City Theatre continues its season with the Pittsburgh premiere of Sunset Baby in the Hamburg Studio, November 7 – December 13, 2015. The play is written by Dominique Morisseau and is directed by Jade King Carroll.
The New York Times called Sunset Baby “a smart and bracing new play about two generations of urban outlaws struggling to stay afloat.”
The play follows Nina, a smart and sexy hustler who has rejected everything her parents fought for in the black liberation movement. When her estranged father wants to reconcile—but then tries to run a hustle of his own—negotiating her past and present becomes a revolutionary act. From one of the most exciting young voices in the American theatre, this dynamic new play about fathers and daughters sears with wit and wisdom and the brutal politics of freedom.
“I am always drawn to the words and worlds that Dominique Morisseau creates,” says director Jade King Carroll. “I was particularly drawn to Sunset Baby because this play deals with legacy, love, and self-realization in such an unexpected way. The scope of these characters is so boundless—Dominique allows us to experience all of their many facets: their pain, their danger, their love, their brutality, and their joy. I’m also delighted to be back in Pittsburgh, a city that I love, and it is an honor to be working at City Theatre. I have admired City for many years and now that I’m finally working here it feels like home.”
Jade King Carroll recently served as Associate Director of The Gin Game on Broadway, directed by Leonard Foglia and starring Cicely Tyson and James Earl Jones. She will direct August Wilson’s The Piano Lesson at the McCarter Theatre in January 2016. Playwright Dominique Morisseau is an alumnus of the Public Theater Emerging Writer’s Group and two-time recipient of the NAACP Image Award. Her 3-play cycle, entitled “The Detroit Projects” include Detroit ’67, Paradise Blue, and Skeleton Crew. Paradise Blue premiered at the Williamstown Theatre Festival in July 2015, starring Blair Underwood and directed by Ruben Santiago-Hudson.
Sunset Baby marks the City Theatre debuts of actors Joniece Abbott-Pratt, J. Alphonse Nicholson, and Keith Randolph Smith. The creative team includes Tony Ferrieri (scenic design), Andrew David Ostrowski (lighting design), Angela M. Vesco (costume design), Joe Pino (sound design), and Calleri Casting (casting).
New community partnerships for Sunset Baby include Kente Arts Alliance and Vibrant Pittsburgh. Partner 1Hood Media will host a post-show discussion, “What We Do for Love: Black Mothers & Their Daughters,” following the Wednesday, December 2 performance. In partnership with Pittsburgh Filmmakers, the documentary The Amazing Nina Simone will be screening as part of the Three Rivers Film Festival on Saturday, November 7 at 8:00 p.m. and Sunday, November 8 at 2:00 p.m. City Theatre is also partnering with The Alumni Theatre Company and other youth groups to provide subsidized student tickets to select performances.
PREVIEWS: November 7-12
Starting with Sunset Baby, City Theatre’s Director of New Play Development, Clare Drobot, and the artistic staff will host a pre-show discussion at every preview performance. Audiences can ask questions about Sunset Baby, play development, and City Theatre’s history in an informal setting.
OPENING NIGHT:
Friday, November 13 at 8:00 p.m.
PERFORMANCE SCHEDULE: November 7-December 13
Tuesdays and Wednesdays at 7:00 p.m.
Wednesdays at 1:00 p.m. (November 18 and December 2 only)
Thursdays and Fridays at 8:00 p.m.
Saturdays at 5:30 p.m. and 9:00 p.m.
Sundays at 2:00 p.m.
Note: There will be no performances on Wednesday, November 25 or Thursday, November 26.
SPECIAL EVENTS:
Sipping Sunday – November 8 at 7:00 p.m.
Sunday Talkbacks – November 15 and 22, following the 2:00 p.m. performance.
Greenroom Young Professionals Night – December 4. Includes a post-show performance by Pittsburgh-based spoken word artist Leslie “Ezra” Smith.
Pay What You Want and City Salons – November 21 and December 5 at 9:00 p.m. Bar will remain open after the performance for a late-night salon with City’s artistic staff.
ACCESSIBLE PERFORMANCE DATES:
ASL Interpretation – December 1, 7:00 p.m.
Open Captioning and Audio Description – December 13, 2:00 p.m.
WHERE:
City Theatre, 1300 Bingham Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15203 (South Side)
BOX OFFICE:
412.431.CITY (2489) or citytheatrecompany.org
TICKETS:
$36 to $56
All shows are general admission.
DISCOUNTS:
Audiences under 30 may reserve $15 tickets in advance for all performances except Fridays 8:00 p.m. and Saturdays 5:30 p.m. On Fridays and Saturdays, rush tickets are available two hours prior to show time and based on availability. A limited number of Pay-What-You-Want tickets will be available two hours before the Saturday, November 21st and December 5th performances. Please call the box office in advance to check on availability. Mention “Pay-What-You-Want” pricing when purchasing. Seniors age 62 and older may purchase $22 rush tickets at the Box Office beginning two hours before show time. Based on availability. Groups of 10 or more are eligible for discounts – contact Joel Ambrose at 412.431.4400 x286.
City Theatre is now in its 41st season. Located on Pittsburgh’s historic South Side, City Theatre specializes in new plays, commissioning and producing work by playwrights including Daniel Beaty, Jessica Dickey, Christopher Durang, Michael Hollinger, Willy Holtzman, Tarell McCraney, and Madeleine George. Under the leadership of Artistic Director Tracy Brigden, Managing Director James McNeel, and a 37-member Board of Directors, City Theatre’s mission is to provide an artistic home for the development and production of contemporary plays of substance and ideas that engage and challenge a diverse audience. CityTheatreCompany.org
