Final week! Must close February 21
By Thomas Gibbons
Directed by Timothy Douglas
January 27 – February 21, 2010
HELEN HAYES AWARDS RECOMMENDED©
Round House Theatre Bethesda
4545 East West Highway
Bethesda, MD 20814
With its extraordinary collection of works by Cézanne and Matisse, eccentric millionaire Alfred Morris’ art museum has long
flourished in quiet obscurity. When its new African-American director discovers eight remarkable African sculptures tucked away in storage, he proposes to add them to the public galleries. He’s opposed by the foundation’s long-time education director, who’s loyal to the late Dr. Morris’ idiosyncratic instructions that absolutely nothing be changed. Spurred on by a zealous journalist, the clash escalates into a bitter public struggle for control. Timothy Douglas (A Lesson Before Dying) directs a sophisticated, searing drama about art, race, perspectives, and journalism. The Chicago Sun-Times hailed Permanent Collection as “provocative and hugely engaging.” The Los Angeles Times called it “intellectually charged…beautifully balanced…[it] treats a complicated and emotional issue without cheap conclusions.”
Blake’s Take: I couldn’t put this explosive, thought-provoking script down. Loosely based on events surrounding Philadelphia’s famed Barnes Foundation, it powerfully examines how much space – literally and figuratively – our society gives to African-Americans. What’s the cost of failing to view the world through another’s eyes?
Featuring Jeff Allin, Jessica Frances Dukes, Susan Lynskey, Lawrence Redmond, Jewell Robinson, Craig Wallace
- Director:
- Timothy Douglas
- Scenic Designer:
- Tony Cisek
- Costume Designer:
- Kathleen Geldard
- Lighting Designer:
- Dan Covey
- Sound Designer:
- Matthew M. Nielson
- Stage Manager:
- Jennifer Schwartz
- Dramaturg:
- Jacqueline Lawton
Permanent Collection is recommended for age 15 and above.
This production is sponsored in part by Bonnie and Alan Hammerschlag.