Intimate Apparel - North Coast Repertory Theatre

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Intimate Apparel

Written by Lynn Nottage
Directed by Jasmine Bracey

From: Nancy Richards
nancy@northcoastrep.org
Office: 858-481-1055 ext.

NORTH COAST REPERTORY THEATRE PRESENTS
THE POIGNANT AND POWERFUL PLAY
INTIMATE APPAREL
By Lynn Nottage
Performances Beginning January 10, 2024
Running Through February 4, 2024
Directed By Jasmine Bracey

Solana Beach, Calif. – North Coast Repertory Theatre is thrilled to stage INTIMATE APPAREL, a heartfelt tale of belonging, love, and survival, which launches the New Year and second half of Season 42. Two-time Pulitzer Prize-winning dramatist Lynn Nottage has stitched together a powerful tale with an array of characters whose intertwining relationships are told with humor, heartbreak and resiliency.

Set in 1905 New York City, INTIMATE APPAREL tells the story of a lonely but talented black seamstress, Esther, living in a Manhattan boardinghouse. Despite her current circumstances, Esther dreams of a more fulfilling life.

Directed by Jasmine Bracey, the play takes us through Esther’s world where she creates exquisite lingerie for diverse clientele, from wealthy white patrons to prostitutes. Her life takes a dramatic turn when she begins correspondence with a suitor, George, working on the Panama Canal.

The cast features Madeleine Barker*, Teri Brown*, Jonathan Fisher Jr*, Donald Paul*, Nedra Snipes* and Arizsia Staton bringing together a remarkable ensemble of characters. The design team, featuring Marty Burnett (Set Design), Matthew Novotny (Light Design), Elisa Benzoni+ (Costume Design), Evan Eason (Sound Design), Cindy Rumley (Prop Design), Matt FitzGerald (Projection Design), Peter Herman (Hair & Wigs Design) creates a visually stunning backdrop that captures the essence of the early 20th century New York. Jared Halsell is the Stage Manager.

*The actor or stage manager appears through the courtesy of Actors’ Equity Association.

INTIMATE APPAREL previews begin on Wednesday, January 10. Opening Night is set for Saturday, January 13 at 8 pm. The play runs Wednesday, January 10 to Sunday, February 4, with performances on Wednesdays and Thursdays at 7 pm, Fridays and Saturdays at 8 pm, and Saturday and Sunday matinees at 2 pm. Added matinee performances at 2pm on Friday, January 12 and Wednesday, January 31. A talkback session with the artistic director and cast is scheduled for January 19.

BIOS:

LYNN NOTTAGE (Playwright) is a playwright and a screenwriter, and the first woman in history to win two Pulitzer Prizes for Drama. Her plays have been produced widely in the United States and throughout the world. Recent work includes the book for MJ the Musical (Broadway), the libretto for the Intimate Apparel Opera (LCT), and Clyde’s (Broadway, 2ST, Goodman Theatre), and co-curating the performance installation The Watering Hole (Signature Theatre). Past work includes Sweat, Ruined, the book for The Secret Life of Bees; Mlima’s Tale; By the Way, Meet Vera Stark; Intimate Apparel; Fabulation, or the Re-Education of Undine; Crumbs from the Table of Joy; Las Meninas; Mud, River, Stone; Por’knockers; and POOF!. She has also developed This is Reading, a performance installation in Reading, Pennsylvania. Ms. Nottage is a member of the Theater Hall of Fame, and the recipient of a MacArthur “Genius Grant” Fellowship (among other awards). She is also an Associate Professor at Columbia University School of the Arts and is a member of the Dramatists Guild.

JASMINE BRACEY (Director) is a New York based storyteller and story teacher. She is thrilled to be working on Intimate Apparel at North Coast Repertory Theatre. She’s also a proud member of Actor’s Equity & SAG-AFTRA. Her theatre career has taken her across the country. She has spent the past three summers at the Utah Shakespeare Festival, most recently playing Menenius in Coriolanus and Prospero in The Tempest. Other notable mentions, Berkeley Rep, The Alley Theatre, The Guthrie, The Goodman, Steppenwolf, Chicago Shakespeare Theatre, The Asolo Rep, & The Acting Company. As a director, she has worked with artists developing devised & new work. Jasmine has also worked on various film, commercial, short, and voice over projects in New York & Chicago. She received her bachelor’s in theatre from Florida State University; studied musical theatre at AMDA NY; and earned her master’s in classical acting from the University of Delaware.

MADELEINE BARKER* (Mrs. Van Buren) (She/Her) Pride and Prejudice (Hartford Stage) Soldiergirls (Rattlestick Theatre); Gregorian (The WAT Project at Soho Rep The WalkerSpace). The Inferior Sex, A Christmas Carol (Trinity Repertory Company); Natasha, Pierre and the Great Comet of 1812 (The Wilbury Theatre); Grease (Ogunquit Playhouse, John W Engeman Theater); South Pacific (Riverside Theatre, Moonlight Amphitheater Productions), Jane Eyre (World premier adaptation with CounterBalance Theater), The Merchant of Venice (The New Swan) Film: “Goodnight Death,” “Still Light,” “Start Breaking my Heart.” MFA in Acting from Brown University/Trinity Rep; BT Productions include Everybody, Macbeth, Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? Much love to Mom and Dad. Thank you, North Coast Rep, for bringing me on this journey!

TERI BROWN* (Mrs. Dickson) Is delighted to make her North Coast Repertory debut! Recent regional theatre credits include American Players Theatre-Wisconsin (The Merry Wives of Windsor, Our Town) Virginia Stage Company- Norfolk (Angry, Raucous and Shamelessly Gorgeous) Great River Shakespeare Festival- Minnesota (The African Company Presents Richard III), Brave New World Rep- Brooklyn, NY (Dutch Kings). A graduate of Carnegie-Mellon University, she’s also appeared in classical and contemporary works with The Public Theatre of Maine, Arkansas Repertory Theatre, Atlanta Shakespeare, and the Alliance Theatre. With love and gratitude always to my wonderful husband and children.

JONATHAN FISHER JR* (Mr. Marks) is thrilled to make his debut at North Coast Repertory in Intimate Apparel! Some favorite recent theatre credits include The Tempest (Oregon Shakespeare Festival); Meteor Shower & All in the Timing (Little Fish Theatre); Henry V (Henry), Twelfth Night (Malvolio) & Measure for Measure (Angelo) (Shakespeare by the Sea); In the Green (The Wayward Artist); A Sad Tale’s Best for Winter (Beating of Wings at A Noise Within); Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead (A Noise Within); Elevada & Tribes (Chance Theater) and Macbeth (Sacramento Theatre Company). You may also recognize him from his 11 game winning streak on “Jeopardy!” in 2021 and the 2022 Tournament of Champions. Special thanks to my parents and love to Anna, Milly, Leo and Clover.

DONALD PAUL* (George) is a classically trained actor hailing from Palm Beach, Florida. On stage, Donald has worked in regional theaters all over the country and has received awards for his performances in The Elaborate Entrance of Chad Deity at both San Jose Stage and Capital Stage Company; Seven Guitars and The Wild Duck at TheatreWorks Colorado Springs; and for FLY at Flat Rock Playhouse. His TV credits include “Chicago PD,” “Raising Dion,” “Law & Order,” “Queen of the South,” “The Good Fight,” “Elementary,” “Quantico,” “Atlanta,” “Love Is,” “Underground,” “Blue Bloods,” “Power,” “Boardwalk Empire,” “Seal Team,” and more. Donald is a proud graduate of the University of Maryland and The American Academy of Dramatic Arts. He is represented by BRS/Gage Talent Agency and managed by Zero Gravity Management.

NEDRA SNIPES* (Esther) is excited to make her North Coast Repertory Theatre debut this Winter! Nedra is an actor, vocalist, producer, and director from North Carolina. Credits include: Lady Day at Emerson’s Bar and Grill (*U/S Syracuse Stage – multi. performances ), Nothing, Nothing (HERO Theatre); The First Deep Breath (U/S Geffen Playhouse); Clyde’s (Goodman Theatre and Center Theatre Group); Perseverance (Portland Stage); The Caterers, Should We Dance Instead? (Thrown Stone Theatre Comp.); The Three Musketeers, Antigone (The Classical Theatre of Harlem); Aida (Montgomery College Summer Dinner Theatre); Much Ado About Nothing (The Atlanta Shakespeare Company); In the Blood, The Cherry Orchard, Antony and Cleopatra, Too Heavy for Your Pocket, and Cardboard Piano (The Juilliard School). She is a proud alumnus of Howard University (B.F.A.) and The Juilliard School (M.F.A.). Nedra is represented by Innovative Artists Agency and Seven Summits Management. nedrasnipes.com RNR

ARIZSIA STATON (Mayme) is delighted to be making her North CoastRepertory debut. She is an actor, director, writer, and educator. She received an MFA in acting from the University of California, Irvine, and a BFA in acting from Western Michigan University. A few of Arizsia’s favorite acting credits include The Tempest, (Antonio), Utah Shakespeare Festival; The Revolutionists, (Marianne Angelle), and A Doll’s House Pt. 2, (Emmy Farmers), Alley Theatre; Wherein I See Myself, (Jaques), New Swan Shakespeare Co.; Dancing Granny, (Granny Anika), Waiting to be Invited, (Lousie), Western Michigan University; Antony and Cleopatra, (Antony), Theatre of AZ; DNA, (Lou Pit), and Balcony. She is currently writing and curating a book of stories, short plays, and poems titled “Art of Fact” set to be released January of 2024. You can keep up with her by following her on Instagram @arizsiatheartist, or at Arizsia.com

JARED BLAKE HALSELL* (Stage Manager) is a stage manager from Ione, CA. Prior to living in San Diego, he worked at The Harris Center for the Arts (formerly Three Stages) as a stage technician in Folsom, CA (2011-2016). Select credits include ASM: Evita (Cygnet Theatre), Here There are Blueberries (La Jolla Playhouse & Tectonic Theater Project); PSM: The Four Note Opera (kallisti, under the artistic direction of Susan Narucki), Perpetual (E) motion (Malashock Dance), Bunny Bunny (UCSD & the feath3r theory), Meladi Thive and Her Words of Comfort (UCSD), and The Who’s Tommy (Falcon’s Eye Theatre). Education: BA Theatre Arts SDSU 2019, MFA Stage Management UCSD 2023. @jbh.stage.management on Instagram.