The KC Rep is the professional theatre in residence at UMKC
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 14, 2012
Contact: Kristin Pitts
(816) 235-6678, pittsk@umkc.edu
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – “Venice,” the Kansas City Repertory Theatre musical TIME magazine called “The Year’s Best Musical,” will have its New York premiere at The Public Theater, May 28-June 23.
“Venice” features a fusion of musical styles from hip-hop and rock to anthems of love and hope, tracing a young man’s rise as he fights for what’s right against a backdrop of deceit and sibling betrayal.
The musical has received accolades from local and national press. Robert Trussell, theatre critic for The Kansas City Star wrote, “This Show Sizzles … Rosen-Sax score again.” TIME magazine’s theatre critic Richard Zoglin proclaimed it to be “The Year’s Best Musical” and “The next major American musical.” Bob Verini of the weekly entertainment-trade magazine Variety called it “a new synthesis of rhythm and rock opera no fan of either art form should pass up.”
ERIC ROSEN (Director, Book, Lyrics) is Artistic Director of Kansas City Repertory Theatre and was Founding Artistic Director of Chicago’s About Face Theatre (AFT). Original projects include “Venice” (KC Rep, Center Theatre Group (CTG), “Best Musical of 2010″—TIME Magazine); Wedding Play (Steppenwolf, AFT, Jefferson Award nomination); Winesburg, Ohio (Steppenwolf, AFT—Jeff Award, Philadelphia’s Arden Theatre—Barrymore Award, KC Rep); Clay (AFT, Lookingglass, CTG, KC Rep, Lincoln Center’s LCT3—Drama Desk Nomination, Jeff Award); and Undone, Whitman, and Dream Boy (Jeff Award). Directing credits include LCT3, KC Rep, CTG, Steppenwolf, Goodman, Lookingglass, Chicago Shakespeare, Alliance, Hartford Stage, 5th Avenue, Prince, Cincinnati, Melbourne (Australia) and workshops at Sundance, O’Neill, Playwrights Horizons, and The Public Theater. He has developed and produced over 40 world premieres, including Doug Wright’s Pulitzer Prize- and Tony Award-winning I Am My Own Wife and work by Mary Zimmerman, Frank Galati, Stephen Flaherty and Moisés Kaufman, among others.
MATT SAX (Music and Lyrics) is a writer, actor and musician. His one man hip-hop musical, Clay, was presented by Lincoln Center (Drama Desk and Outer Critics nominations), Lookingglass Theatre/About Face Theatre (Jeff Award), Center Theatre Group (Ovation Award Nomination), KC Rep and the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. Prior to The Public, Venice has been presented by CTG and KC Rep. He also writes and performs in the comedy group Sax & Dixon, whose work has been presented by Ars Nova, The Montreal Comedy Festival and The NY Fringe Festival. He is also one half of the music collective, Fellow Rebel.
CURTIS MOORE (Additional Music) has composed the score for Timon of Athens at The Public, and recently returned from conducting and performing in Sam Mendes’ production of Richard III, starring Kevin Spacey. With lyricist Thomas Mizer, he was awarded a Jonathan Larson Grant in 2009; together they wrote the musicals Triangle and Stagecoach Mary (National Alliance for Musical Theatre), and The Bus to Buenos Aires (Ensemble Studio Theater). He composed and performed songs in the Todd Solondzʼs film, Palindromes, and composed the score for Clear Blue Tuesday.
“Venice” features choreography by Sergio Trujillo, scenic design by Beowulf Boritt; costume design by Clint Ramos; lighting design by Jason Lyons; sound design by Acme Sound Partners; and projection design by Jason H. Thompson.
“Venice” runs May 28-June 23 at the newly revitalized Public Theater at Astor Place in New York City. For ticket information, please call (212) 539-8650.
About the Kansas City Repertory Theatre
Now in its 48th season, Kansas City Repertory Theatre is its region’s only member of the League of Resident Theatres (LORT) and serves as the professional theatre in residence at the University of Missouri-Kansas City (UMKC). Lauded by The Wall Street Journal, TIME magazine, Variety and the Toronto Sun, the Rep produces mainstage plays and special events at Spencer Theatre on the UMKC campus and Copaken Stage located in downtown Kansas City. Kansas City Rep employs more than 250 professional artists, technicians and administrators, and serves more than 100,000 patrons and 12,000 school children annually. Kansas City Repertory Theatre is led by Artistic Director Eric Rosen and Producing Director Jerry Genochio.
About the University of Missouri-Kansas City
The University of Missouri-Kansas City, one of four University of Missouri campuses, is a public university serving more than 15,000 undergraduate, graduate and professional students. UMKC engages with the community and economy based on a four-part mission: life and health sciences; visual and performing arts; urban issues and education; and a vibrant learning and campus life experience. For more information about UMKC, visit www.umkc.edu. You can also find us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter and watch us on YouTube.
# # #
This information is available to people with speech or hearing impairments by calling Relay Missouri at (800) 735-2966 (TT) or (800) 735-2466 (voice).