Opening is Dec. 7, for a run to Dec. 21, in the Milton Theatre in the Studio complex.
David Muse directs Jerry Whiddon as Ray and Lisa Joyce as Una.
Blackbird won the 2007 Olivier Award for Best New Play, and shocked audiences at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, in London and New York City.
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Whiddon, a Washington, DC, favorite, is the former (1985-2005) producing artistic director of Round House Theatre. Onstage, he has appeared in Uncle Vanya (Vanya), The Misanthrope (Alceste) and Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? (George). Joyce makes her Studio Theatre debut with Blackbird. She was most recently seen in Michael Weller's Beast at New York Theatre Workshop, and she played opposite Cherry Jones in the national tour of Doubt. She appeared in the Off-Broadway and Steppenwolf productions of Red Light Winter.
The play begins when Una shows up unannounced at Ray's office. They have not seen each other in 15 years — not since their scandalous relationship (she was a child when they fell in love) ended. "Over the course of 90 minutes the audience discovers the startling secrets behind their relationship and the consequences of it from which Ray and Una cannot escape," according to Studio notes. "Blackbird provokes existing assumptions and dares the audience to rethink the meaning of love stories."
Blackbird production team includes Debra Booth (set Designer), Charlie Morrison (lighting designer), Kate Turner-Walker (costume designer) and Neil McFadden (sound designer).
For more information visit www.studiotheatre.org.
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Blackbird kicks off The Studio Theatre's brand new Milton Series. In the 2008-2009 season, the second floor will be home to a special series of three productions, including two powerful works for solo women: Stoop Stories, written and performed by master storyteller and playwright Dael Orlandersmith, as well as the razor-sharp writing of Joan Didion, who adapted her acclaimed memoir The Year of Magical Thinking for a single performer. The Milton Series focuses on a face-to-face encounter between actor and audience. Plays chosen for the power of their language are paired with extraordinary actors in The Studio Theatre's intimate Milton Theatre.
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The Studio Theatre's mission is to produce the best in contemporary theatre. Founded in 1978, The Studio Theatre is led by the driving force of Joy Zinoman, founding artistic director, along with Keith Alan Baker, managing director/artistic director, 2ndStage; Serge Seiden, associate producing artistic director; and Morey B. Epstein, executive director of institutional development. In 2004, the Studio Theatre opened a new four-theatre complex, a major landmark that anchors the 14th Street Arts District.
