FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Kellie Wambold
651.263.1055 or wambold27@gmail.com
THE CONSTRUCTIVISTS ANNOUNCE CAST AND CREATIVES FOR “THE PILLOWMAN” BY MARTIN MCDONAGH
AS A FIRST IN PRODUCTION HISTORY, A FEMALE ACTOR TO HELM LEAD ROLE IN THEIR INAUGURAL SEASON OPENER
From top left, l-r: Jaimelyn Gray (Director), Rose Grizzell (Katurian), Logan Milway (Michal), Jaime Jastrab (Tupolski), Rob Schreiner (Ariel), Emmaline Friederichs (Mother), Jarrod Langwinski (Boy), Sarah Harris (Set and Costume Design), Robert Hornbostel (Sound Design), Ellie Rabinowitz (Lighting Design), Les Zarzecki (Technical Direction and Set Construction), Laura Sturm (Voice and Movement), Kellie Wambold (PR & Marketing), and Krista Kanderski (Stage Management).
August 21, 2018 – (Milwaukee) The Constructivists, a new Milwaukee Non-Equity Theater Company, are thrilled to announce the CAST AND CREATIVES for its fall production of THE PILLOWMAN by MARTIN MCDONAGH, as for the first time in the history of its production, a woman will play the lead role of Katurian — as a woman — after successful lobbying of the playwright.
“She was just the best actor for the role,” states director Jaimelyn Gray. “During auditions, it became clear Rose was the right person to fill Katurian’s shoes.”
Through a series of emails to Dramatists Play Service, Gray was able to receive approval to cast a female in the lead role, after initially being told “the playwright does not allow the male characters to be cast with female actors or to be changed to female characters. The actors must be males playing male roles.” But after emails in which Gray argued points of the casting decision, the licensing company changed its position, stating, “The head of our [Non-Equity] department contacted Mr. McDonagh’s agent and Mr. McDonagh has decided to change his stance on not allowing female actors to be cast in the play. You may cast a woman in the role of Katurian and she may play it as a woman.”
The Cast of THE PILLOWMAN includes Rose Grizzell (Katurian), Logan Milway (Michal), Jaime Jastrab (Tupolski), Rob Schreiner (Ariel), Emmaline Friederichs (Mother), and Jarrod Langwinski (Boy). The roles of Father and Girl are still in the process of casting as of press time.
The Creative Team for THE PILLOWMAN is Jaimelyn Gray (Director), Sarah Harris (Set and Costume Design), Robert Hornbostel (Sound Design), Ellie Rabinowitz (Lighting Design), Les Zarzecki (Technical Direction and Set Construction), Laura Sturm (Voice and Movement), Krista Kanderski (Stage Management), and Kellie Wambold (PR & Marketing).
Dates and Production Information
The Pillowman, by Martin McDonagh
Directed by Jaimelyn Gray
The blackest of dark comedies, THE PILLOWMAN is a stunner of a play surrounding two siblings, Katurian and Michal, who are being held in prison under suspicion that the former may have murdered three small children in a way that eerily reflects tales she has written. McDonagh does not hold back on the horror as two hardened, and potentially violent, detectives of an unnamed totalitarian state attempt to get to the bottom of the crimes.
THE PILLOWMAN will run October 26 - November 10, 2018 at The Underground Collaborative, 161 W. Wisconsin Ave., Lower Level (TJ Maxx Entrance, one block west of the Riverside Theater). Performances are Thursdays - Saturdays at 7:30pm, and Sundays at 2pm.
Information
Tickets will be available for purchase online through theconstructivists.org, or by calling The Constructivists Box Office at 414.858.6874. Tickets are $15 online presale, and $18 at the door.
About The Constructivists
Live theatre, and the human connection it provides, is needed now more than ever. The Constructivists are committed to creating viscerally driven live theatre, exposing and exploring the complexity of human nature and the perils it creates. This in an effort to challenge, enlighten, educate, and entertain a diverse mature audience. The Constructivists believe passionate theatre is the necessary catalyst for change.
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