Milwaukee Rep Announces Casting for HOW THE WORLD BEGAN and CLYBOURNE PARK, Jan 2013

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Milwaukee Repertory Theater announced casting today for How the World Began, their next production in the Stiemke Studio, and the 2011 Pulitzer Prize- winning Clybourne Park, their next production in the Quadracci Powerhouse.

HOW THE WORLD BEGAN
Religion and science collide in playwright Catherine Trieschmann’s How the World Began, a visceral examination of the way in which we navigate interpersonal beliefs – and just how hard it is to truly listen to one another in an increasingly polarized world. Rep Associate Artistic Director Brent Hazelton will direct the play, which will feature Rep Associate Artist Deborah Staples. The cast also features Ben Charles and Marty Lodge, both newcomers to The Rep. How the World Began runs in the Stiemke Studio from January 16 – February 24, and opens on Friday, January 18.

“We live in a society that is growing more stringent in terms of how we express our views,” says Artistic Director Mark Clements. “If the play contains a lesson, it is to ask us to listen to the other side – to remember that nothing is ever as black-and-white as we might think, and that we could all become more well-rounded individuals by being more tolerant of those who hold opposing viewpoints.”

Cast - How the World Began
Ben Charles – Micah Staab
Marty Lodge – Gene Dinkel
Deborah Staples – Susan Pierce

Ben Charles (Micah Staab) is a graduate of University of Delaware’s Professional Theatre Training Program and has performed with Texas Shakespeare Festival; recent credits include Lennie Ryan in the world premiere of Theresa Rebeck’s O Beautiful; Marty Lodge (Gene Dinkel) has performed extensively in the Washington, D.C. area for 14 years with Arena Stage, Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company and Round House Theatre, among others; film and TV credits include Zodiac, Madmen, Grey’s Anatomy, Boston Legal and Gilmore Girls, among many others; Deborah Staples (Susan Pierce), a Rep Associate Artist, was recently seen as Mrs. Van Daan in The Diary of Anne Frank, Emilia in Othello and Jean Louise in To Kill a Mockingbird, all in the Quadracci Powerhouse; she also recently performed the one-woman show The Blonde, The Brunette and The Vengeful Redhead at Writers’ Theatre for which she received a Jeff Award nomination.

The creative team for How the World Began includes Brent Hazelton (Director), Scott Davis (Scenic Designer); Rachel Laritz (Costume Designer); Jaymi Lee Smith (Lighting Designer); Barry G. Funderburg (Sound Designer); Richelle Harrington Calin (Stage Manager).

CLYBOURNE PARK
Clybourne Park is a wickedly funny and fiercely provocative new play about the volatile combination of race and real estate. Written by Bruce Norris, Clybourne Park was the recipient of the 2011 Pulitzer Prize, London’s Olivier Award for Best Play and was nominated for the 2012 Tony Award for Best Play. Artistic Director Mark Clements will direct the play. Clybourne Park is a co-production with Arizona Theatre Company. The cast features Rep Associate Artists Lee E. Ernst and Gerard Neugent and Rep favorites Marti Gobel, Grant Goodman and Jenny McKnight. The cast also features 2010/11 Rep acting Intern Greta Wohlrabe and newcomer James T. Alfred. Clybourne Park runs in the Quadracci Powerhouse from January 29 – February 24, and opens on Friday, February 1.