FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 19, 2011
Media Contact: Sarah Pressler
240.644.1387
press@roundhousetheatre.org
Round House Theatre presents
By Emily Ackerman and KJ Sanchez
Directed by KJ Sanchez
Two weeks only • October 18 – 30, 2011 • Round House Theatre Bethesda
240.644.1100 or www.roundhousetheatre.org
$10 tickets at each performance for MEMBERS OF THE MILITARY
(BETHESDA, MD) Round House Theatre continues its 2011/12 Bethesda season with ReEntry, a compelling play which looks at the lives of Marines returning home from Iraq and Afghanistan. Directed by KJ Sanchez, this multimedia production is onstage for two weeks only, October 18 through 30, 2011, at Round House Theatre Bethesda, 4545 East-West Highway.
Tickets are $10 – $60 and may be purchased by calling 240.644.1100, online at www.roundhousetheatre.org, or at the Round House box office in Bethesda. Groups of 10 or more should call 240.644.1387.
$10 tickets for members of the Military are available at all ReEntry performances - call 240.644.1100 or go to www.roundhousetheatre.org for information. Military ID required.
Honest, poignant, inspirational, and surprisingly funny, ReEntry is about stepping off that plane and coming home, re-entering ones life, family, and country – again. Based on interviews with combat veterans and their families, ReEntry tells the stories that aren’t normally heard. It puts politics and Hollywood aside to probe the unvarnished, powerfully personal truths of those who serve and sacrifice. How do you shift from battlefields to backyard barbecues? What is the price paid by families when husbands, mothers, sons, and sisters go to war?
Three years ago, playwrights Emily Ackerman and KJ Sanchez began interviewing service men and women returning from and preparing for deployments to Afghanistan and Iraq. Emily and KJ are both sisters of veterans: KJ has five brothers who served in the military during the Vietnam War and Emily has two brothers (USMC) who have recently served multiple deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan. Having a personal investment as they do, it was vital to them that their play sidestep the politics of this war and rather pay close attention to what they felt was most vital: to find out what the experience of returning home is like for these remarkable men and women, and to ask how we, as families, as a culture, a society and as a country can help. ReEntry is the fruit of their labor.
The New York Times called ReEntry “provocative and powerful.” Variety hailed it as having “searing impact.” Backstage raved that ReEntry is, “high wattage theater. Scalding, moving, and highly entertaining. All it does is place hot-blooded life on the stage, a rare accomplishment that deserves to be lauded and, more importantly, seen.”
In addition to having been seen at regional theatres across the country, ReEntry has also been performed at military bases and hospitals in the United States and abroad. After one such performance, Lynne Van Trieste, mother of a combat wounded Marine, wrote, “ReEntry is an inspiring, funny, and authentic depiction of real people dealing with the emotional fallout of war. It pierces the veil of stoicism and reveals the humanity in Marines struggling to overcome bearing witness to human carnage. If you have military service, are a family member or friend of a troop, or simply want to better understand the ‘why’ behind the actions, go see this show. You will be better for your time spent here.” Immediately prior to coming to Round House, director KJ Sanchez and her ReEntry cast will be performing the play at USMC Camp Lejeune and Army garrisons throughout Germany and Italy.
ReEntry is made possible by generous support from Lawrence & Marion Lewin with James & Esthy Adler, Landon & Carol Butler, Mark D. Ein, Irene & Alan Wurtzel, and Judy & Leo Zickler.
Corporate support for ReEntry has been received from Pentagon Federal Credit Union (PenFed).
ReEntry is recommended for age 16 and up as it contains strong language and subject matter.
The Cast
The cast includes Jessi Blue Gormezano, Brandon Jones, Sameerah Luqmaan-Harris, Larry Mitchell, and Ben Rosenblatt.
The Artistic Team
The artistic team includes director KJ Sanchez, scenic and costume designer Marion Williams, lighting designers Russell Champa and Dani Clifford, sound designer Zach Williamson, video designer Alex Koch, and production stage manager Denise Cardarelli.
ReEntry Performance Calendar & Tickets
ReEntry runs October 18 – 30, 2011 at Round House Theatre Bethesda, 4545 East-West Highway (one block from the intersection of Wisconsin Ave. and East-West Highway). Round House is one block from the Bethesda station on Metro’s Red Line.
For tickets, call 240.644.1100, click www.roundhousetheatre.org, or visit Round House’s box office in Bethesda. Tickets range in price from $10 to $60.
Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday performances begin at 7:30pm, Friday and Saturday evening performances begin at 8pm; matinee performances on Saturday and Sunday begin at 3pm. Running time of the production is approximately 90 minutes.
Tuesday, October 18 7:30pm (SOLD OUT)
Wednesday, October 19 7:30pm
Thursday, October 20 7:30pm
Friday, October 21 8pm
Saturday, October 22 3pm
Saturday, October 22 8pm
Sunday, October 23 3pm
Tuesday, October 25 7:30pm
Wednesday, October 26 7:30pm
Thursday, October 27 Noon (SPECIAL ADDED MATINEE PERFORMANCE)
Thursday, October 27 7:30pm
Friday, October 28 8pm
Saturday, October 29 3pm
Saturday, October 29 8pm
Sunday, October 30 3pm
$10 tickets for members of the Military are available at all ReEntry performances: call 240.644.1100 or check the Round House web site at www.roundhousetheatre.org for more information. Military ID required.
Specially priced tickets for age 30 and under are available at all performances: $10 Wednesday through Friday, $15 Saturday and Sunday – call 240.644.1100. Proof of age required.
Pay-What-You-Can: Wednesday, October 19 at 7:30pm & Saturday, October 22 at 3pm.
PWYC tickets go on sale in person one hour prior to curtain. Cash and exact change only, limit of 2 tickets per person.
$10 Tuesday: October 25, 2011 at 7:30pm
Side Orchestra and Side Balcony seats on this date are available to all patrons at the discounted price of $10 – call 240.644.1100 or order at www.roundhousetheatre.org.
Discounts are available for groups of 10 or more: call 240.644.1387.
Round House offers discounts to patrons 65 and older for center orchestra or center balcony seating. Call 240.644.1100.
ReEntry Audience Events
Post-Show Talkbacks: Following every performance of ReEntry
Audio-described performance: Saturday, October 22 at 3pm
Parents’ Matinee: Sunday, October 23 at 3pm
Patrons can drop off children (ages 3-12, must be potty trained) to an RHT teaching artist while they’re seeing the show at this designated Sunday matinee. The kids enjoy a fun-filled afternoon of theatre games and arts activities. Childcare reservations are required in advance by 5pm on October 19 by calling 240.644.1100.
Childcare also offered at the special added matinee on Thursday, October 27 at noon
Parents can drop off their children (ages 3-12, must be potty trained) to an RHT teaching artist while they’re at this special Thursday afternoon matinee. Advance reservations for childcare are not required for October 27.
Sign-interpreted performance: Saturday, October 29 at 3pm
Reservations for sign interpreting services must be made by October 15.
On the RHT Blog
Round House’s blog at www.roundhousetheatre.org/blog features a two-part interview with playwright/director KJ Sanchez by DC area dramaturg Jacqueline Lawton.
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