Dramatic Repertory Company
presents the Maine Premiere of
A NUMBER
by Caryl Churchill
November 14 - 22, 2014
7 Performances Only!
at the Portland Ballet Studio Theatre
517 Forest Avenue, Portland, Maine
Portland, Maine - Dramatic Repertory Company (Keith Powell Beyland, Artistic Director) launches its 2014-2015 season - A Year of the Woman Playwright - with the Maine Premiere of A Number by Caryl Churchill. The show will run for 7 performances only in Portland, November 14 - 22, 2014 at the Portland Ballet Studio Theatre, 517 Forest Avenue, Portland, Maine.
The cast of A Number features Corey M. Gagne (PSC's Brighton Beach Memoirs, DRC's
Equivocation) and Charles Michael Howard* (AIRE's Someone Who'll Watch Over Me). The
show is directed by Daniel Burson (Penobscot Theatre's One Blue Tarp, DRC's Swimming in
the Shallows).
* Member of Actors' Equity Association, the Union of Professional Actors and Stage Managers in the United States
The influential and seminal Caryl Churchill has been hailed by Tony Kushner (Angels In America)
as “the greatest living English language playwright.” In A Number, she focuses her extraordinary
dramatic gifts on the subject of human cloning. A father is confronted by his son, but it becomes clear it is not really his son, or at least not the original version. How might a man feel to discover that he is but one in a number of identical copies - and how exactly do you determine which one of him is the original?
“Magnificent... Contains more drama, and more ideas, than most manage in a dozen full-length works... It combines elegant structural simplicity with an astonishing intellectual and emotional depth... What a tremendous play this is, moving, thought-provoking and dramatically thrilling.”
- Daily Telegraph (UK)
Tickets for A Number range from $10 - $20 with Premium Tickets also available. Tickets are
available now from Brown Paper Tickets --online at www.dramaticrep.org or by phone
at 800-838-3006.
A Number will play seven performances ONLY - November 14 - 16 at 7:30pm, and then November 19 - 22 at 7:30pm at the Portland Ballet Studio Theatre, 517 Forest Avenue, Portland, Maine.
A Number cast & creative:
COREY M. GAGNE (Bernard 1, Bernard 2, Michael Black) was recently seen with DRC in Equivocation, and returned to Portland Stage Company this fall to perform as "Jack" in Brighton Beach Memoirs. Corey was born and raised in Fort Kent, Maine. His favorite color is pink. He trained at Mountview Theater Conservatory in London. His favorite sound is his sister's laugh. Mr. Gagne has performed in London, New York City, Philadelphia, Austin and Portland. He loves cold weather...and The Replacements.
CHARLES MICHAEL HOWARD* (Salter). Michael is thrilled to be acting in his first DRC
production; to have made a new friend in Keith, and to be working with Dan and Corey again! Although long an admirer of Churchill's work, this is also his first feast of her extraordinary language/prowess. This past season Michael played the "Brit," Michael, in Someone Who'll Watch Over Me at AIRE (directed by Dan Burson), Co-Directed DA with Tony Reilly at same, and directed an "in your face," alternatively gendered Hamlet with Naked Shakespeare performed at USM. Somewhat recent roles include Toby Belch at Freeport Shakespeare Festival and One-Eyed William Curtis in Beth Henley's Abundance at Saco River. He teaches acting (for 15 years at UNE) and here, there and yon, and was assistant director of Naked Shakespeare Co. for 10 years where he's played Falstaff and directed As You Like It and Antony and Cleopatra. As always and forever he dedicates this performance to the luminous love of his life, Carol.
* Member of Actors' Equity Association, the Union of Professional Actors and Stage Managers in the United States
CARYL CHURCHILL (Playwright) was born on 3 September 1938. She wrote her first play,
Downstairs, while at Oxford University. It was staged in 1958 and won the award at the Sunday Times National Union of Students Drama Festival. Her plays have been performed on international stages, on the BBC radio, and adapted for BBC television. They include Owners, Light Shining in Buckinghamshire, Cloud Nine, Fen, Three More Sleepless Nights, Top Girls, Serious Money (which won the Laurence Olivier/BBC Award for Best New Play), Mad Forest, The Skriker, Far Away, A Number, a new version of August Strindberg's A Dream Play and Drunk Enough to say I Love You?. Her latest play, Love and Information, premiered at the Royal Court Theatre, where she served as Resident Dramatist in 1974 and 1975. She lives in London.
DANIEL BURSON (Director) is a freelance director and dramaturg living in Portland, who previously directed Swimming in the Shallows with DRC. His local directing credits include Mary's Wedding, Marie Antoinette: The Color of Flesh, and The Santaland Diaries at Portland Stage, where he was the Literary & Education Manager for 9 seasons. Other Maine credits include Twelfth Night, Almost, Maine, and Indoor/Outdoor at the Opera House at Boothbay Harbor; Heroes at Deertrees Theatre; The Lonesome West, The Seafarer, Faith Healer, and Someone Who'll Watch Over Me for AIRE; I Hate Hamlet and The 39 Steps at Freeport Players; and the world premiere of One Blue Tarp at Penobscot Theatre. As a dramaturg, Dan is the Northeast regional vice president of Literary Managers & Dramaturgs of the Americas and co-Artistic Director of the Maine Playwrights Festival. He is a graduate of the original Wesleyan University.
A Number creative team also includes MICHAELA WIRTH (Lighting Design), CHRIS FITZE
(Foley/Sound Design), and JOHNNY SPECKMAN (Stage Manager)
A Year of the Woman Playwright – Despite women being the majority of the theater going population, plays written by women are woefully underrepresented in the usual theatre season. As a counterpoint to this, DRC has decided to present a season of plays exclusively written by women. It is DRC's intention to show that there are plenty of great plays, touching on a wide variety of topics, being created by women playwrights. In addition, there are many modern, and not so modern, classic plays by women available to be found and produced. Theatre can and should reflect all perspectives.
FuturePatrons – Theatre-goers 25 and under can see DRC shows for FREE!! Theatre is habit forming, and DRC wants to be a catalyst. DRCs innovative program strives to help build the next generation of theatre-goers. FuturePatron tickets are available day-of only, and require government-issued photo ID as proof of age. Seating is first-come, first-served and subject to availability.
Dramatic Repertory Company aims to make a dramatic difference in the community. DRC continues to establish a burgeoning reputation for provocative and professional productions. DRC intends to produce new and overlooked works that otherwise may never be seen in Maine, as well as provide fresh perspectives on classic works.
A Bright New Boise - Theatrical Highlight of 2013
Topdog/Underdog - Theatrical Highlight of 2012
- Megan Grumbling, Portland Phoenix
DRC - WINNER!
FIVE 2013 PEER AWARDS
including
BEST PRODUCTION - Topdog/Underdog
BEST ENSEMBLE - [title of show]
"This is what art is about. Making you think, react, respond.”
- Bill Cook, March 10, 2012
“A ‘MUST SEE’ evening of theatre! I guarantee you will not stop talking about this play
long after the lights go black.” - Broadwayworld.com, March 12, 2012
“GET THEE TO THE THEATER...A KICK-A** SHOW!”
- Portland Daily Sun, November 19, 2013
"DAZZLING...some of Portland's most arresting actors...BREATHTAKING!”
- Portland Phoenix, June 6, 2014
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