RED BANK, NJ- Two River Theater, announces the cast and creative team for its production of August Wilson‘s Jitney, directed by Ruben Santiago-Hudson.
Director
Santiago-Hudson, who is now starring on Broadway in Stick Fly, won a Tony Award for his performance in Wilson’s Seven Guitars and made his directorial debut with a production of Wilson’s Gem of the Ocean for McCarter Theatre. He says, “August Wilson is one of the world’s most celebrated playwrights.
This is a director’s dream, to helm a production filled with such a stellar cast of theater veterans and distinguished Broadway actors. Excited would be an understatement, exhilarated falls short, honored is more precise.”
About Jitney
Jitney is the eighth play in Wilson’s 10-play cycle, which depicts the African-American experience in each decade of the 20th century and for which he won the Pulitzer Prize and two Tony Awards.
Two River’s production will star Tony Award winner Chuck Cooper (The Life) as Becker, boss of a makeshift gypsy cab station in the changing community of 1977 Pittsburgh. Anthony Chisholm, who originated roles in the New York productions of four of Wilson’s plays (including his Tony-nominated performance in Radio Golf), will play the jitney driver Fielding, for which he won an Obie and the Drama Desk Award at Second Stage. James A. Williams, whose long professional relationship with
Wilson extends back to the playwright’s first professional production in 1981, will play Doub, another jitney driver. (Wilson named the character in honor of the actor’s own nickname, Jay Dub.)
Booster, Becker’s long-estranged son, will be played by J. Bernard Calloway, who is currently starring on Broadway in Memphis. Roslyn Ruff and Brandon J. Dirden will play the young lovers, Rena and Youngblood. Ruff won an Obie for the revival of Wilson’s Seven Guitars and Dirden’s credits include The First Breeze of Summer; both productions were directed by Santiago-Hudson at Signature Theatre.
Harvey Blanks, Ray Anthony Thomas, and Allie Woods-all of whom have appeared in productions of Wilson’s plays at theaters around the country-will complete the company as Shealy, Philmore, and Turnbo, respectively.
The creative team for Jitney includes scenic designer Neil Patel, costume designer Karen Perry, lighting designer Rui Rita, and sound designer Leon Rothenberg. The production will feature original music by Bill Sims Jr. and casting by Heidi Griffiths.
The production will run January 31-February 19, 2012, with the opening night on February 4, 2012. Single tickets starting at $37 and three- and four-play ticket packages for Two River’s season are available from 732.345.1400 orTwo River Theater website
Single tickets for Jitney are available now; single ticket prices begin at $37. Discounts are available for groups, seniors, students, and patrons aged 30 and under.
