present Dreamgirls

Norfolk, VA - Virginia Stage Company and Norfolk State University Theatre Company join forces again to present the Tony®, Grammy, and Drama Desk Award-Winning musical Dreamgirls at The Historic Wells Theatre (108 E. Tazewell Street, Norfolk VA) from April 13th to May 1st, 2022.

Norfolk State University Theatre Company has been a steadfast partner in producing theatre that both entertains and educates, including acclaimed productions of The Wiz, The Parchman Hour, and The Bluest Eye. VSC is excited to once again welcome Anthony Stockard to the director’s chair at The Wells as he brings Tom Eyen and Henry Krieger’s masterful piece to life.

“We knew coming out of the pandemic that we wanted to produce together,” explained VSC Producing Artistic Director Tom Quaintance, “So I simply asked Anthony ‘What do you want to do? Dream big.’” That was how the musical Dreamgirls and its journey to the Wells Theatre began. Norfolk State University Theatre Company Producing Artistic Director Anthony Stockard added, “It’s some of the most amazing song collections in musical theatre…so, why not? It is a remarkable, legendary Broadway musical for every reason imaginable…it’s a story about making space for people, and how those people entered the music scene. One of the greatest things that glues this production together is the synergy between professionals and pre-professionals…in this particular show a new benchmark that has not been reached before in these collaborations…some of our previous students and collaborators are earning their stripes as professionals in this production.” Quaintance went on to talk about how the partnership “between the premier professional theatre in the region and the premier acting training program in the region helps make Hampton Roads not just a destination for art…but a place for artists to work, create, and live.”  You can watch the complete interview here.

Dreamgirls tells the captivating story of up-and-coming singers Deena, Lorrell, and Effie otherwise known as ‘The Dreamettes.’ They begin as talented, sharp, and close friends that gradually progress to rename their act ‘The Dreams’ before the competitive world of show business starts to take a toll on their art, their relationships, and their friendship. As their careers, and passions change, the group gradually grapples with the decision to stay together for the sake of what they made…or to break apart and allow each other the freedom to pursue their individual dreams. The musical, which premiered on Broadway at The Imperial Theatre in 1981 playing over 1,521 performances, was a springboard for many performers’ musical careers. Jennifer Holiday’s lasting single “And I Am Telling You I’m Not Going,” which dominated the Billboard R&B charts as the #1 single in 1982, also comes from the show. In 2006, the musical was adapted into a feature film starring Jamie Foxx, Beyonce Knowles, Eddie Murphy, Danny Glover, Jennifer Hudson, and more. The award-winning film re-sparked attention on the musical, and retold the story for a new generation using celebrities and spell-binding musical numbers that revitalized the passion for this incredible show coming to The Wells Theatre.  Performances begin right before the show’s 40th anniversary of winning 6 Tony Awards. 

ENTRY POLICY 

We have updated our Entry Policy on 3/24/22.  For this upcoming production, we require all patrons to continue to wear masks inside the theatre. To review our full policy, visit: https://www.vastage.org/entry  

TICKETS

Performances of Dreamgirls are scheduled - Saturday at 7:30pm, Saturdays at 3pm and Sundays at 2pm at The Historic Wells Theatre, located at 108 E. Tazewell Street, Norfolk Va. Tickets range from $25 - $68. Subscription packages for Virginia Stage Company include a four show package starting at $120.00, or our flexible Theatre on Demand Packages starting at $196.00. Season Ticket holders receive numerous benefits, including 20% savings on every show, unlimited exchanges with no exchange fees, and additional discounts for in-house concessions and drinks.

Subscription packages and single tickets can be purchased by calling the Box Office at (757) 627-1234 Monday through Friday from 10am - 5pm or visiting https://tickets.vastage.org/packages

Interviews can be arranged by contacting Director of Marketing, Maris Smith, at msmith@vastage.org.

Virginia Stage Company is Southeastern Virginia’s leading theatre destination, serving an audience of over 58,000 annually, both at the Wells Theatre and throughout the community. Virginia Stage Company’s mission is to “enrich, educate, and entertain the region by creating and producing theatrical art of the highest quality.”

Facebook: /vastage | Twitter: vastage | Instagram: vastage

###

Press Inquiries: 
Maris Smith, Director of Marketing
(757) 627-6988 ext. 306
msmith@vastage.org

Thanksgiving play pokes fun at ‘performative’ white allies while educating on the true origin of the holiday

By SALEEN MARTIN
THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT | JAN 31, 2022 AT 10:19 AM

Performers rehearsing for the Virginia State Company's "The Thanksgiving Play." The play was originally written by Native American playwright and choreographer Larissa FastHorse. It's showing from Jan. 19, 2022 to Feb. 6, 2022 at the Wells Theatre in Norfolk and was directed by Jessica Holt. (Courtesy of Crystal Tuxhorn)

Jessica Holt was researching Thanksgiving pageants for her current Virginia Stage Company production when she came across a revealing photo.

It was a scene from a 1920 play in which a group of white actors was dressed as pilgrims. Surrounding them were more white actors with painted faces and heads wrapped in feather headbands, an offensive portrayal of Native Americans.

“You can see how these were using redface in such damaging and corrosive ways,” Holt said.

It was the perfect preparation for “The Thanksgiving Play,” which is playing through Feb. 6 at the Wells Theatre.

The play was written by Native American playwright and choreographer Larissa FastHorse in 2015. She is based in Santa Monica, California and is a member of the Sicangu Lakota Nation.

The play is about “performative wokeness,” FastHorse said during a 2018 interview with Playwrights Horizons. The play follows four white people crafting a “culturally sensitive” Thanksgiving play for children during Native American Heritage Month.

Tom Quaintance, producing artistic director at VSC, reached out to Holt last summer. He thought Holt — a white, queer, cisgender woman — had the perspective and cultural understanding to direct the play. Holt was initially hesitant since she’s not Native, but the more she read, the more comfortable she felt.

“This play is lampooning and making fun of white folks for 90 minutes,” Holt said. “You need to have the perspective of whiteness in the room because ultimately, that’s what the play is about. It’s about these white folks that are all trying to do the right thing and are finding the limits of white progressivism.”

To direct the performance, she read up on early Thanksgiving plays and pageants, which “mystified” Native Americans and melded them into one idea when in reality, they’re quite diverse.

For example, there are currently 11 tribes recognized in Virginia, including the Mattaponi, Upper Mattaponi and Pamunkey. In Hampton Roads, members of the Nansemond tribe live in Suffolk and Chesapeake, while those in the Cheroenhaka Nottoway and Nottoway tribes live in Southampton County, according to the Commonwealth of Virginia website.

There are also groups like the Red Crooked Sky, a Virginia-based American Indian dance troupe, Holt said. The troupe is based in southeastern Virginia and represents a host of tribes, including Cherokee, Nansemond, Sioux, Meherrin, Osage, Seneca and Monacan.

Performers rehearsing for the Virginia State Company's "The Thanksgiving Play." The play was originally written by Native American playwright and choreographer Larissa FastHorse. It's showing from Jan. 19, 2022 to Feb. 6, 2022 at the Wells Theatre in Norfolk and was directed by Jessica Holt. (Courtesy of Crystal Tuxhorn)

Holt also worked with Courtney Mohler, a dramaturgical consultant who provides research and information to help produce more informed performances.

Mohler teaches theater at the Butler University in Indianapolis, Indiana and is the associate dean for inclusion, diversity, equity, and access for the university’s Jordan College of Art.

She shared scholarly articles with the cast and crew about issues such as white privilege, white identity and allyship.

Mohler said the play is extremely funny and illustrates how American theater frequently leaves out Native American perspectives and characters, which is incredibly damaging.

For example, November kicks off the holidays for most Americans. It’s also Native American Heritage Month, so the two often get pushed together in people’s minds, she said.

“Like, ‘Oh, yeah. Thanksgiving is there. And Indians are there. That’s the beginning of America,’” she said. “Unfortunately, that story totally ignores the fact that America was not discovered by Europeans.…Indigenous people were already here with civilizations and languages and cultures, their own belief systems, their own governmental systems, their own art.”

That part is often overshadowed in U.S. history lessons by tales of Native people greeting Pilgrims with corn and other foods. Also erased are the diseases and genocide that killed thousands of Indigenous families.

Performers rehearsing for the Virginia State Company's "The Thanksgiving Play." The play was originally written by Native American playwright and choreographer Larissa FastHorse. It's showing from Jan. 19, 2022 to Feb. 6, 2022 at the Wells Theatre in Norfolk and was directed by Jessica Holt. (Courtesy of Crystal Tuxhorn)

The play highlights issues such as white privilege, white identity and “wokeness” through comedy and satire, which are different, according to FastHorse and Holt.

“Satire is more biting than comedy,” Holt said. “It doesn’t let us off the hook. We are given permission to laugh with comedy; the satire means we are also laughing at ourselves. This satire deliciously roasts these four well-meaning white allies who are trying their best to tell a socially responsible Thanksgiving play that both honors Thanksgiving AND Native American Heritage Month and are epically failing.”

The play, in turn, creates a space for viewers to get over their fear of making mistakes, to laugh at themselves and learn more about how to be real allies. That means checking privilege and, in some cases, giving up that privilege.

Mohler, the consultant, said the play is humorous because the characters are desperate to do an impossible thing — produce a culturally sensitive play for elementary school students that’s also accurate.

The characters either have to admit the violence that happened toward Native people or perpetuate a lie.

The characters, she said, come to a conclusion that many well-meaning allies come to.

Audiences are “really going to laugh hard and then they’ll also be thinking hard about why they were laughing; that’s my favorite combination.”

Saleen Martin, 757-446-2027, saleen.martin@pilotonline.com

Virginia Stage Company's "The Thanksgiving Play" on Coast Live

By: Coast Live Posted at 1:10 PM, Jan 20, 2022
and last updated 7:33 AM, Jan 21, 2022

HAMPTON ROADS, Va. - How does one celebrate Thanksgiving and Native American Heritage Month at the same time? In Larissa FastHorse’s biting satire, this is the question facing three “woke” white thespians tasked with devising an elementary school pageant about the first Thanksgiving while avoiding any culturally appropriative missteps. Ryan Clemens, who will be playing Jaxton in Virginia Stage Company's production of "The Thanksgiving Play", joins us with the details.

Catch "The Thanksgiving Play" January 19 - February 6, 2022.

PRESS RELEASE: Virginia Stage Company’s The Thanksgiving Play Shares New Perspective on the Month of November

Norfolk, VA - When a collection of teachers are challenged to write a play about the History of Thanksgiving, hilarity and challenging questions ensue in Larissa FastHorse’s (Sicangu Lakota) gripping comedy The Thanksgiving Play to open at The Historic Wells Theatre (108 E. Tazewell Street, Norfolk VA) from January 22nd to February 6th. 

When well-meaning and slightly radical educator Logan is challenged to create a play about the origin of Thanksgiving, she recruits her yoga-loving boyfriend Jaxton to assist her and fellow history teacher Caden in writing an educational play about the origins of Thanksgiving, and addressing the perspectives of the Native Americans not heard in the story’s original telling. After Logan’s failed past educational productions, parent outcry threatens her job if the play doesn’t go well, so with the help of a grant she recruits Alicia, an “authentic” Native American actor from L.A. to lend her “unique perspective in the development of this play. Through a series of witty jokes, quick wit, and only slightly-veiled probing questions; Larissa FastHourse (Sicangu Lakota) asks the audience how we have told a story for so long without asking the very people this story was about.

Larissa FastHorse (Sicangu Lakota) workshopped this masterclass production in satirical performance at UC Berkeley in 2015 following it’s writing and inception in Ireland as part of the Joe Dowling Fellowship. It was then workshopped in Portland, Oregon at the Artists Repertory Theatre before making it’s way to a world premier at Playwrights Horizons in New York City on October 12, 2018. In an interview with The Interval before the world premier of the production, Larissa shared her insights on the process and importance of the work:

 “I think if we wrote down everything I’ve experienced as an Indigenous person in this country just walking down the street, it would be such a depressing tragedy that no one would want to watch it. So instead, I made a comedy, within a satire, to make it a little more fun for everybody. [In the play] we have some very well-meaning liberal white folks that are in charge of creating this play that’s supposed to be for children. It’s supposed to be educational and enlightening and progressive, and all the good things for Native American Heritage Month and Thanksgiving—and, for me, it’s always ironic that we have Thanksgiving and Native American Heritage Month at the same time. It’s always been fascinating to me that we have this really problematic holiday that’s supposedly celebrating Native American people and coming together, but in reality, A.) everything we’ve learned about it is a fiction, and B.) the potential true origins of Thanksgiving are incredibly gruesome and really horrible and have nothing to do with peace and happiness, and they’re actually about genocide. So obviously that means comedy. I hope what these folks that I’m actually talking about in my play take away from it is this: let’s just all make the mistake together, let’s all be ridiculous together, and then that gives us somewhere to go. If I know where you’re coming from, you know where I’m coming from, and you can make mistakes, and I can make mistakes, and we can all get kind of crazy and yell at each other, but keep moving forward, that’s going to change everything. It truly will.”

Jessica Holt (Sense & Sensibility, Fun Home, Venus in Fur) returns to VSC after most recently directing a virtual devised piece called Something Delightful at a time when audiences could not gather. The creative team also includes Charlotte Bydwell (choreographer), Edward Morris (scenic designer), An-lin Dauber (costume designer), David Castaneda (lighting designer), and Michael Costagliola (sound designer). Several familiar faces join this intimate four-person cast, including local actors Ryan Clemens (Christmas Carol, Guys & Dolls, Matilda) and Julian Stetkevych (Sense & Sensibility and Pride & Prejudice). The two local actors, playing Jaxton and Caden respectively, join two talented out of town actresses making their Virginia Stage Company debut, Lauren Blumenfled and Jenny Hickman take on the challenging roles of Logan and Alicia.

VACCINATION POLICY

Virginia Stage Company is requiring proof of vaccinations or a negative PCR COVID Test Result administered within 72 hours of entry to it’s productions. Only results provided by an FDA approved PCR test from a Medical Healthcare Professional, Lab, or Pharmacy will be accepted. Images of the front and back of the card will be accepted in lieu of the physical card, and masks will be required of all guests and individuals present in the space. For a full list of our entry procedures, please visit www.vastage.org/entry.

TICKETS

Performances of The Thanksgiving Play are scheduled Wednesday - Saturday at 7:30pm, Saturdays at 2pm and Sundays at 3pm at The Historic Wells Theatre, located at 108 E. Tazewell Street, Norfolk Va. Tickets range from $25 - $68. Subscription packages for Virginia Stage Company include a four show package starting at $120.00, or our flexible Theatre on Demand Packages starting at $196.00. Season Ticket holders receive numerous benefits, including 20% savings on every show, unlimited exchanges with no exchange fees, and additional discounts for in-house concessions and drinks.

Subscription packages and single tickets are on sale by calling the Box Office at (757) 627-1234 Monday through Friday from 10am - 5pm or visiting https://tickets.vastage.org/packages 

Interviews can be arranged by contacting Director of Marketing, Maris Smith, at msmith@vastage.org.

Virginia Stage Company is Southeastern Virginia’s leading theatre destination, serving an audience of over 58,000 annually, both at the Wells Theatre and throughout the community. Virginia Stage Company’s mission is to “enrich, educate, and entertain the region by creating and producing theatrical art of the highest quality.”

Experience the Wells Theatre in it's first Virtual Drone Tour Experience

Experience the Wells
#ThisBrilliantLife

Written & Directed by Connor Norton
Produced by TOCCreative
in collaboration with Lyfted Media
On-Stage Set Design by Dahlia Al-Habieli
On-Stage Light Design by Maranda Debusk

Featuring (in order of appearance) Crystal Tuxhorn, Kandis Hyde, Sharon McDonald, Brooke Parsley, Jackie King, Christopher Reybrouck, Andrew Wall, Dan Gallagher, Nathaniel Cody, Taylor Miller, Maris Smith, Beatty Barnes Jr., Adalee Alt, Tom Quaintance, Brock Baird, Dakotah Salazar, River Hayes, Alan Litz, Jessica Woodyard, Cristina Shafarman, Sara Schaefer, Greg Dragas, Peter Scheible, Tameika Hopkins, Samantha Notti, Brittany Alt, Paul Costen, Anna Sosa, Edwin Castillo, Emel Ertugrul, Bobby Mercer, Julieta Grey, Ryan Clemens, James Swindell, Sam Flint, Carolyn Thatcher, and Jessa Gaul.

Special thanks to Downtown 100 Norfolk Council, Core Theatre Ensemble, TOC Creative, Todd Rosenlieb Dance, and the staff of Virginia Stage Company