Stream Renaissance Theaterworks' Production of ACTUALLY from your Home
Milwaukee, Wis. – (April 1, 2020) – Out of concern for the health and safety of our community, Renaissance Theaterworks made the difficult decision to suspend our production of ACTUALLY, by Anna Ziegler, scheduled to run March 27 – April 19, 2020.
Because this show should not be missed, we are thrilled to offer a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to stream a video of a fully-staged rehearsal performance, available for general viewing on demand (cost $15) at https://vimeo.com/ondemand/actually beginning April 3 through April 30, 2020.
Directed by Mary MacDonald Kerr, ACTUALLY features Emily Fury Daly (Amber) and Justin Jones (Tom.)
Tom and Amber are college freshmen at Princeton. They are overwhelmed, overstimulated, sleepdeprived, surrounded by strangers, full of tension, uncertainty, and alcohol. What could possibly go wrong?
Suzan Fete, Artistic Director for Renaissance Theaterworks commented, “Renaissance Theaterworks made the painful decision not to open our production of ACTUALLY, our last show of the season. The decision was especially heartbreaking because, in only two short rehearsal weeks, Director Mary MacDonald Kerr, the actors and crew had created such an amazing and important show. We knew we had to act fast or the magic of this production would be lost forever. Hours before we all left to shelter at home, we recorded a fully-staged rehearsal performance for an audience of just eight: the crew, the actors and the actors’ parents. The recording is raw and riveting, everything great theater should be!”
Thoughts on ACTUALLY from director Mary MacDonald Kerr: “I was immediately drawn to the way this play offers both sides of the story – good and bad, fair and unfair, attractive and ugly. Tom and Amber are brutally honest as they navigate their journey, both are forced to look at hard truths about themselves and the world around them. I am very excited to help the cast bring this honesty bravely to light.”
Added Lisa Rasmussen, Renaissance Theaterworks Managing Director, “We are delighted to present to our patrons this rare gift: the opportunity to see ACTUALLY on demand in your home. We couldn’t have done it with the help of a lot of dedicated and determined people. I want to thank all the ACTUALLY artists and crew, the incredible Traveling Lemur Productions who filmed with less than 24 hours’ notice, Actors’ Equity Association and Dramatists Play Service, Inc. One bright spot is that many more theater lovers from all around the country and world will be able to enjoy the work of our stellar Milwaukee artists.”
For ACTUALLY, Renaissance Theaterworks’ community partners include Advocate Aurora Health, Waukesha Women’s Center, the City of Milwaukee Office of Violence Prevention’s Commission on Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault, and REDgen.
This is the second of Anna Ziegler’s plays that Renaissance Theaterworks has produced. The first one was multiple award-winning PHOTOGRAPH 51, in their 2018-2019 season.
BIOGRAPHIES
Anna Ziegler (Playwright) – Anna Ziegler’s play PHOTOGRAPH 51, produced on the West End starring Nicole Kidman and directed by Michael Grandage, won London’s 2016 WhatsOnStage award for Best New Play. It has been produced around the country and the world, most recently in Hamburg, Rome, and Stockholm. Her play THE LAST MATCH premiered at The Old Globe Theatre and was nominated for the 2016 San Diego Theatre Critics Circle Outstanding New Play award. BOY, which premiered offBroadway in a Keen Company/Ensemble Studio Theatre co-production, was nominated for the 2016 Outer Critics Circle John Gassner Award. A DELICATE SHIP was produced at Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park and the Playwrights Realm and was a New York Times and Time Out Critic’s Pick. Anna holds commissions from Second Stage Theatre, The Geffen Playhouse and Seattle Rep. Oberon Books has published a collection of her work entitled "Anna Ziegler: Plays One." She holds a BA from Yale and an MFA from NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts. www.annabziegler.net.
Mary MacDonald Kerr (Director) – Mary has been a theater artist in the Milwaukee area for 24 years. Locally, she has directed and acted with Renaissance Theaterworks, Milwaukee Chamber Theatre, Milwaukee Rep, Next Act Theatre, First Stage, In Tandem Theater, and Milwaukee Shakespeare theaters. Originally from Maryland, she received her Bachelor’s Degree from James Madison University. Most recently, she directed MARY JANE at Forward Theater in Madison, WEST SIDE STORY at Hope Rep in Holland, MI, and CYRANO at Titan Theatre in New York City. Other productions with Renaissance Theaterworks include LUNA GALE and WOMAN IN BLACK as a director, and BURN THIS and TOP GIRLS as an actor. Mary has been married for 28 years and is the mother of two beautiful daughters.
Emily Fury Daly (Amber) – Based in New York City and a graduate of University of California-Irvine’s MFA program, Emily has worked at such theaters as American Players Theatre, Pittsburgh Public Theatre, Chautauqua Theater Company, Pacific Conservatory Theatre, The Great River Shakespeare Festival, and La Mama Experimental Theatre Club.
Justin Jones (Tom) – This is Justin’s Renaissance Theaterworks’ debut. He was previously seen in ARCADIA at Theatreworks, in Colorado Springs, and THE COMEDY OF ERRORS and MACBETH at Arkansas Shakespeare Theatre. Last year, Justin completed the Emerging Professional Residency program at Milwaukee Repertory Theater, where his credits include A CHRISTMAS CAROL (Ensemble) and JUNK (Ensemble). Originally from New York, Justin holds a BA in Chinese and History from Williams College.
The Artistic Team for ACTUALLY includes Mary MacDonald Kerr (Director); Emily Fury Daly* (Amber); Justin Jones (Tom); Bailey Wagner* (Stage Manager); Tony Lyons (Technical Director); Noele Stollmack* (Lighting Designer); Lisa Schlenker* (Assistant Lighting Designer); Jody Sekas (Scenic Designer); Josh Schmidt* (Sound Designer); and Amy Horst (Costume Designer). * Member of Actors' Equity Association ~ Member of United Scenic Artists Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees
STREAMING
Streaming of the fully-staged rehearsal for ACTUALLY will be available on demand (cost $15) at https://vimeo.com/ondemand/actually beginning April 3 through April 30, 2020.