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Release date: Oct. 4, 2002 Theater Emory Presents Arthur Kopit's "Discovery of America"
"Discovery" is a fitting selection for a company focused on developing new work, challenging existing models and posing questions—working in the context and best tradition of a research university. The play will be directed by Vincent Murphy, Theater Emory's artistic producing director, who has been integrally involved in the work's development for more than a year. "Discovery" was commissioned by the 2002 Salt Lake City Olympic Arts Festival and the Pioneer Theatre Company. Murphy directed the first reading in Feb. 2001 at the Pioneer, and most recently worked with Kopit on the play at the Ojai (Calif.) Playwrights Festival this summer. The play is inspired by the experiences of Spanish explorer Cabeza de Vaca, who traveled through the Americas between 1528 and 1536. As the first European to cross nearly 6,000 miles of what is now North America, Cabeza de Vaca was transformed by the journey he chronicled in "La Relación," a written report to the king of Spain first published in 1542. Murphy is impressed with Kopit's commitment to an American historical work, similar to Murphy's interest in playwright Naomi Wallace, the subject of a city-wide festival last season. "The great thing for me about ‘Discovery,’ is that it’s very rare for American writers to take on their own history, especially in an epic, big canvas way," says Murphy. "Here you have Arthur Kopit taking what many scholars call the first great American narrative and trying to see what we can discover about America. That is what’s made the play so daunting and absolutely engaging." Murphy is quick to credit his colleague Tim McDonough for his part in the play's development. "Tim has been a crucial player. Arthur is largely writing the role of Cabeza de Vaca for Tim’s voice; they have become interchangeable. There have been other great actors in the workshops and readings, but Arthur hears Tim’s voice." McDonough is on the faculty of Emory's Department of Theater Studies and is a principal member of Theater Emory, the affiliated professional company. Some of the region’s most acclaimed actors comprise the cast of "Discovery," including Tim McDonough as Cabeza de Vaca, Carolyn Cook as his Native American wife, John Ammerman as his shipmate Dorantes and Chris Kayser as Cortes. Gene Ruyle, Harold M. Leaver, Lawrence A. Salberg, Dianne Cusak-Butler and Emory students complete the cast. The set designer is Wm. Moore, the costume designer is Marianne Martin and the lighting designer is Bart McGeehon. The music is composed and performed by Klimchak. Kopit came to prominence in the 1960s with his play "Oh, Dad, Poor Dad, Mother’s Hung You in the Closet and I’m Feeling So Sad," which won the Vernon Rice Award and the Outer Circle Award. He was a Tony Award nominee and Pulitzer Prize finalist for his plays "Indians" and "Wings," and wrote the book for "Nine," the 1982 Tony Award-winner for best musical that is scheduled for a revival on Broadway this season with Antonio Banderas and Chita Rivera. Theater Emory’s is the first full production of the work-in-progress as Kopit continues to fine tune it, and the play is being presented as part of the city-wide First Glance Atlanta Festival, a collaboration of more than 30 arts organizations, the Atlanta Convention & Visitors Bureau’s Cultural Tourism Initiative, the Atlanta Coalition for Performing Arts with corporate and foundation partners (www.firstglanceatlanta.com). Tickets are $15 general admission; students with valid i.d. $6 (60 percent off); Emory faculty and staff, PBA members, TCG members and ArtsCard holders $12 (20 percent off); senior citizens, Friends of Theater Emory, groups of 10 or more and Emory young alumni (30 or younger) $13.50 (10 percent off). For tickets or more information, call 404-727-5050. Oct. 9-26, 2002 * Performers Up Close: A free public discussion with playwright Arthur Kopit following the 8 p.m. Oct. 10 performance. General admission $15* ($13.50 for senior citizens, Friends of Theater Emory, groups of 10 or more and Emory alumni younger than 30; $12 for Emory faculty and staff, PBA members, TCG members and ArtsCard holders; $6 for students with valid i.d.) 8 p.m. Oct. 9-12, 16-19, 23-26 First Glance Atlanta is a citywide festival celebrating performances of new (or never performed in the Southeast) work in theater and dance developed by established and emerging companies throughout the greater Atlanta area. First Glance Atlanta is intended to increase and enhance the production and appreciation of new work and the performing arts. The festival is a collaborative effort among more than 30 local arts organizations, with the Atlanta Convention & Visitors Bureau's Cultural Tourism Initiative serving as the presenting partner. Other partners include the Atlanta Coalition of Performing Arts, The CF Foundation Inc., American Express Company, DeKalb Council for the Arts, Fulton County Arts Council and the Loridans Foundation. For more information, visit www.firstglanceatlanta.com. Theater Emory is the producing organization of Emory University and is affiliated with the Department of Theater Studies. It operates under a seasonal contract with Actor’s Equity Association, the union of professional actors and stage managers in the United States. It is a constituent member of Theatre Communications Group, Inc. the national association of professional non-profit theaters and a founding member of the Atlanta Coalition of Performing Arts. ###
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copyright 2001
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