Rep Stage Opens 16th Season with “Trumbo: Red, White and Blacklisted”July 29, 2008
Rep Stage DC/Baltimore premiere accompanied by free “Trumbo Film Festival” of playwright’s films
(Columbia, MD) – Rep Stage, the professional Equity theatre in residence at Howard Community College (HCC), kicks off its 16th season with “Trumb Red, White and Blacklisted,” Christopher Trumbo’s story of his father, screenwriter Dalton Trumbo, who famously stood up to the House Un-American Activities committee in 1947. “Trumbo” opens on August 27 and runs through September 28, 2008 in the Studio Theatre (formerly Black Box Theatre) in the Horowitz Center on the HCC campus. Directed by Steven Carpenter and starring Helen Hayes Award winner Nigel Reed, “Trumbo” reveals how the writer of “Spartacus,” “Roman Holiday,” and “Exodus” took on Congress, Hollywood, and the Red Scare - and won! For show schedules and ticket information, refer to the included Fact Sheet. To purchase tickets, call the Box Office at 410-772-4900 or visit www.repstage.org. Press opening is Sunday, August 31 at 2:30 p.m.
Trumbo, a talented writer and self-proclaimed communist, was blacklisted in Hollywood and imprisoned after he refused to provide information on the communist party in front of the House Un-American Activities Committee. After his release from prison, Trumbo was exiled to Mexico, where he continued to write, producing numerous scripts under false identities and pseudonyms. Slowly, Trumbo earned back the respect and acceptance of his Hollywood peers and, eventually, was awarded with a Lifetime Achievement award by the Screen Writers Guild.
The Los Angeles Times called Christopher Trumbo’s play “riotously funny…impeccably crafted. ‘Trumbo’ may be the best stage document of the devastation wrought by the House Committee’s hearings.”
“‘Trumbo’ is a great way to start the season,” said Michael Stebbins, Rep Stage’s Producing Artistic Director. “In ‘Trumbo’ we observe one man’s identity - his livelihood as well as his name - taken away from him. Based on Trumbo’s actual letters during this period of his life, we have the chance to savor his wonderful skills as a writer and admire his humor, strength and his hope that right will prevail.”
Steven Carpenter returns to Rep Stage in his second production as director, having previously directed last season’s “Mrs. Farnsworth.” He has also appeared onstage as an actor in Rep Stage’s “Lonesome West,” “Translations” and “Ambrosio.” Carpenter is a company member at the Washington Stage Guild, where his directing credits include “Opus,” “The Underpants,” “Incorruptible,” “The Unexpected Man” and “A Skull in Connemara.” Carpenter was a Helen Hayes nominee for Outstanding Director for his production of “Thief River” at Theatre Alliance.
Nigel Reed has appeared in Rep Stage’s “Two by Pinter: The Collection and the Lover,” “Hamlet,” “The Seagull” and received the 2002 Helen Hayes Award for Outstanding Leading Actor for his portrayal of “Oscar Wilde” in “The Judas Kiss.” Reed has appeared at Olney Theatre Center, Everyman Theatre, Signature Theatre, Catalyst Theater, Forum Theatre and The Washington Stage Guild. Off Broadway credits include “Misalliance” starring Philip Bosco, and television credits include “All My Children” and “Guiding Light.”
Making his Rep Stage debut in “Trumbo” is Jonathan Watkins. Mr. Watkins has appeared regionally at Baltimore Shakespeare Festival, Roundhouse Theatre, Imagination Stage, Washington Shakespeare Company and The Kennedy Center. Television appearances include the HBO film “Something the Lord Made” as well as the HBO series “The Wire.”
The creative team includes: Melanie Clark, costume designer; Andrew Haag, lighting designer; Dre Moore, properties designer; Neil McFadden, sound designer; Milagros Ponce De Leon, set designer.
To accompany the Rep Stage production, HCC is hosting a “Trumbo Film Festival” in the Studio Theatre with a screening of three of the playwright’s films. “Spartacus,” the Oscar-winning film about a rebellious slave, directed by Stanley Kubrick and starring Kirk Douglas, will be shown on September 8. The romantic comedy “Roman Holiday,” starring Audrey Hepburn and Gregory Peck, will be shown on September 15. Trumbo posthumously received a Best Writing Oscar for “Roman Holiday.” Initially, Ian McLellan Hunter was given the screen credit and award for the film, but later admitted that he had fronted for Trumbo during his blacklisting. The prison escape film “Papillon” will be shown on September 22. Starring Steve McQueen and Dustin Hoffman, “Papillon” was Trumbo’s final screenwriting credit on a feature film. Screenings begin at 7:30 p.m. with a pre-show introduction and lecture at 7 p.m. Admission to all three films will be free of charge.
Rep Stage is a member of both League of Washington Theatres and Baltimore Theatre Alliance. Performances are made possible by Howard County Arts Council, Howard County Government, Columbia Foundation, and Maryland State Arts Council, an agency funded by the state of Maryland and National Endowment for the Arts, as well as through generous individual contributions. Howard Bank is the Rep Stage 2008-09 season partner.
