Rep Stage Begins 17th Season With WITTENBERG 8/26-9/13

Rep Stage, the professional Equity theatre in residence at Howard Community College (HCC), begins its 17th season with David Davalos' comedy "Wittenberg," directed by Tony Tsendeas, opening August 26 and running through September 13, 2009 in the Smith Theatre of HCC's Horowitz Visual and Performing Arts Center (HVPA). "Wittenberg" stars Rep Stage's Producing Artistic Director Michael Stebbins and Rep Stage newcomers Michael Feldsher, Seth Reichgott and Emily Clare Zempel. For more information or to purchase tickets, call the Box Office at 410-772-4900 or visit www.repstage.org. Press night is Saturday, August 29 at 8 p.m.  

"Wittenberg" envisions Hamlet as a young college student on a journey for knowledge. This journey takes Hamlet to Wittenberg U, where we find him under the tutelage of two towering figureheads: Martin Luther and Doctor Faustus. Combining historical and fictional characters - including Helen of Troy and The Virgin Mary - "Wittenberg" serves as a comic meeting of the minds, challenging the audience to review what it holds to be "true."

"Here we see the creation of Hamlet, the character we know from Shakespeare's play," says director Tony Tsendeas. "He is the result of two strong philosophical fathers of two powerful and seemingly irreconcilable worldviews. Davalos approaches his characters with amazing wit, crackling drama and a pervading humanity. Though a philosophical comedy-drama dealing with weighty ideas, the play is far from a bloodless academic exercise. Davalos uses theatre to make the impossible possible and creates something that couldn't exist elsewhere."

"I think ‘Wittenberg' is a great way to kick off Rep Stage's 17th season," says Michael Stebbins, Rep Stage producing artistic director. "It's a buoyant, smart ride through a historical-meets- fictional world. I've known director Tony Tsendeas for more than 20 years and this is the first time that we've worked together. I've long wanted to share his fine work with Rep Stage audiences."

A post-show reception follows the Sunday, September 6 matinee performance and free post-show discussions follow the September 4 and 11 performances. Playwright David Davalos will discuss the inspiration and research behind his plays in a free pre-show lecture on Saturday, September 12 at 12:30 p.m. in Monteabaro RecitAl Hall.

The Rep Stage Reading Series will offer a free reading of Davalos' "Daedalus" on September 14 at 7 p.m. and September 15 at 12:30 p.m. in the Monteabaro RecitAl Hall. "Daedalus" is an imaginative telling of the Renaissance world and the brief period of time Leonardo da Vinci spent working as a military engineer for the tyrant Cesare Borgia and his colleague Niccolo Machiavelli.

Throughout the 2009-10 season, The Rep Stage Film Series, presented by HCC's Film Program, will offer free movie screenings in the Smith Theatre to complement the themes of the plays appearing onstage. On September 8 at 7:00 p.m. and September 12 at 10:00 a.m., the Film Series will show "Shakespeare in Love," the 1998 romantic comedy that won seven Academy Awards, including Best Picture, Best Actress for Gwyneth Paltrow and Best Supporting Actress for Judi Dench.

David Davalos is a graduate of the theatre programs of both the University of Texas and Ohio University. Other plays include "Daedalus: A Fantasia of Leonardo da Vinci"; "The Tragedie of Johnnius Caerson" (a comedy in blank verse chronicling the Late Night TV Wars); and "Darkfall " (a modern sequel to "Paradise Lost"). For its premiere production in Philadelphia last year, "Wittenberg" received the Barrymore Award for Outstanding New Play. David is also the recipient of the National Theatre Conference's 2008 Stavis Playwriting Award.

Director Tony Tsendeas was the Artistic Director of Baltimore's internationally recognized Action Theater. The company toured Northern Europe and Great Britain with its production of "Beckettland," a collection of short dramatic pieces by Samuel Beckett. Tony has directed extensively for the Baltimore Shakespeare Festival ("Macbeth," "Othello," "Julius Caesar," "The Complete Works of William Shakespeare [abridged]" and "Love for Words") and is on the faculty of Baltimore School for the Arts. As an actor, Tony has performed at a variety of theatres regionally including Roundhouse Theatre, Theater J, Woolly Mammoth Theater Co., Everyman Theatre, Center Stage, Baltimore Shakespeare Festival and the BSO. Film and video work includes HBO's "The Wire," NBC's "Homicide: Life on the Street," and appearances and voice over work for The Family Channel, The Learning Channel, and The Discovery Channel. "Wittenberg" marks Tony's directing debut at Rep Stage.

The cast of "Wittenberg":

Michael Feldsher (Hamlet) makes his Rep Stage debut with "Wittenberg." He has appeared regionally at Shakespeare Theatre Company, Ford's Theatre, Roundhouse Theatre, Everyman Theatre, Spooky Action Theater, Bay Theatre Company, Virginia Shakespeare Festival and Baltimore Shakespeare Festival.

Seth Reichgott (John Faustus, M.D., J.D., Ph.D., Th.D.) is a Philadelphia-based actor, director, and writer. He has appeared at the Wilma Theater, Lantern Theatre, Walnut Street Studio, Mum Puppettheatre and Interact Theatre Company (PA). "Wittenberg" marks Seth's Rep Stage debut.

Michael Stebbins (Rev. Fr. Martin Luther, D.D.) has appeared in Rep Stage's productions of "Mrs. Warren's Profession," "The Santaland Diaries," "Stones in His Pockets" and "Fully Committed." He has appeared at regional theatre across the country, including Berkeley Rep (CA), Milwaukee Chamber Theatre (WI), New World Theatre (MA), Woolly Mammoth Theatre Co., (DC), Off-Broadway's Public Theatre/New York Shakespeare Festival and The Mint Theater Company. Michael is Rep Stage producing artistic director.

Emily Clare Zempel (The Eternal Feminine) is making her Rep Stage debut. Credits include Abingdon Theatre Company, Looking Glass Theatre, The Rebel Theater (NY); Milwaukee Shakespeare Company (WI) and Baltimore Shakespeare Festival (MD).

The "Wittenberg" design team:

Paul Christensen (set design) has designed for Baltimore Shakespeare Festival, Tony Tsendeas' Action Theater and Baltimore School for the Arts.

Liza Davies (properties design) is the resident props designer at Everyman Theatre. Other credits include Baltimore Shakespeare Festival and Baltimore Opera Company.

Jay Herzog (lighting design) received a Helen Hayes Award for his lighting design of Rep Stage's production of "Ambrosio." Jay is the resident lighting designer for the Everyman Theatre in Baltimore. Other regional credits include Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company, Theatre J and The Roundhouse Theatre.

Sound designer Chas Marsh's Rep Stage credits include "God's Ear," "A Lie of the Mind," and "In the Heart of America." He is the resident sound designer for Everyman Theatre. Regional credits include Ford's Theatre and Pittsburgh Public Theatre.

Norah Worthington (costume design) has designed for Everyman Theatre, Baltimore Shakespeare Festival, Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, Toby's Dinner Theater and is the resident costumer at the Baltimore School for the Arts.

Rep Stage, a professional Equity theatre in residence at Howard Community College, is in its 17th season. The company is a member of both League of Washington Theatres and Baltimore Theatre Alliance. Performances are made possible by Howard County Arts Council, Howard County Government, and Maryland State Arts Council, an agency funded by the state of Maryland and National Endowment for the Arts, as well as through generous individual contributions. Howard Bank is the Rep Stage 2009-10 season partner.