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CONTACT:
Liz O’Meara-Goldberg
Publicist
202.232.7267 x360
[email protected]
DATE: April 22, 2015
STUDIO THEATRE CLOSES 2014-2015 SUBSCRIPTION SEASON WITH
US PREMIERE OF TOM WELLS’ JUMPERS FOR GOALPOSTS
“Generous, warm-hearted and packed with telling, often very funny detail.”
—London Evening Standard
Jumpers for Goalposts
by Tom Wells
directed by Matt Torney
US Premiere
begins May 13, 2015
Studio Theatre will finish out its 2014-2015 Subscription Series with Jumpers for Goalposts, a US
premiere by playwright Tom Wells. “Tom writes about everyday people with charm, compassion,
and good humor, as well as with a grounded naturalism and lack of sentimentality,” says Artistic
Director David Muse. “It’s a great honor to introduce this playwright and his remarkable play to DC
and the country.” The production, directed by Matt Torney (New Ireland: The Enda Walsh Festival),
also marks the US debut of Wells’ work.
ABOUT THE PLAY
Hope springs eternal in the post-game locker room of Barely Athletic, an amateur soccer team
competing in the five-a-side pub league in Hull, a Yorkshire fishing city that’s seen better days (as
have these athletes). A hilarious and heartbreaking play about romance, resilience, taking chances,
and moving on by the winner of Britain’s 2012 George Devine Award for Most Promising
Playwright.
ABOUT THE PLAYWRIGHT
Tom Wells is from Kilnsea, East Yorkshire. His plays include Symphony (co-written with Ella
Hickson and Nick Payne; Edinburgh Festival then Soho Theatre, 2014), Jumpers For Goalposts
(Paines Plough: Watford Palace Theatre and UK tour, 2013/14); Jack And The Beanstalk (Lyric
Theatre Hammersmith 2013/14); Cosmic (Ros Terry / Root Theatre, East Yorkshire tour, 2013);
Jonesy (Nabakov, 2012); The Kitchen Sink (Bush Theatre, 2011; recipient of the 2011 Critics Circle
Most Promising Playwright Award and the 2012 George Devine Award); Spacewang (Hull Truck,
2011); Me, As A Penguin (West Yorkshire Playhouse, 2009 and Arcola Theatre/UK Tour, 2010);
About A Goth (Paines Plough/Oran Mor, 2009) and Notes For First Time Astronauts (Paines Plough,
later at Soho Theatre, 2009). Mr. Wells is currently under commission to Hull Truck/Birmingham
Rep/Watford Palace Theatre, Plymouth Festival Theatre, and Northern Broadsides. He is
developing a new project for Leftbank Pictures and, following on from the success of Jack And The
Beanstalk, he is writing the Christmas pantomime for the Lyric Hammersmith.
THE CREATIVE TEAM
• Director Matt Torney returns to Studio, where he directed The New Electric Ballroom and The
Walworth Farce. His New York credits include Stop the Tempo and Tiny Dynamite (Origin Theatre,
Drama Desk Award nominee), and A Bright Room Called Day (Atlantic Theatre School).
• Set Designer Debra Booth is director of design at Studio Theatre, where she has recently
designed Belleville, Cock, The Apple Family Plays, Edgar & Annabel, The Motherfucker with the Hat,
and Dirt.
• Lighting Designer Michael Giannitti has designed 43 productions at Studio since 1991, including
Water by the Spoonful, The Motherfucker with the Hat, The New Electric Ballroom, Reasons to Be
Pretty, and Seven Guitars (Helen Hayes Award nomination). He designed lighting for the original
Broadway production of August Wilson’s Joe Turner’s Come and Gone.
• Costume Designer Kathleen Geldard designed Choir Boy, Tribes, Invisible Man, and Sucker
Punch for Studio Theatre, and Frozen, Autobahn, Terrorism, and A Clockwork Orange for Studio
2ndStage. She is an artistic associate of Signature Theatre and has designed at numerous local
theatres.
• Sound Designer Kenny Neal has designed locally, including Bat Boy: The Musical at 1st Stage,
Cancun at GALA Hispanic Theatre, and Cherry Smoke at Round House Theatre. He also designs for
theatre for young audiences with Adventure Theatre—MTC, GALA, and Signature in the Schools.
• Dramaturg Adrien-Alice Hansel is Studio Theatre’s Literary Director. At Studio, she has
dramaturged the world premieres of Red Speedo, Dirt, Lungs, and The History of Kisses, as well as
productions of Bad Jews, Cock, Moth, Edgar & Annabel, and The Apple Family Plays, among others.
THE CAST
• Liam Forde (Luke) was most recently seen as Peter in Peter and the Starcatcher at Pioneer
Theatre Company. His Off Broadway credits include Much Ado About Nothing at Theatre for a New
Audience, and Big and Six Wives at York Theatre Company.
• Kimberly Gilbert (Viv) makes her Studio Theatre debut. Her recent credits include Sonya in
Uncle Vanya at Round House Theatre, Pickles in Life Sucks at Theater J, and Marie Antoinette in
Marie Antoinette at Woolly Mammoth (2015 Helen Hayes Award for Outstanding Lead Actress).
• Michael Glenn (Joe) has been a Washington-based actor for the past fifteen years, and has
worked with many theatre companies in the area. Most recently, Mr. Glenn was seen in Arena
Stage's co-production, with the McCarter Theatre, of Baskerville: A Sherlock Holmes Mystery.
• Jonathan Judge-Russo’s (Beardy Geoff) Off Broadway credits include the Drama Desk
nominated Falling (Minetta Lane), Beyond the Horizon (Irish Rep), Somewhere with You (Signature),
Treasure Island (Irondale), and Ask/Tell (LAByrinth, directed by Philip Seymour Hoffman).
• Zdenko Martin’s (Danny) New York credits include The Seagull at Lake Lucille, Hudson to China
at St. Ann’s Warehouse, Romeo and Juliet at Manhattan Rep, and The Dreamer Examines His Pillow
at Abrams Art Center.
INFORMATION
Where: Studio Theatre’s Metheny Theatre, 1501 14th St NW, Washington, DC 20005
Dates: May 13—June 21, 2015
Performances: Tuesday-Saturday, 8pm; Sunday, 7pm
Matinees: Saturday and Sunday, 2pm
Ticket Prices: $44-$88
Press Performance: Sunday, May 17 at 2pm
EVENTS
After-Show Discussions with the Cast: Sunday, May 24 and Saturday, June 6, after the 2pm
performances
PostScript: June 21, after the 2pm performance
Sign-Interpreted Performance: Tuesday, June 16 at 8pm
Captioned Performance: Wednesday, June 17 at 8pm
Audio-Described Performance: Sunday, June 21 at 2pm
SUPPORT
Jumpers for Goalposts is underwritten by Joan and David Maxwell.
STUDIO THEATRE
Now in its fifth season under the leadership of Artistic Director David Muse, Studio Theatre is
Washington’s premiere venue for contemporary theatre, “where local audiences will find today’s
edgiest playwrights” (Variety). One of the most respected midsized theatres in the country, Studio
Theatre produces the work of today’s greatest writers, augmented by occasional productions of
modern classics, performed by acclaimed actors in intimate spaces. Throughout the Theatre’s 37year history, the quality of its work has been recognized by sustained community support as well
as with 329 nominations and 61 Helen Hayes Awards for excellence in professional theatre.
GENERAL INFORMATION
Accessibility: Studio’s theatres are all wheelchair accessible; seats are available by reservation.
Assistive listen devices are available for all shows at concessions. Call the Box Office at
202.332.3300 for more information.
Location: 1501 14th Street NW (northeast corner of 14th and P Streets).
Parking:
•
•
Studio has a parking partnership with Washington Plaza Hotel at 10 Thomas Circle NW,
three blocks south of Studio; patrons who park at the hotel’s parking garage can purchase a
$13 voucher at concessions.
Street parking is limited; arrive early to increase your options.
Metro Stops: Red Line: Dupont Circle, Orange/Blue Lines: McPherson Square, and Green/Yellow
Lines: U Street/Cardozo.
Contact Information:
Tickets: 202.332.3300
Administration: 202.232.7267
Website: studiotheatre.org
E-mail: [email protected]
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