Rep Stage to Honor Black History Month with HOME, 2/27-3/17

While "Home" marks Duane Boutté's Maryland directorial debut, Rep Stage audiences may remember the New York-based artist as an actor in the 2009-10 production of "On the Verge, or the Geography of Yearning." Boutté has performed locally in Center Stage's "Les Blancs," Arena Stage's "Cuttin' Up," the Shakespeare Theatre Company's "The Tempest," and in Woolly Mammoth's "Civil Sex." He trained as an actor at UCLA and The National Theatre Conservatory and has performed at Berkeley Rep, Oregon Shakespeare Festival, Goodman Theatre, La Jolla Playhouse, McCarter Theatre, Denver Center and Dallas Theatre Center. On Broadway, he performed in the Lincoln Center's "Parade" and played Enoch Snow, Jr., in the 1994 Tony Award-winning revival of "Carousel." His films include "Stonewall" and "Brother to Brother," both released to critical acclaim. Boutté directed his first full production, Tony Sportiello's "LOL," in 2009. Other directing credits include "Lear Inherited" and "Othello" in New York and "Stalag 17" in his hometown of Fresno, CA. He is a member of Vineyard Theatre's "Community of Artists."

CAST:

Baltimore Native Robert Lee Hardy (Cephus Miles) received his bachelor's degree in acting from State University of New York (SUNY) at Purchase's Conservatory of Theatre Arts and Film in 2005. His television and film credits include HBO'S critically acclaimed series "The Wire" as well as "The Weeping City," "Jamesy Boy," "Jazz In The Diamond District," and the film version of the play "Me, Myself and Us," which he authored and produced. "Me, Myself and Us" enjoyed a Baltimore premiere at the Charles Theatre, a Washington, D.C. premiere at the Duke Ellington School for the Arts, and a Los Angles Industry showing. Recent stage credits include "Me, Myself and Us," "Julius X," "Flyin West," and "The Three Sisters." He coaches young actors in The Youth Theatre program for Baltimore's Arena Players and the Eubie Blake National Jazz Institute.

Felicia Curry (Woman One; Patti Mae) returns to Rep Stage where she appeared in "Tintypes" in 2006. She came to the Washington, D.C., area from New Jersey to earn her degree at the University of Maryland, College Park. Recently, she co-hosted the 28th annual Helen Hayes Awards at the Warner Theatre. New York City theatre appearances include "Petite Rouge" and national tours include "Willy Wonka" and "Barbie Live!" Regional and D.C. audiences will remember Felicia from "Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson," "Rapunzel," "The Wings of Ikarus Jackson," "A Christmas Carol," and "Civil War" at Ford's Theatre; "Lily's Purple Plastic Purse" (DC Theatre Scene's 2012 Audience Choice Award for Favorite Actress in a Family Show in the Adventure Theater production), "Mirandy and the Brother Wind," and "Les Miserables" at the Signature Theatre (receiving a Helen Hayes nomination and an award for Best Ensemble); and "Aida" at Toby's (Helen Hayes nomination) among others. For the D.C. Capitol Fringe Festival she appeared in "Dizzy Miss Lizzie's Roadside Revue," which was just named the 2013 recipient of the Helen Hayes Award for Outstanding Emerging Theatre. Felicia performs regularly with the Capitol Steps political satire group.

Fatima Quander (Woman Two; Myrna) last appeared at Rep Stage in "Las Meninas." Other credits include "A Raisin in the Sun" at Everyman Theatre; "24, 7, 365" with Theater of the First Amendment; "Locomotion" at the Kennedy Center; "Much Ado About Nothing" at the Folger Elizabethan Theatre; "Junebug and the Reverend" at Imagination Stage; "Coming Home" with Tribute Productions; "African Roots/Latino Soul" and "Retratos" with the Discovery Theater; and The Kennedy Center's "Imagination Celebration" touring production of "Color Me Dark." Fatima is also a company member with Young Playwrights' Theater, a Washington, D.C., theatre-education non-profit that teaches students to express themselves clearly and creatively through the art of playwriting. A native Washingtonian, Fatima received her M.F.A from the famed Actors Studio Drama School in New York City.

The "Home" Design Team includes James Fouchard (scenic design), Dan Covey (lighting design), Neil McFadden (sound design), Natalia Chavez Leimkuhler (properties design), Celestine Ranney-Howes (costume design), Renee Brozic Barger (movement), and Nancy Krebs (vocal and dialect coach).

Rep Stage, a professional Equity theatre in residence at Howard Community College, is in its 20th season. The company is a member of the League of Washington Theatres, the Greater Baltimore Cultural Alliance and Theatre Communications Group. Rep Stage is recognized by Theatre Washington as a professional DC Metro area theater company and is eligible for the Helen Hayes Awards.