Anacostia Playhouse is proud to present two powerful, emotional plays in repertory this summer helmed by two of our favorite directors.
Riches by Lee Blessing and directed by long-time friend, collaborator and colleague Paul Douglas Michnewicz, was first produced under the title War of the Roses (later to become a well-known film). It tells the story of David and Carolyn Rich who “have it all,” in a powerful, disturbing study of a family divided against itself. On their anniversary the Riches return to their honeymoon hotel where Carolyn calmly and unexpectedly announces she wants a divorce. Seducing us with humor and well timed, weighted dialogue, Mr. Blessing then takes the cleverly invented characters through to a chilling end. Featuring Dana Galloway and Adele Robey.
Paul Douglas Michnewicz is a founder and a former Artistic Director for Theater Alliance. He has directed at the Kennedy Center, Lisner Auditorium and Strathmore. He is currently the Director of Arts and Events in Reston where he has presented Anna Deavere Smith, Julian Sands, Stephen Lang and Sweet Honey in the Rock among others. He holds an MFA from the Yale School of Drama.
Yellowman, by Dael Orlandersmith, will be directed by Thembi Duncan, an Anacostia Playhouse favorite. Yellowman is a memory play about an African American woman who dreams of a life beyond the confines of her small-town Southern upbringing, and the light-skinned man whose fate is tragically intertwined with hers. Yellowman explores the negative associations surrounding male blackness as well as the effect these racial stereotypes have on black women and offers endless insights into the internal racism and oppressive determinism that haunt the African-American community. Featuring Stori Ayers and Justus Hammond.
Thembi Duncan is a director, producer, playwright, teaching artist, and actor who serves as the Creative Programs Director at Young Playwrights’ Theater. Her most recent directing project was Tearrance Chisholm’s award-winning play Br’er Cotton at Catholic University of America. Thembi has also served as the Producing Artistic Director of African Continuum Theatre Company and the Lead Teaching Artist at Ford’s Theatre.
Tickets are on sale now! For Riches click here and for Yellowman click here.