Modern revenge myth Is God Is comes to Braddock on February 24
By Sharon Eberson
Patrick Jordan’s barebones productions is back in business in Braddock, opening season No, 20 with the revenge fantasy Is God Is on February 24.
The Aleshea Harris play is described as “ a modern myth about twin sisters who sojourn from the Dirty South to the California desert to exact righteous revenge.” Winner of the 2016 Relentless Award, Harris has created a work that intersects “the ancient, the modern, the tragic, the Spaghetti Western and Afropunk in this darkly funny and unapologetic world.”
When Is God Is premiered off-Broadway in 2018, none other than Ben Brantley wrote in The New York Times, “Step aside, Quentin Tarantino and Martin McDonagh, and all you other macho purveyors of mutilation and mayhem with a smile. A snarly new master of high-octane carnage has risen into view. And she — yes, she — is putting her own audacious stamp on that most venerable of pop genres, the old-as-time tale in which getting even comes accessorized with flames, screams and buckets of blood.”
Sounds like a match made in gritty barebones heaven.
“Is God Is has been in our sights for a long time. We planned to kick off our 2020 season with it, and we all know what happened there,” says Jordan, barebones’ founder and artistic director. “The stars aligned this year for our 20th, and there is no better show than this deep, disturbing, hilarious, high-octane production to kick off the season.”
He added, “I’m especially excited about Javon Johnson, who starred in our production of The Elaborate Entrance of Chad Deity, leading this production as our director and for the collaboration with Byron Nash. Byron is one of Pittsburgh’s most prolific rock stars, and he brings an incredible energy and style to everything he does. The actors we’ve cast are mind-blowing. This one is going to be really special.”
Joining director Johnson on the wild ride is a cast including Shannon Williams, Sarai Quinice, Kim El, Garbie Dukes, Kelsey Robinson, Todd Griffin and Kivon Reeves. The creative team includes Nash (music and sound), Doug McDermott (technical director), Andrew David Ostrowski (lighting), Claire Durr (stage manager), Steve Tolin/Tolin Effects (special effects) and Randy Kovitz (fight direction).
Is God Is will run February 24-March 12 on the Braddock Black Box Bingo O’Malley Stage, 1211 Braddock Ave., 8 p.m. Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays and 2 p.m. Sundays. Tickets: barebonesproductions.com.
Categories: Show Previews
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