American Voices Series
Continues With "Fences"

The Wang Center for the Performing Arts continues American Voices: Drama, Dialogue, Downtown with a reading of August Wilson's Tony Award and Pulitzer Prize-winner "Fences" on Monday, January 12 at 7:00 p.m. 

American Voices, a play reading series that showcases classic American works on Monday nights at The Shubert Theatre this winter, launched on December 8 with "Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf."  The series will also include readings of David Mamet's "American Buffalo," February 2 and Sam Shepard's "True West," March 15.  The performances take place in the new, intimate-seating configuration at The Shubert Theatre.  A short question and answer session follows each reading.

The reading of August Wilson's "Fences" on Monday, January 12,  at 7:00 p.m. will feature Tony Award-winner Ruben Santiago-Hudson as Troy, Jacqui Parker as Rose and Baron Kelly as Jim.  The 1987 Tony Award and Pulitzer Prize-winner centers on former Negro-league baseball player Troy Maxson, who has spent his entire life trying to break down the fences constructed by forces beyond his control.  Now, after a life of trying to break free of such boundaries, he finds himself fencing in all those whom he loves - his brother, his wife, and his son. 

Ruben Santiago-Hudson's Broadway credits include "Jelly's Last Jam" with Gregory Hines,  a Tony Award-winning role in August Wilson's "Seven Guitars" and the title role of "Henry VIII" in the 1997 New York Shakespeare Festival. 
 
Jacqui Parker is the founder and Artistic Director of the Our Place Theatre Project.  Her credits include a leading role in the New Rep's 2002 production of "No Niggers, No Jews, No Dogs" as well as roles in "Haymarket" (Boston Playwrights Theatre) and "Breath Boom" (Huntington Theatre Company.)  Jacqui won the Elliot Norton Award 2000 Best Actress award for her role in "The Old Settler"(Lyric Stage Co.) 

Baron Kelly's Broadway credits include "Salome" with Al Pacino and "Electra" with Colleen Dewhurst.  He played the world premiere of "Angels in America" and has made appearances in over 30 regional theaters.  Kelly played Duncan in Commonwealth Shakespeare Company's "Macbeth" on Boston Common last summer.

Director Steven Maler is the founding Artistic Director of Commonwealth Shakespeare Company and Resident Director at The Wang Center for the Performing Arts.

Tickets for American Voices: Drama, Dialogue, Downtown are on sale at The Shubert Theatre box office, 265 Tremont Street, Boston, online at www.wangcenter.org, or by calling Telecharge.com at 1-800-447-7400.

-- OnStage Boston

12/17/03