FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 6, 2010
Media Contact: Sarah Pressler
240.644.1387
press@roundhousetheatre.org
Round House Theatre presents
Thomas Gibbons’ compelling drama
Permanent Collection
January 27 – February 21, 2010 at Round House Theatre Bethesda
240.644.1100 or roundhousetheatre.org
Tickets priced from $25 to $60
Specially priced $10 & $15 tickets for patrons age 30 & under
“Provocative and hugely engaging.” ‑ Chicago Sun-Times
(BETHESDA, MD) Round House Theatre continues the 2009/2010 season with the compelling drama Permanent Collection by Thomas Gibbons. Directed by Timothy Douglas, Permanent Collection is a sophisticated, searing look at art, race, perspectives, and journalism.
Sponsored in part by generous support from Bonnie & Alan Hammerschlag, Permanent Collection runs January 27 – February 21 at Round House Theatre Bethesda, 4545 East-West Highway. Tickets are $25 – $60 and may be purchased by phone at 240.644.1100, online at roundhousetheatre.org, or at the Round House box office in Bethesda. Groups of 10 or more should call 240.644.1387.
Specially priced tickets for patrons age 30 and under are available at all performances: $10 Wednesday through Friday and $15 Saturday and Sunday – contact the box office at 240.644.1100 as these specially priced tickets are not available online.
With its extraordinary collection of works by such artists as 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’ instructions that absolutely nothing be changed. Spurred on by a zealous local journalist, the clash escalates into a bitter struggle for control. The Los Angeles Times hailed Permanent Collection as “intellectually charged” and “beautifully balanced.”
Producing Artistic Director Blake Robison says, “When I first read it, I couldn’t put this explosive, thought-provoking script down. Loosely based on events surrounding Philadelphia’s famed Barnes Foundation, it 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?”
Director Timothy Douglas adds, “It is through the channel of visual art that we have the ability to look these issues in the eye and be a part of greater understanding.”
The Playwright
Thomas Gibbons is playwright-in-residence at InterAct Theatre in Philadelphia, which has produced seven of his plays: Pretending to America, 6221, Axis Sally, Black Russian, Bee-luther-hatchee, Permanent Collection, and A House With No Walls. His plays have been seen at the National Playwrights Conference at the Eugene O’Neill Theatre Center, off-off-Broadway at Blue Heron Theatre, Mixed Blood Theatre, Northlight Theatre, Actors Express, Florida Stage, Unicorn Theatre, Repertory Theatre of St. Louis, Arizona Theatre Company, Center Stage, New Repertory Theatre, Aurora Theatre, and many others. He is the recipient of seven playwriting fellowships from the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts, a Roger L. Stevens Award from the Fund for New American Plays, a Barrie and Bernice Stavis Playwriting Award, two Barrymore Awards for outstanding new play, and a Pew Fellowship in the Arts.
The Cast
The cast includes familiar faces from the DC area theatre scene: Jeff Allin, Jessica Frances Dukes, Susan Lynskey, Jewell Robinson, Lawrence Redmond, and Craig Wallace.
The Artistic Team
Timothy Douglas (Director) Recent credits include A Lesson Before Dying for Round House, as well as the world premiere of August Wilson’s Radio Golf for Yale Repertory Theatre, and a premiere translation of Ibsen’s Rosmersholm off-Broadway for Oslo Elsewhere. He also directed the world premiere of Line in the Sand at Virginia Stage Company, Good Breeding for American Conservatory Theater, GEM OF THE OCEAN, the world premiere of The Night is a Child and Trouble in Mind for Milwaukee Rep, the west coast premiere of A Feminine Eending at South Coast Rep and Portland Center Stage and Pride and Prejudice for Playmakers Rep. He served as Associate Artistic Director for Actors Theatre of Louisville from 2001-2004 where he directed A.M. Sunday, All My Sons, Art, Blues for An Alabama Sky, Crimes of the Heart, Jitney, The Lively Lad, and The Piano Lesson. Representative productions include In the Blood Guthrie Theater; Assassins, Insurrection, Blues for An Alabama Sky Berkshire Theatre Festival; Crowns, Shakespeare’s R&J, Sorrows and Rejoicings, A Raisin in the Sun City Theatre; The Crucible, Jitney, Intimate Apparel Syracuse Stage; Bocon Mark Taper Forum (Mellon Fellow – Director in Residence); The Game of Love and Chance San Jose Rep; Portia Coughlin, The Cripple of Inishmaan Pittsburgh Irish & Classical Theatre and Valley Song Berkeley Rep, as well as projects for the NY Shakespeare Festival, Denver Center Theatre Company, Downstage (New Zealand), Indiana Rep, Folger Shakespeare Library, Crossroads, Magic Theatre, Shakespeare & Company, Utah Shakespearean Festival, ASK Theatre Projects, Juilliard School, Toi Whakaari (New Zealand), Woolly Mammoth, and the O’Neill Playwright’s Center. Timothy is a graduate of the Yale School of Drama. www.mySpace.com/DouglasDirects
The accomplished design team includes scenic designer Tony Cisek, costume designer Kathleen Geldard, lighting designer Dan Covey, sound designer Matthew M. Nielson, props designer Michelle Elwyn, and stage manager Jennifer Schwartz.
Permanent Collection Performance Calendar, Ticket Information, & Audience Events
Permanent Collection runs from January 27 – February 21, 2010. Wednesday performances begin at 7:30 pm; Thursday, Friday, and Saturday evening performances begin at 8 p.m.; and matinee performances on Saturday and Sunday begin at 3 p.m.
Tickets may be purchased by phone at 240.644.1100, online at roundhousetheatre.org, or in person at the Round House box office in Bethesda. Groups of 10 or more should call 240.644.1387.
Specially priced tickets for patrons age 30 and under are available at each performance: $10 Wednesday through Friday and $15 Saturday and Sunday. Proof of age is required when the tickets are picked up. Limit of two tickets per person. Not valid with any other discount or on previously purchased tickets. Call 240.644.1100 – the specially priced tickets are not available online.
Round House offers discounts on non-subscription tickets to patrons 65 and older. The price is $40 per ticket (including service charge) for center orchestra or center balcony seating at any performance in Bethesda. Call 240.644.1100 for information.
Pay-What-You-Can performances are on Wednesday, January 27 at 7:30 p.m. and Saturday, January 30 at 3 p.m. Tickets for Pay-What-You-Can performances go on sale in person one hour prior to curtain (cash only, limit of 2 tickets per person).
Designer Discussion — Wednesday, January 27 at 6:45 p.m.
A pre-show look at the production’s costume, set, lighting, and sound designs from the professionals who make them happen.
Directorially Speaking Discussion – Friday, January 29 at 7:15 p.m.
Director Timothy Douglas discusses the production in a pre-performance talk.
Post-Show Talkbacks — Sunday, February 7 and Sunday, February 14
These Sunday matinees feature a post-show talk with members of the cast.
Audio-described performance — Saturday, February 13, 2009 at 3pm
Sign-interpreted performance – Saturday, February 20, 2009 at 3pm
