TRIAD STAGE BRINGS A TREASURED CLASSIC TO DOWNTOWN GREENSBORO

Carson McCullers’ The Member of the Wedding runs
 October 19 – November 9, 2014

(Greensboro, NC) — Triad Stage follows its smash hit The 39 Steps with a treasured American classic, The Member of the Wedding by Carson McCullers, directed by Preston Lane. Frankie is a 12-year old tomboy tired of her small Georgia town and longing for a world of adventure and romance. Despite forming a fragile bond with Bernice, a maid, and John Henry, her seven-year old cousin, Frankie dreams of running away with her brother and his new bride. From one of the South’s most daring writers comes this acclaimed portrait of a girl desperate for a place to belong. The Member of the Wedding runs October 19 – November 9, 2014. Opening Night is Friday, October 24.

about the production
In keeping with Triad Stage’s core value of fostering a unique Southern voice, Triad Stage Artistic Director and director of The Member of the Wedding, Preston Lane, believes that Carson McCullers is one of the finest of all Southern writers. “But I also believe her one of the finest of all 20th century writers,” he says. “She peeled back human skin both black and white to expose the longings and failings of particular people in particular places. Her words were too powerful to be limited to just one particular region. Like all great literature, The Member of the Wedding is more than a story, it is a key to understanding our human hearts.”

The creative team includes: director Preston Lane, scenic designer Howard C. Jones (Brother Wolf, Snow Queen, My Fair Lady), costume designer Bill Brewer (Snow Queen, Wait Until Dark, Trouble in Mind), lighting designer Masha Tsimring (Triad Stage debut) and sound designer Gabriel Clausen (The 39 Steps). The dramaturg is Bryan Conger, Robin Carr is the voice and dialect coach, Jeremy A. McCamish is the automation designer, Denise Gabriel is the movement director, Jim Wren is the fight director, Cindi Rush is the casting director, and the stage manager is Emily J. Mails.

The Cast
The cast includes a mix of local and New York actors, UNCG students and more than a few local children. Cassandra Lowe Williams, best known to Triad Stage audiences from her one-woman performance of Ethel Waters: His Eye is on the Sparrow in 2010, portrays Bernice, a maid. Recent Syracuse University graduate, Erin Schmidt, makes her Triad Stage debut, as Frankie Addams, the 12-year old tomboy. Tim Rush, last seen in The Little Foxes at Triad Stage, is her father. DeSean Stokes, a New York actor raised in Fayetteville, returns home to North Carolina to play Honey Camden Brown. Local actors Junious Leak (A Christmas Carol, 2010-2012) and Sallie Hayes-Williams (Triad Stage debut) round out the adult cast as T.T. Williams and Sis Laura respectively. UNCG students Tyler Barnhardt (All’s Well that Ends Well) and Brooke Bradley (Triad Stage debut) are Frankie’s older brother Jarvis and his soon-to-be-wife, Janice. Julie Robles, also from UNCG, is John Henry’s mother. Nine-year old Aidan Armstrong makes his Triad Stage debut as John Henry West.  Mary Brown, Ethan McKinney, Kayla Rafkin and Kimmie Yokley, all making their Triad Stage debuts, round out the ensemble of children.

Biographies of the cast and creative team, and more information on the production can be found online at www.triadstage.org.

Performance and special event information
Tickets for Preview performances of The Member of the Wedding on October 19, 21, 22, and 23, are all $26 each. From Opening Night, October 24, through the run of the production, single ticket prices range from $10 to $48. Prices vary depending on the day of the week and seat location desired.

All performances are at Triad Stage at The Pyrle Theater, located at 232 South Elm Street in downtown Greensboro, North Carolina (between Market and Washington Streets).

Show times for The Member of the Wedding are 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday evenings and 8:00 p.m. on Friday and Saturday evenings. Sunday matinees are at 2:00 p.m. There are no matinee performances during previews.

Pay-What-You-Can performances are Tuesday, October 28, and Wednesday, October 29, at 7:30 p.m. Wine Tasting Friday is Friday, October 31, prior to the evening’s 8:00 p.m. performance. Tuesday, November 4, at 7:30 p.m. is Accessibility Night, with services provided by the Greensboro Communication Services for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing and Arts Access providing services for the visually impaired.

Technically Talking, a behind-the-scenes discussion with members of the design team is Tuesday, October 21, immediately following the 7:30 p.m. preview performance.

The InSight Series, the free humanities program with a noted expert who will be discussing the world of the play will be held on Sunday, October 26, immediately following the 2:00 p.m. matinee performance. For The Member of the Wedding, Courtney George, Director of the Carson McCullers Center for Writers and Musicians, a small arts center housed in southern writer McCullers’ childhood home in Columbus, Georgia, will be speaking.

PostScript, a lively, open discussion with the cast, will be held on Thursday, October 30, in The UpStage Cabaret immediately following the 7:30 p.m. performance. The PostScript series is sponsored by Locke T. Clifford and Andrew C. Clifford.

About Triad Stage
Triad Stage is a professional not-for-profit regional theater company based in Greensboro’s downtown historic district. All Triad Stage productions are created in Greensboro using the best of local and national talent. Triad Stage gratefully acknowledges the support of its Season Sponsors: Blue Zoom, the North Carolina Arts Council, Arts Greensboro and The Arts Council of Winston-Salem and Forsyth County. The Member of the Wedding is made possible with support from Bernard Robinson and Company, LLP.

Triad Stage’s 2014-2015 Season at The Pyrle in Greensboro continues with the return of  Snow Queen, an original production by Preston Lane with original music by Laurelyn Dossett, (November 28 – December 21, 2014); Dirty Blonde by Claudia Shear with original score by Bob Stillman (January 25 – February 15, 2015); the Southern comedy Crimes of the Heart, by Beth Henley (April 5 – 26, 2015); and closing the season is a world premiere drama by Preston Lane, Common Enemy (June 7 – 28, 2015).

Triad Stage’s 2014-2015 Season at the Hanesbrands Theatre in Winston-Salem continues with Preston Lane’s adaptation of A Christmas Carol (December 3 – 21, 2014); a contemporary comic drama by Jon Robin Baitz Other Desert Cities (February 11 – March 1, 2015); and Abundance, a wild western by Beth Henley (May 6 – 24, 2015)

All Triad Stage productions feature the bold acting and breathtaking design that have been nationally recognized by The Wall Street Journal and by the American Theatre Wing, founder of the Tony Awards®, which named Triad Stage one of the top ten most promising theatres in the country as a recipient of the 2010 National Theatre Company Grant. Triad Stage has also earned accolades including “Best North Carolina Production of 2010” for The Glass Menagerie by Triangle Arts & Entertainment magazine; “One of the Best Regional Theatres in America”, New York’s Drama League; “Best Live Theater” (nine years running), Go Triad/News & Record and The Rhinoceros Times; and “Professional Theater of the Year” (2003, 2011), North Carolina Theatre Conference. 

To purchase tickets or for performance information on The Member of the Wedding, call the Triad Stage Box Office at 336.272.0160 or toll-free at 866.579.TIXX (8499), or visit www.triadstage.org.

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CALENDAR EDITORS, PLEASE NOTE:

Triad Stage presents
The Member of the Wedding
by Carson McCullers
directed by Preston Lane
October 19 – November 9, 2014

Performed at The Pyrle Theater
232 South Elm Street
Greensboro, NC 27401

Frankie is a 12-year old tomboy tired of her small Georgia town and longing for a world of adventure and romance. Despite forming a fragile bond with Bernice, a maid, and John Henry, her seven-year old cousin, Frankie dreams of running away with her brother and his new bride. From one of the South’s most daring writers comes this acclaimed portrait of a girl desperate for a place to belong.

For tickets:
Phone: (336) 272-0160
Toll-free: (866) 579-TIXX (8499)
Box Office hours: Monday – Friday, 10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Online: www.triadstage.org
Ticket prices: $10 – $48, depending on performance date and seat location

Group tickets:
Call (336) 274-0067 ext. 221
Ticket discounts: Groups of 10 – 49, 25% off; Groups of 50+, 35% off

Educators’ 20% discount tickets:
Current school teachers and professors receive a 20% discount off regular price tickets to all performances. A valid school employee ID or proof of employment must be presented to Box Office when picking up tickets. Subject to availability. Some restrictions apply.
Call: (336) 272-0160 or toll-free (866) 579-TIXX
            Monday – Friday, 10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Ticket prices: $10 – $41.60, depending on performance date and seat location

$10 Student Rush tickets:
Current students with valid school ID may purchase tickets for $10. Student Rush tickets are only available at the Triad Stage Box Office one hour before each performance. Subject to availability. Some restrictions apply.




$10 Gallery Seats:
A limited number of $10 general admission gallery seats are available for each performance.
Call: (336) 272-0160 or toll-free (866) 579-TIXX
            Monday – Friday, 10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Also available at the Box Office for walk-up sales.

The Member of the Wedding performance dates:
Sunday, October 19 7:30 p.m. 1st Preview
Tuesday, October 21 7:30 p.m. Preview/ “Technically Talking” post-show discussion
Wednesday, October 22 7:30 p.m. Preview
Thursday, October 23 7:30 p.m. Preview
Friday, October 24 8:00 p.m. Opening Night with post-show lobby party
Saturday, October 25 8:00 p.m.
Sunday, October 26 2:00 p.m. “InSight Series” post-show discussion
Sunday, October 26 7:30 p.m.
Tuesday, October 28 7:30 p.m. “Pay-What-You-Can” performance
Wednesday, October 29 7:30 p.m. “Pay-What-You-Can” performance
Thursday, October 30 7:30 p.m. “PostScript” post-show discussion
Friday, October 31 8:00 p.m. Pre-Show Wine Tasting event
Saturday, November 1 8:00 p.m.
Sunday, November 2 2:00 p.m.
Sunday, November 2 7:30 p.m.
Tuesday, November 4 7:30 p.m. Sign Interpreted and Audio Described performance
Wednesday, November 5 7:30 p.m.
Thursday, November 6 7:30 p.m.
Friday, November 7 8:00 p.m.
Saturday, November 8 8:00 p.m.
Sunday, November 9 2:00 p.m.
Sunday, November 9 7:30 p.m. Closing performance


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