American song
by Joanna Murray-Smith
Milwaukee Repertory Theater, Quadracci Powerhouse (LORT B)
March 15 - April 10, 2016
Full-length monologue drama exploring contemporary America's inability to engage in meaningful dialogue about crucial issues, explored through the lens of the father of a student involved in a high school shooting.
world premiere
ACCLAIM
Edgerton Foundation New Play Award (2015)
"...wrenching...outstanding...covers the emotional waterfront...solid, and built to last...clearly engaged audience members...resist[s] narrowly political and sectarian viewpoints...people who were initially laughing were in tears by play's end. ...speaks great truths in the disarmingly, deceptively simple language of everyday life. We need more plays like this..." Mike Fischer, Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel
"...stunning...powerful...riveting...moving...serious search for an answer to a troubling question..." Dave Begel, OnMilwaukee.com
"...highly recommended...succeed[s] brilliantly...shattering...didn't leave a dry eye in the house...powerful...will never be forgotten by those who witness it...provocative, daring theater that is not to be missed." Matthew Perta, ShowbizChicago.com
"...eloquent, miraculous, masterpiece of theater...incomparable...utterly transcendent play...the audience sat enraptured...barely a sound could be heard...profound story breathes life into a pinpoint view of 21st century America...perfectly tuned elegy..." Peggy Sue Dunigan, BroadwayWorld.com
"...mesmerizing...touching...a script that values how an actor can fill pauses and sell mood shifts...comforting human portrait until complacency is exploded..." Dominique Paul Noth, UrbanMilwaukee.com
PRODUCTION PHOTOS / VIDEO
Photos by Michael Brosilow or Jason Fassl as indicated.
AMERICAN SONG preview video courtesy of Milwaukee Repertory Theater.
CREATIVE TEAM / CAST
Director: Mark Clements +
Director of New Play Development / Production Dramaturg: Brent Hazelton
Scenic Designer: Daniel Conway #
Lighting Designer: Jason Fassl #
Costume Designer: Leslie Vaglica #
Sound Designer: Barry Funderburg #
Projection Designer: Jared Mezzocchi #
Dialect and Voice Coach: Jill Walmsley Zager
Stage Manager: Sarah Deming-Henes *
Assistant Stage Manager: Rebecca Lindsey *
Stage Management Resident: Miriam Michaels
Assistant Director: Nabrashaa Nelson
Andy Mancheski: James Devita *
* AEA + SDC # USA