Press Release

 

Triad stage Concludes 2007-2008 Season with
Bloody Blackbeard, a World Premiere Adventure
by Preston Lane, with Original Music
by Laurelyn Dossett, June 8 – July 6, 2008

Part of THTR 232 – Triad Stage and UNCG Theatre’s
Third Annual Summer Theatre Festival

Also playing: the children’s matinee production, Redbeard’s Revenge: A Child’s Musical Dream of Pirate Adventure, June 18 – July 5, and the late night UpStage Cabaret comedy, Mere Mortals by David Ives, June 20 – July 5

 

(Greensboro, NC) — Triad Stage concludes its 2007-2008 “Season of Passion” with the world premiere adventure, Bloody Blackbeard by Preston Lane, with original music by Laurelyn Dossett. From England to the Caribbean to the Carolina Coast, Edward Teach forged a blazing career as the most dreaded pirate of all time. North Carolina’s infamous adopted son was a daring blend of terror and gallantry. To his victims, he presented an image of the devil incarnate; but he was putty in the hands of a beautiful woman. His high seas adventures, port city romances and deep buried treasure are the stuff of legend. Now the creators of the Appalachian-themed hits Brother Wolf and Beautiful Star turn their attention eastward, weaving tunes and tales together and uncovering the totally thrilling history of the pirate called Blackbeard. Bloody Blackbeard runs June 8 through July 6, 2008. Opening Night is June 12.

The 19-member cast of Bloody Blackbeard includes: Mark David Watson as Blackbeard, Allan Edwards, Christine Morris, Andrew Rein, Lelund Durond Thompson, Michael Tourek and Jeffery West, with University of North Carolina Greensboro Theatre students Alex Amery, TJ Austin, Isabelle Gardo, Shay Lydick, Kaleigh Kathleen Malloy, Emily Mark, Melanie W. Matthews, Marvin Riggins Jr., Joby Lee Strachan, Beau Wigington, Chris Wright and Joshua Yoder. The 5-member Bloody Blackbeard Band includes: Scott Manring, Molly McGinn, Evan Frierson, Scott Johnson and Max Spiewak.

 

Triad Stage Co-founder and Artistic Director Preston Lane wrote and is directing the production. Laurelyn Dossett of the band Polecat Creek composed the original songs and is music directing. The creative team for Bloody Blackbeard includes scenic designer Alexander Dodge, costume designer Kelsey Hunt, lighting designer John Wolf and sound designer David E. Smith. The fight director is Jim Wren, the choreographer is Donna Baldwin-Bradby and the dialect/voice coach is Christine Morris. The stage manager is Catherine Hagner and the assistant stage manager is Eric Tysinger.

Biographies for the cast, band members and creative team can be found online at www.triadstage.org.

Tickets for preview performances of Bloody Blackbeard,on June 8, 10 and 11 are all $16 each. From Opening Night, June 12, single ticket prices range from $10 to $42. Prices vary depending on the day of the week and seat location desired. The June 8, 10, 11 and 27 performances are already sold out.

Due to stage violence inBloody Blackbeard, parental guidance is suggested.

The Music of Bloody Blackbeard CDs will be on sale for $10 during the run of the show in the Pyrle Theater lobby, or can be purchased by calling the Triad Stage Box Office at (336) 272-0160.

All performances are at Triad Stage at The Pyrle Theater, located at 232 South Elm Street in historic downtown Greensboro, North Carolina (between Market and Washington Streets).

Show times for Bloody Blackbeard are 7:30 pm on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday evenings (except on Sunday, July 6, when there is no evening performance) and 8:00 pm Friday and Saturday evenings. Sunday matinees are at 2:00 pm. There are no matinee performances during previews. Pay-What-You-Can performances are Sunday, June 15, and Tuesday, June 17, at 7:30 pm, sponsored by Enterprise Rent-A-Car. Wine Tasting Friday is June 13, prior to the evening’s 8:00 pm performance, sponsored by Total Wine & More. A Sign-Interpreted performance is on Tuesday, June 24, at 7:30 pm, with services provided by the Greensboro Communication Services for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing.

Technically Talking,a behind-the-scenes look at the design and production features with the director and designers is Tuesday, June 10, immediately following the 7:30 pm preview performance, sponsored by J. Hyatt Hammond. The InSight Series, the free humanities program that brings a noted speaker to the Triad to discuss the world of the play and its subject matter, will be held Sunday, June 15, immediately following the 2:00 pm matinee performance. PostScript, a lively, open discussion with members of the cast and creative team, will be held Thursday, June 19, immediately following the 7:30 pm performance.

The pre-show lobby entertainment for Opening Night, Thursday, June 12, will be the local band The Pink Flamingos, and members of the Greensboro chapter of the Buccaneers of the Atlantic Coast, a historical reenactment group, will be on hand in full pirate attire to welcome the audience.

On Saturday morning, June 14, Triad Stage and UNCG Theatre will host Pirate Family Day with a collection of pirate-themed activities for children and families that includes touring the theatre and Bloody Blackbeard set, face painting and getting a sneak peek at UNCG Theatre’s children’s production of Redbeard’s Revenge: A Child’s Musical Dream of Pirate Adventure. Pirate Family Day takes place at the Pyrle Theater. The activities begin at 10:00 am and admission is free.

 

About the Bloody Blackbeard Writers
Preston Lane (Triad Stage Artistic Director/Co-Founder, Playwright & Director) is in his 7th season at Triad Stage, having directed over 28 productions including: the Grand Opening production Suddenly Last Summer, the award-winning Hedda Gabler and A Streetcar Named Desire, last season’s acclaimed Tobacco Road and the return of Brother Wolf for An Appalachian Summer Festival, and this season’s record-breaking reprise of Beautiful Star. He was formerly Artistic Associate at the Dallas Theater Center where his productions included the US premiere of Inexpressible Island (Dallas Observer Best of Dallas Awards: Best Director, Best Production) and The Night of the Iguana (Dallas Morning News:2002 Top Ten Theatre List). Other productions include: A Tuff Shuffle (National Black Theatre Festival), Overruled (Off Broadway), Love! Valour! Compassion! (Stage One), and the world premieres of If Only and Get It While You Can (Summer Cabaret).  As a playwright, he is recipient of a grant from the Fox Foundation to develop Wondrous Love. Other adaptations and original works include Hedda Gabler, Dracula, Mirandolina, Julie’s Dance, Brother Wolf, Beautiful Star, and the upcoming Bloody Blackbeard (Triad Stage), A Christmas Carol (Dallas Theater Center, Sonoma County Rep, Kids Who Care), Three Weeks After Marriage and Helen! (Summer Cabaret). He has taught at UNC Greensboro, N.C. A&T University, NC School of the Arts, Southern Methodist University, and the Professional Actors Workshop at the Dallas Theater Center. He is an alumnus of the Drama League of New York’s Director’s Project. A native of Boone, NC, Preston received his MFA from the Yale School of Drama.

Laurelyn Dossett (Composer & Music Director) Singer/songwriter Laurelyn Dossett was born in Birmingham, Alabama. Her collaborations with Preston Lane include Triad Stage’s world premiere productions of Bloody Blackbeard, Brother Wolf and Beautiful Star: An Appalachian Nativity. One of the songs from Brother Wolf, “Anna Lee,” appears on Levon Helm’s 2007 Grammy Award-winning CD Dirt Farmer. She is the 2004 winner of MerleFest’s Chris Austin Songwriting Contest for her gospel song, “Come by Here,” and has taught songwriting at the Augusta Heritage Center. In 1997 she founded the band Polecat Creek with singing partner Kari Sickenberger; they have three CDs: Ordinary Seasons, Salt Sea Bound and Leaving Eden. Leaving Eden’stitle track, about the loss of textile jobs in Eden, NC, has been featured in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution and on the BBC. She lives in Greensboro with her husband and three daughters.

 

THTR 232: “A Crash Course in Entertainment!”
Bloody Blackbeard is the centerpiece of the third annual THTR 232, Triad Stage and UNCG Theatre’s collaborative summer theatre festival. In addition to the mainstage run of Bloody Blackbeard, which includes participation by UNCG students and faculty both onstage and behind the scenes, UNCG Theatre will stage family-friendly matinees of Redbeard’s Revenge or The School for Pirates on Triad Stage’s mainstage, and the late night cabaret comedy Mere Mortals, a collection of five ferociously funny one-acts by David Ives.

Redbeard’s Revenge or The School for Pirates: A Child’s Musical Dream of Pirate Adventure is written by Joe Sturgeon and Jim Wren, co-creators of previous THTR 232 productions of Uncle Ulysses and the Mythic Sword. Danger and adventure were simply not proper ambitions for the girls at Miss Peavey’s Academy for Polite Young Women. But ambitions change when Maddie and her friends find the journal of the infamous pirate, Redbeard. Filled with the spirit of adventure, they hold secret meetings on “pirate-ness.” Will Redbeard and his menacing crew return to claim his journal…and his revenge? Redbeard’s Revenge or The School for Piratesis appropriate for ages 4 and up. Performances are June 18 – 20, 24 – 27 and July 1 – 4 at 10:00 am and June 21, 28 and July 5 at 2:00 pm. Tickets are $7 for adults; $6 for children, seniors and students; and $5 for groups of 10+.

Part comedy club, part hilarious theatre, Mere Mortals will be the first theatre production in Triad Stage’s new UpStage Cabaret. Performances of Mere Mortals are on Friday and Saturday nights, June 20 – July 5, after the curtain goes down on the 8:00 pm performances of Bloody Blackbeard. The UpStage Cabaret doors open for bar service at 10:00 pm each night. Mere Mortals is appropriate for ages 18 and up. All tickets are $10 and seating is general admission.

 

About Triad Stage
Triad Stage is a professional not-for-profit regional theatre company based in Greensboro’s downtown historic district. All Triad Stage productions are created in Greensboro using the best of local and national talent. Triad Stage gratefully acknowledges the support of Season Sponsors: Mitre Agency, the North Carolina Arts Council and the United Arts Council of Greater Greensboro. The Starring Sponsor for Bloody Blackbeard is the VF Corporation. The production is supported in part by an award from the National Endowment for the Arts, and a grant from the North Carolina Department of Cultural Resources. The Production Sponsors are Our State magazine and the Greensboro Area Convention & Visitors Bureau.

Triad Stage launches its 2008-2009 mainstage “Season of Spirit” in August with: The Night of the Iguana, an American classic by Tennessee Williams (August 31 – September 21, 2008); Bell, Book and Candle, a bewitching comedy by John Van Druten (October 19 – November 9, 2008); Black Pearl Sings!, a musical journey by Frank Higgins (January 25 – February 15, 2009); Ghosts, a shocking exposé by Henrik Ibsen, in a world-premiere adaptation by Preston Lane (March 15 – April 5, 2009); The Blonde, the Brunette and the Vengeful Redhead, a new comedic thrill ride by Robert Hewett (April 26 – May 17, 2009); and One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, a counter-culture masterpiece by Dale Wasserman, based on the novel by Ken Kesey (June 7 – July 5, 2009). Season Passes are on sale now. Single tickets will go on sale August 4, 2008. Triad Stage will also present the third annual production of its holiday hit Beautiful Star: An Appalachian Nativity by Preston Lane, with original music by Laurelyn Dossett (November 28 – December 21, 2008). Beautiful Star is not part of the Season Pass subscription package.

All Triad Stage productions feature the bold acting and breathtaking design that have been nationally recognized by The Wall Street Journal and haveearned the theatre accolades including “One of the Best Regional Theatres in America”, New York’s Drama League; “Best Live Theater”, Go Triad/News & Record and The Rhinoceros Times; and “Professional Theater of the Year”, North Carolina Theatre Conference. 

To purchase tickets or for performance information on Bloody Blackbeard, Redbeard’s Revenge or Mere Mortals, call the Triad Stage Box Office at 336.272.0160 or toll-free at 866.579.TIXX (8499), or visit www.triadstage.org.

###

CALENDAR EDITORS, PLEASE NOTE:

VF Corporation presents Triad Stage’s production of
Bloody Blackbeard
A World Premiere Adventure
by Preston Lane, with original music by Laurelyn Dossett
June 8 – July 6, 2008

Performed at the Pyrle Theater
232 South Elm Street
Greensboro, NC 27401

From England to the Caribbean to the Carolina Coast, Edward Teach forged a blazing career as the most dreaded pirate of all time. North Carolina’s infamous adopted son was a daring blend of terror and gallantry. To his victims, he presented an image of the devil incarnate; but he was putty in the hands of a beautiful woman. His high seas adventures, port city romances and deep buried treasure are the stuff of legend. Now the creators of the Appalachian-themed hits Brother Wolf and Beautiful Star turn their attention eastward, weaving tunes and tales together and uncovering the mostly true and totally thrilling history of the pirate called Blackbeard.

For tickets:
Phone: (336) 272-0160
Toll-free: (866) 579-TIXX (8499)
Box Office hours: Tuesday – Friday, 10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Online: www.triadstage.org
Ticket prices: $10 – $42, depending on performance date and seat location

Due to stage violence, parental guidance is suggested.

Group tickets:
Call (336) 274-0067 ext. 218
Email: groupsales@triadstage.org
Ticket discounts: Groups of 10 – 49, 15% off; Groups of 50+, 20% off

Educators’ 50% discount tickets:
Current school teachers and professors receive a 50% discount off regular price tickets to all performances. Must present valid school employee ID or proof of employment to Box Office when picking up tickets. Subject to availability. Some restrictions apply.
Call: (336) 272-0160 or toll-free (866) 579-TIXX (Tue – Fri, 10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.)
Ticket prices: $6 – $21, depending on performance date and seat location

$7 Student Rush tickets:
Current students with valid school ID may purchase tickets for $7. Student Rush tickets are only available at the Triad Stage Box Office one hour before each performance. Subject to availability. Some restrictions apply.
Available at the Box Office for walk-up sales. (Performance days: Sunday, Tuesday – Thursday, 6:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.; Friday and Saturday, 7:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.; Sunday matinees 1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m.)

$10 Gallery Seats:
A limited number of $10 general admission gallery seats are available for each performance.
Call: (336) 272-0160 or toll-free (866) 579-TIXX (Tue – Fri, 10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.)
Also available at the Box Office for walk-up sales.

 

Bloody Blackbeard Performance dates:
Sunday, June 8 7:30 p.m.  1st Preview   SOLD OUT
Tuesday, June 10 7:30 p.m.  Preview/“Technically Talking” post-show discussion   SOLD OUT
Wednesday, June 11 7:30 p.m.  Preview   SOLD OUT
Thursday, June 12 7:30 p.m.  Opening Night with free pre-show lobby party featuring The Pink Flamingos
Friday, June 13 8:00 p.m.  Wine Tasting pre-show event
Saturday, June 14 8:00 p.m.
Sunday, June 15 2:00 p.m.  “InSight Series” post-show discussion
Sunday, June 15 7:30 p.m.  Pay-What-You-Can performance
Tuesday, June 17 7:30 p.m.  Pay-What-You-Can performance
Wednesday, June 18 7:30 p.m.
Thursday, June 19 7:30 p.m.  “PostScript” post-show discussion with the cast
Friday, June 20 8:00 p.m.
Saturday, June 21 8:00 p.m.
Sunday, June 22 2:00 p.m.
Sunday, June 22 7:30 p.m.
Tuesday, June 24 7:30 p.m.  Sign-interpreted performance
Wednesday, June 25 7:30 p.m.
Thursday, June 26 7:30 p.m. 
Friday, June 27 8:00 p.m.   SOLD OUT
Saturday, June 28 8:00 p.m.
Sunday, June 29 2:00 p.m. 
Sunday, June 29 7:30 p.m.
Tuesday, July 1 7:30 p.m. 
Wednesday, July 2 7:30 p.m.
Thursday, July 3 7:30 p.m. 
Friday, July 4 8:00 p.m.
Saturday, July 5 8:00 p.m.
Sunday, July 6 2:00 p.m.  Closing performance

CALENDAR EDITORS, PLEASE NOTE:

THTR 232 presents
Redbeard’s Revenge or The School for Pirates
by Joe Sturgeon and Jim Wren
June 18 – July 5, 2008

Performed at the Pyrle Theater
232 South Elm Street
Greensboro, NC 27401

Danger and adventure were simply not proper ambitions for the girls at Miss Peavey’s Academy for Polite Young Women. But ambitions change when Maddie and her friends find the journal of the infamous pirate, Redbeard. Filled with the spirit of adventure, they hold secret meetings on “pirate-ness.” Will Redbeard and his menacing crew return to claim his journal…and his revenge?

Appropriate for ages 4 and up.

For tickets:
Phone: (336) 272-0160
Toll-free: (866) 579-TIXX (8499)
Box Office hours: Tuesday – Friday, 10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Online: www.triadstage.org
Ticket prices: $7 for adults; $6 for children, seniors and students.

Group tickets:
Call (336) 334-4392
Group ticket prices: $5 for groups of 10+

Redbeard’s Revenge Performance dates:
Wednesday, June 18 10:00 a.m.  Opening performance
Thursday, June 19 10:00 a.m.
Friday, June 20 10:00 a.m.
Saturday, June 21 2:00 p.m.
Tuesday, June 24 10:00 a.m.
Wednesday, June 25 10:00 a.m.
Thursday, June 26 10:00 a.m. 
Friday, June 27 10:00 a.m.
Saturday, June 28 2:00 p.m.
Tuesday, July 1 10:00 a.m.
Wednesday, July 2 10:00 a.m.
Thursday, July 3 10:00 a.m.
Friday, July 4 10:00 a.m.
Saturday, July 5 2:00 p.m.  Closing performance

CALENDAR EDITORS, PLEASE NOTE:

THTR 232 presents
Mere Mortals
by David Ives
June 20 – July 5, 2008

Performed at the Pyrle Theater, UpStage Cabaret
232 South Elm Street, top floor
Greensboro, NC 27401

Part late night comedy club, part hilarious theatre, Mere Mortals is a collection of five ferociously funny one-acts by David Ives. Add a little extra entertainment by UNCG Theatre company of students and bar service throughout the entire performance and you have the first theatre production in Triad Stage’s new UpStage Cabaret. Doors open for bar service at 10:00 pm, with performances beginning after the curtain goes down on the 8:00 pm performances of Bloody Blackbeard.

Appropriate for ages 18 and up.

For tickets:
Phone: (336) 272-0160
Toll-free: (866) 579-TIXX (8499)
Box Office hours: Tuesday – Friday, 10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Online: www.triadstage.org

Ticket prices: $10, general admission seating

Mere Mortals Performance dates:
Friday, June 20 approximately 10:45 p.m.  Opening performance
Saturday, June 21 approximately 10:45 p.m.
Friday, June 27 approximately 10:45 p.m.
Saturday, June 28 approximately 10:45 p.m.

Friday, July 4 approximately 10:45 p.m.
Saturday, July 5 approximately 10:45 p.m.  Closing performance