Regional Premiere of Bess Wohl’s “American Hero” Opens at Rep Stage This November
Update: "American Hero" has received multiple positive reviews, including a "Helen Hayes Awards" recommendation from Theatre Washington and glowing reviews from The Baltimore Sun and DC Metro Theater Arts.
Columbia, MD – Rep Stage, the regional theatre in residence at Howard Community College (HCC), continues its 24th season with Bess Wohl’s “American Hero,” directed by Suzanne Beal. At a toasted sub franchise in the local mall, three up-and-coming “sandwich artists”—a teenager, a single mom, and a downsized refugee from corporate banking—are perfecting the mustard-to-cheese ratio, according to the company manual. When their shot at the American dream is interrupted by a series of strange events, they become unlikely allies in a post-recession world. “American Hero” is a supersized dark comedy about life, liberty, and the pursuit of sandwiches.
“[Bess Wohl’s] darkly funny comedy… takes a wry, compassionate attitude toward American workers barely clinging to the bottom rungs of the economic ladder.” – The New York Times
Bess Wohl’s plays include “American Hero,” Small Mouth Sounds,” “Barcelona," and “Touched.” Her plays have been produced or developed at theaters in New York and around the country, including Second Stage, Ars Nova, The Williamstown Theatre Festival, The Contemporary American Theater Festival. Her work has been supported by PlayPenn, the Sewanee Writer's Conference, Ars Nova, and a MacDowell Fellowship. She has received new play commissions from Manhattan Theatre Club, Hartford Stage, and Center Theatre Group. A graduate of Harvard, Wohl earned her MFA from the Yale School of Drama.
“American Hero” opens November 2, 2016, with a limited run through November 20 in the Studio Theatre of the Horowitz Visual and Performing Arts Center, located on the campus of HCC, 10901 Little Patuxent Parkway, Columbia, Maryland. There will be post-show discussions on November 6, 11, and 18. A pre-show lecture will be held prior to the 2 p.m. performance on November 19.
Tickets are $40 for general admission, $35 for seniors and the military, and $15 for students with a current ID. Wednesdays and the first Thursday are pay-what-you-can performances. For tickets and additional information, visit www.repstage.org or call the box office at 443-518-1500.
The press performance is Friday, November 4 at 8 p.m. For press reservations, contact Zheyan Damavandi in the Rep Stage office at 443-518-1510 or email zdamavandi@howardcc.edu.
CAST (In Order of Appearance)
- Gary-Kayi Fletcher** (Bob/Customer/Gregory/Sandwich)
- Liliana Evans (Sheri)
- Megan Anderson* (Jamie)
- Eric M. Messner* (Ted)
ARTISTIC TEAM
- Written by: Bess Wohl
- Directed by: Suzanne Beal
- Set Design by: James Fouchard++
- Lighting Design by: William D’Eugenio
- Sound Design by: Jerry Matheny
- Costume Design by: Jessica Welch
- Properties Design by: Mollie Singer
- Stage Management by: Julie DeBakey Smith*
- Assistant Stage Management by: Erica Feidelseit**
* Members Actor’s Equity Association
** Equity Membership Candidate
++ Member of United Scenic Artists, IATSE
ABOUT REP STAGE
Rep Stage, a professional regional theatre in residence at Howard Community College, is celebrating its 24th season. The company is a member of the League of Washington Theatres, the Greater Baltimore Cultural Alliance, and Theatre Communications Group. Rep Stage is recognized by Theatre Washington as a professional DC metro area theatre company and is eligible to be nominated for the Helen Hayes Awards. Performances are made possible by Howard Arts Council, Howard County government, and the Maryland State Arts Council, an agency funded by the Stage of Maryland and National Endowment of the Arts, as well as through generous individual contributions. Rep Stage is proud to be a partner of Howard County Tourism and promotion. Rep Stage’s artistic leadership is helmed by co-producing artistic directors Suzanne Beal and Joseph Ritsch.