New Repertory Theatre
Presents Pulitzer Prize Finalist
"Yellowman"

Obie award-winning author Dael Orlandersmith has established a reputation for beautifully lyrical plays that explore and expose taboo subjects.   Her 2002 Pulitzer finalist play, "Yellowman," is no exception.
                         
"Yellowman," in which Orlandersmith examines the seldom-discussed subject of skin tone prejudice amongst African-Americans, begins previews at New Repertory Theatre on March 3.  Performances will run Wednesdays through Sundays through April 4.

In "Yellowman," Alma, a dark-skinned African-American woman, and her childhood friend, Eugene, a light-skinned African-American man, grow up together.  They yearn to escape the South. They dream about reinventing their lives -- and their friendship blossoms into love.  

However, there are painful lessons to be learned about the harsh reality that skin tone divides even the closest of friends, families and communities, and that racism from within can be almost as destructive as  racism from without.

Orlandersmith won an Obie Award for "Beauty's Daughter," which she wrote and starred in at American Place Theatre. She was a finalist for the Susan Smith Blackburn Award in 1999 and is the recipient of a NYFA Grant and The Helen Merrill Emerging Playwrights Award.  She was a Pulitzer Prize Award finalist and Drama Desk Award Nominee for "Yellowman."

New Rep's Producing Artistic Director, Rick Lombardo commented, “I saw Ms. Orlandersmith perform her one-woman show, 'The Gimmick.'  It was at the Theatre Communication Group Conference three years ago and I was simply blown away by the power of her writing.”

Director Lois Roach has directed two previous productions at New Rep: "Having Our Say" and "A Lesson Before Dying."   Her production of "The Old Settler" at Lyric Stage Company received the Elliot Norton Outstanding Production Award and the IRNE Outstanding Production and Outstanding Director Awards.
 
Appearing as Alma, Adrienne Williams  comes to New Rep from New York where she was a company member at the Jean Cocteau Rep for three years.   She has appeared at the Vineyard Theatre, the Actor's Theatre of Nantucket, the Manhattan Theatre Club, and the Texas Shakespeare Festival.   She has been seen on television in "Law & Order" and "The Sopranos," and in the films "Kids Like These" and the soon to be released, "Fly Away With Me."

Dorian Christian Baucum, playing Eugene, has appeared locally with Our Place Theatre, Shakespeare & Co. and ACT/Roxbury.   He received an IRNE for Best Supporting Actor in "Blues for an Alabama Sky" and appeared in the indie film, "The Promise."

For information, call the New Rep box office in Newton Highlands at 617-332-1646 or log onto www.newrep.org.

-- OnStage Boston

2/18/04