You are Invited: Pipeline

Cadence Theatre Company and Virginia Repertory Theatre Celebrate Inaugural Year of the Cadence Pipeline New Works Fellowship

Events include An Evening with David Lindsay-Abaire and a Weekend of Staged Public Readings of New Works by Pipeline Fellows

 RICHMOND, VA — Cadence Theatre Company and Virginia Repertory Theatre will welcome Pulitzer Prize–winning playwright David Lindsay-Abaire to Richmond on June 20, 2019, to celebrate the inaugural year of the Cadence Pipeline New Works Fellowship and the 2018–2019 Fellows: Brittany Fisher, Will Inman, Irene Ziegler, and writing partners Steven Burneson and Sanam Laila Hashemi.

The Cadence Pipeline New Works Fellowship offers selected Virginia playwrights the opportunity to develop new work under the artistic guidance and mentorship of a professional playwright. Lindsay-Abaire, this year’s mentor, received the 2007 Pulitzer Prize for Drama for his play Rabbit Hole. Cadence Theatre Company, in partnership with Virginia Repertory Theatre, has produced several of Lindsay-Abaire’s plays, including Rabbit Hole(2017), Good People 2013), and Kimberly Akimbo (2011). Inaugural funding for the Fellowship was provided by CapTech; Laura A. Heymann and Mark A. Badger; the Virginia Commission for the Arts; the National Endowment for the Arts; TheatreVCU; and the City of Richmond.

“Nothing excites me more than seeing new plays come to life,” said Lindsay-Abaire. “What a privilege to be invited to Cadence to work with an astoundingly talented group of writers and to be a small part of a process that will help them bring four brand new plays into the world. Under the visionary leadership of Anna Senechal Johnson, Cadence has proven itself to be one of the most vital and relevant theater companies in the country. Developing new work by local playwrights is a thrilling next step for them.” Johnson added, “There are no words to express how grateful we are to work with David Lindsay-Abaire, and to witness his process with the playwrights is so inspiring.  We are hopeful that this innovative fellowship model for Virginia playwrights will help these storytellers achieve their dreams.”

The Cadence Pipeline New Works Fellowship aligns with Virginia Repertory Theatre’s commitment to New Play Development, a flexible and dynamic initiative that encompasses commissioning and developing work from inception, supporting development already in process, and shepherding a play to its world premiere and beyond. “This exciting new initiative is the perfect complement to our existing New Play Development efforts,” said Virginia Repertory Theatre’s Artistic Director Nathaniel Shaw. “The Rep has long been devoted to Virginia talent, and fostering the development of Virginia playwrights is fully aligned with that mission.”

The Fellowship’s inaugural year will be celebrated with a weekend of special events. An Evening with David Lindsay-Abaire will take place on Thursday, June 20, from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. The ticketed event will feature remarks by Lindsay-Abaire and musical entertainment in a private Richmond home and garden. Pipeline New Works: Staged Readings will provide the public with the first opportunity to see the groundbreaking new plays that have resulted from this year’s Fellowship. The readings, which are free and open to the public, will take place on Saturday, June 22, and Sunday, June 23, at 2:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. both days, at the Theatre Gym, located at Virginia Repertory Theatre. A full schedule and ticketing information are listed below.

An Evening with David Lindsay-Abaire

Thursday, June 20, 5:30 p.m.–7:30 p.m.

403 North Allen Avenue, Richmond, VA

Tickets: $75.00

Payment: Please submit a check made out to Cadence Theatre Company (P.O. Box 7119, Richmond, VA 23221) in the amount of $75.00 per person or submit your payment via PayPal at www.paypal.me/cadencetheatre. All attendees will become Pipeline 75 members, recognized in Cadence’s mainstage programs and in future Pipeline projects. Space is limited.

Pipeline New Works: Staged Readings

All readings are at the Theatre Gym, located at Virginia Repertory Theatre, 114 West Broad Street, Richmond, VA 23220. Admission is free, but a general admission ticket is required. For tickets, visit http://cadencetheatrecompany.eventbrite.com .  Please do not contact the Virginia Repertory Theatre Box Office. Space is limited.

Saturday, June 22, 2:00 p.m.

Chimborazo Hill by Irene Ziegler, directed by Rusty Wilson

Long-time liberal activist Carol Rankin is days away from being recognized with a prestigious Humanitarian of the Year Award when long-suppressed truths about a murder on Richmond’s Chimborazo Hill threaten everything she holds dear, including her career, reputation, and family. Questions of complicity, hypocrisy, and vigilante justice swirl as Carol’s once solid code of ethics is put to the test.

Saturday, June 22, 8:00 p.m.

For My Next Trick by Will Inman, directed by Laine Satterfield

Danielle wants to be a stage magician more than anything, but she needs an assistant. Her peppy, overbearing sister seems to be the only viable option, so they do their best to put their feelings aside and create an amazing show together. Add to the mix a straight-shooting club owner, a sultry drag magician, and her hunky assistant, and you’ve got a night full of surprises, illusions, and more than a few dildos. Contains adult content. 

Sunday, June 23, 2:00 p.m.

Cross Stitch Bandits by Sanam Laila Hashemi and Steven Burneson, directed by Bostin Christopher

David’s family is on a trajectory for success, exactly as he planned. Now, after devoting 27 years to the same engineering firm, his family wants to celebrate by permanently laying his career to rest. What starts as a kooky twist on a retirement party leaves David scrambling to get their lives back on track.

Sunday, June 23, 8:00 p.m.

How to Bruise Gracefully by Brittany Fisher, directed by Melissa Mowry

A young YouTuber, Vi, is hiding something. What begins as a typical workday at Burger King soon spirals into a deep exploration of fear, trauma, and inner strength through the eyes of women who have both nothing and everything to lose. This is a crash course on survival and how to cope with the reality of not being in control of your own body. Contains adult content.

David Lindsay-Abaire is a Pulitzer Prize–winning playwright, screenwriter, lyricist, and librettist. His play Good People premiered on Broadway and was awarded the New York Drama Critics Circle Award for Best Play, the Horton Foote Prize, the Edgerton Foundation New American Play Award, two Tony Award nominations, and the Spirit of America Award. His previous play, Rabbit Hole, received the Pulitzer Prize for Drama, five Tony nominations, and the Spirit of America Award. Lindsay-Abaire also wrote the book and lyrics for Shrek The Musical (Jeanine Tesori, composer), which was nominated for eight Tonys, four Oliviers, and a Grammy and earned Lindsay-Abaire the Ed Kleban Award as America’s most promising musical theater lyricist. Lindsay-Abaire’s other plays include Ripcord, Fuddy Meers, Kimberly Akimbo, Wonder of the World, and A Devil Inside. Lindsay-Abaire’s screen credits include his film adaptation of Rabbit Hole, starring Nicole Kidman, who received an Oscar nomination for her role in the film; Dreamwork’s Rise of the Guardians; and The Family Fang. Lindsay-Abaire is co-director of the Playwriting Program at the Juilliard School.

Cadence Theatre Company’s mission is to inspire and transform our community by presenting contemporary theatrical works and educational programs that uplift the spirit, challenge the mind, and honor both our individuality and shared humanity.