Aaron Jennings in ‘King Hdeley II’ (Photo – Daniel Reichert)
Performances of King Hedley II begin April 6 and continue at the company’s Pasadena home through April 28. Previews begin March 31.
By News Desk
A Noise Within continues its commitment to August Wilson’s “American Century Cycle” with a new production of King Hedley II in April. Gregg T. Daniel, who has previously directed A Noise Within productions of Wilson’s Gem of the Ocean, Seven Guitars and Radio Golf, returns to direct the ninth play in the two-time Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright’s extraordinary 10-play cycle that explores, decade-by decade, the Black experience in 20th century America.
After seven years in prison, King Hedley re-enters society eager to rebuild his life, but quickly confronts the inescapable challenges facing Black men in Reagan-era Pittsburgh. King’s disenfranchisement comes into conflict with the stories he’s been telling himself, yet he continues to plant seeds where nothing can grow.
“Wilson is our American Shakespeare, and his language comes alive in the mouths of fine actors in a similar way,” state A Noise Within co-artistic directors Geoff Elliott and Julia Rodriguez-Elliott. “This play is a tragedy, but there’s so much humor in it. That is part of the humanity Wilson brings to his work.”
“He was a poet before he was a playwright, and you can hear it in the electrically charged richness of his language, the musicality.” agrees Daniel. “You can feel it enter your body and lift you. King is someone trying to live up to his name. He aspires to live an honorable, respectful, just life after serving his time, but is denied that at every turn. There’s an epic quality to the story in the way it addresses the human condition: what we strive to become and to achieve in life, how we try to better ourselves.”
Aaron Jennings takes on the title role of the proud and ambitious King. Veralyn Jones portrays King’s mother, Ruby, a former big band singer; Kacie Rogers plays his wife, Tonya; and Evan Lewis Smith is his best friend and sometimes business partner. Mister. Ben Cain and Gerald C. Rivers round out the cast as, respectively, Ruby’s longtime flame Elmore and neighborhood truthsayer Stool Pigeon.
The creative team includes scenic designer Efren Delgadillo Jr; lighting designer Brandon Baruch; sound designer Jeff Gardner; costume designer Mylette Nora; wig and makeup designer Shelia Dorn; properties designer Stephen Taylor; and dramaturg Dr. Miranda Johnson-Haddad. The production stage manager is Taylor Anne Cullen, with Arielle Hightower assisting. The producing sponsors are Dick and Sally Roberts.
Taken as a whole, the ten plays in Wilson’s monumental cycle span a period of 90 years, from Gem of the Ocean in 1904 to Radio Golf in 1997 — with nine of them set in Pittsburgh’s Hill District, where Wilson himself grew up. But the plays were not written sequentially and are not connected in the manner of a serial story. Each play stands alone. Many of the characters recur or are referenced in several of the plays, which enriches the audience experience each time a new one is viewed.
King Hedley II April 6 through April 28 Thursdays at 7:30 pm Fridays at 8:00 pm Saturdays at 2:00 pm & 8:00 pm Sundays at 2:00 pm Preview Performances Sun., March 31: 2:00 pm Wed., April 3 and Thu., April 4: 7:30 pm Fri., April 5: 8:00 pm Black Out Night: Thu., April 11 An opportunity for an audience self-identifying as Black to experience the performance together, and tickets include admission to a post-show reception; patrons who do not identify as Black are welcome to attend, or to select a different performance. INsiders Discussion Group (Before matinee performance) Sun., April 7 at 12:30 pm (separate admission: $25) Student matinees on weekday mornings (recommended for ages 14 and up). (April 10, April 17, April 18 and April 24) at 10:30 am Interested educators email education@anoisewithin.org. Tickets $29. Student: $18. Previews: Pay What You Choose with tickets starting at $10 (on April 3 and April 4 only). Location 3352 E Foothill Blvd. Pasadena, CA 91107 (626) 356-3100 or anoisewithin.org.
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