{"id":7334,"date":"2022-07-20T15:33:26","date_gmt":"2022-07-20T15:33:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pashakespeare.org\/?p=7334"},"modified":"2022-07-20T15:33:26","modified_gmt":"2022-07-20T15:33:26","slug":"fences-opens","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/pashakespeare.org\/press\/fences-opens\/","title":{"rendered":"Fences Opens"},"content":{"rendered":"

Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival presents August Wilson\u2019s Fences<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

CENTER VALLEY, PA: July 14, 2022\u2014 August Wilson\u2019s groundbreaking Pulitzer Prize- and Tony Award- winning drama Fences<\/em> opens at Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival, the professional theatre on the campus of DeSales University. The show previews July 27 and 28, opens on July 29 and runs through August 7 on the Main Stage at the Labuda Center for the Performing Arts.<\/p>\n

Set in 1950s Pittsburgh against the backdrop of a rapidly changing America, August Wilson\u2019s Fences<\/em> depicts the yearnings and struggles of the Maxson family. Troy Maxson, a former home run king of the Negro baseball leagues now supports his family as a garbage collector, and builds fences around a world he has battled his entire life. An epic work of stunning poetry by a Pennsylvania native, Fences<\/em> has been hailed by critics as \u201ca blockbuster piece of theater\u201d and \u201cthe strongest, most passionate American dramatic writing since Tennessee Williams.\u201d Fences<\/em> is a timeless story and a true American classic.<\/p>\n

Wilson\u2019s\u00a0<\/strong>award-winning drama will be helmed by veteran stage, film, and television actor\u00a0Tony Todd<\/strong>. Mr. Todd returns following his one-man performance in last season\u2019s August Wilson play How I Learned What I Learned<\/em>. With an acting career spanning more than 30 years, Todd has an extensive list of credits in all genres. He has received accolades for numerous roles on stage including a coveted Helen Hayes Award for his performance in Athol Fugard\u2019s\u00a0The Captain\u2019s Tiger<\/em>\u00a0at La Jolla Playhouse, Manhattan Theatre Club, and The Kennedy Center; and originating the title role in the world premiere of August Wilson\u2019s\u00a0King Hedley II\u00a0<\/em>in Pittsburgh, Boston, and Seattle. His additional stage credits include\u00a0Zooman & the Sign, Playboy of the West Indies, Les Blancs, Othello, Aida\u00a0<\/em>on Broadway, and many others, including Troy Maxson in Fences<\/em>\u00a0at the Geva Theatre Center.<\/p>\n

His films include Oliver Stone\u2019s Academy Award-winning\u00a0Platoon<\/em>;\u00a0Lean On Me\u00a0<\/em>with Morgan Freeman; Clint Eastwood\u2019s\u00a0Bird;\u00a0<\/em>and the voice of the Fallen in\u00a0Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen<\/em>, among many others. The charismatic six-foot-five actor is perhaps best known for his chilling performances in horror and sci-fi films including the title role in the\u00a0Candyman<\/em>\u00a0franchise, as well as the\u00a0Hatchet\u00a0<\/em>and\u00a0Final Destination\u00a0<\/em>franchise hits, along with\u00a0Night of the Living Dead<\/em>,\u00a0The Crow<\/em>, and\u00a0The Rock<\/em>.<\/p>\n

Todd will be joined by stage, television, and film actress Ella Joyce<\/strong> who will play the role of \u00a0Rose, Troy\u2019s wife. Joyce\u2019s stage career has earned her numerous awards and nominations. Select credits include: the Goodman Theatre,\u00a0Having Our Say<\/em>\u00a0by Emily Mann, earning a Black Theater Alliance Nomination; August Wilson\u2019s\u00a0King Hedley II\u00a0<\/em>at The Matrix, earning a Los Angeles Ovation Award and a LA Drama Critics Circle Nomination; Tonya in the original production of\u00a0King Hedley II<\/em>\u00a0at O\u2019Reilly Pittsburgh Public Theater (starring alongside Mr. Todd); Two Trains Running<\/em>\u00a0on tour, premiering at Yale Rep; and originating the role of Lily Ann Green in Lynn Nottage\u2019s\u00a0Crumbs From the Table of Joy<\/em>\u00a0at Second Stage Theater, South Coast Rep, and Goodman Theatre, earning her a Jefferson Award and Black Theater Alliance Award. She is perhaps best known for her role as Eleanor on the sitcom Roc<\/em>, which earned her an NAACP Nomination; as well as several other television shows including My Wife and Kids<\/em>, Seinfeld<\/em>, Eve<\/em>, and The Jamie Foxx Show<\/em>, among others.<\/p>\n

The production will be directed by Ryan Quinn<\/strong>, who is a co-founder and artistic director of Esperance Theater Company in New York City. His directing credits there include Shakespeare\u2019s Twelfth Night, Youth and Ambition,\u00a0<\/em>and\u00a0Breitwisch Farm<\/em>. Quinn received his MFA at the Yale School of Drama. Select directing credits include\u00a0The Mountaintop\u00a0<\/em>at Arc Stages; Dad\u2019s Season Tickets, The Lost Girl <\/em>and So Thrive My Soul\u00a0<\/em>at Milwaukee Rep; and The Tempest<\/em>, Macbeth, <\/em>and The Two Noble Kinsmen<\/em> at Hudson Valley Shakespeare Festival. As an actor, Quinn recently appeared Off-Broadway as John Proctor in Bedlam\u2019s critically acclaimed production of The Crucible<\/em>. Additional Off-Broadway credits include Sense and Sensibility<\/em> at A.R.T.; King Lear<\/em> and\u00a0Hamlet<\/em>\u00a0at Theatre for a New Audience; Whorl Inside a Loop<\/em> at Second Stage, and many more.<\/p>\n

Also joining the cast are Brian D. Coats<\/strong> as Gabriel, Troy\u2019s brother; and Shane Taylor<\/strong> as Jim Bono, Troy\u2019s friend.<\/p>\n

Coats\u2019 extensive Broadway credits include The Merry Wives of Windsor\u00a0<\/em>and\u00a0The Two Gentlemen of Verona\u00a0<\/em>at The Public Theater; On the Levee\u00a0<\/em>at Lincoln Center Theater\/LCT3; and La Ruta<\/em>\u00a0<\/em>at Working Theater. Regional performances include Cincinnati Playhouse, Old Globe, Arena Stage, Seattle Rep, Pittsburgh Public, Denver Center for the Performing Arts, and Williamstown Theatre Festival, to name a few. Among some of his television credits are Blue Bloods<\/em>, Law & Order<\/em>, The Sopranos<\/em>, and Boardwalk Empire<\/em>.<\/p>\n

Taylor has performed Off-Broadway in such productions as Knives in Hens <\/em>at The Shop Theater; the 50th Anniversary production of In White America <\/em>at New Federal\/Castillo Theatre; and Romeo and Juliet<\/em> for the Lincoln Center Institute. Select regional credits include performances at Orlando Shakespeare Theater, Milwaukee Rep, Berkshire Theatre Festival, and Williamstown Theatre Festival. He has also received a Best International Actor Award at the Barbados National Film Festival for his roles in God\u2019s Forgotten House<\/em> and Sarbane\u2019s Oxley<\/em>.<\/p>\n

Portraying the Maxson children are PSF alum Brandon Edward Burton<\/strong> as Lyons, Troy\u2019s oldest son from a previous marriage; Tyler Fauntleroy<\/strong> as Cory, Troy and Rose\u2019s son; and local actor and Allentown Civic Theatre student Ilan Annum<\/strong> will play Raynell, Troy\u2019s daughter.<\/p>\n

Burton, a Yale School of Drama graduate, has performed and collaborated regionally with many theatres, including Baltimore Center Stage, The Public Theater, Shakespeare & Co., and Theatre of the Oppressed NYC. \u00ad\u00ad\u00ad\u00ad\u00ad\u00ad\u00ad\u00ad\u00ad\u00ad\u00ad\u00adAt Yale, he was the recipient of the Herschel Williams Prize for outstanding acting ability.<\/p>\n

Fauntleroy\u2019s credits include Off-Broadway\u2019s Tambo and Bones <\/em>at Playwrights Horizons and Looking for Leroy <\/em>at New Federal Theatre. Select regional performances include Hudson Valley Shakespeare Festival, Folger Theatre, and People\u2019s Light, to name a few. His television credits include Succession<\/em>, FBI<\/em>, and The Oath<\/em>.<\/p>\n

The 1950s Pittsburgh set, where the play takes place, was designed by Baron E. Pugh<\/strong>, with lighting designed by Aja M. Jackson<\/strong>. Kendra L. Johnson<\/strong> designed costumes, with Earon Chew Nealey <\/strong>as hair, wig, and makeup designer. Larry D. Fowler, Jr.<\/strong> is the sound designer. J. Alex Cordaro<\/strong> is the fight director. Erin Joy Swank<\/strong> will serve as stage manager of the production, with Chiara H. Johnson<\/strong> as assistant stage manager.<\/p>\n

Amaranth Foundation\u00a0<\/strong>is the Production Sponsor for August Wilson\u2019s Fences.<\/em> \u00a0The Production Co-Sponsor is Keenan Nagle Advertising<\/strong>. The Actor Sponsors are Lee & Dolly Butz<\/strong>. \u00a0Kathleen Kund Nolan & Timothy E. Nolan <\/strong>are the 2022 Season Sponsors. Associate Season Sponsors are\u00a0Douglas Dykhouse, Linda<\/strong>\u00a0Lapos and Paul Wirth<\/strong>,\u00a0the Szarko Family<\/strong>, and\u00a0Harry C. Trexler Trust<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival presents August Wilson\u2019s Fences CENTER VALLEY, PA: July 14, 2022\u2014 August Wilson\u2019s groundbreaking Pulitzer Prize- and Tony Award- winning drama Fences opens at Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival, the professional theatre on the campus of DeSales University. The show previews July 27 and 28, opens on July 29 and runs through August 7 on […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[43],"tags":[],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nFences Opens - Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/pashakespeare.org\/press\/fences-opens\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Fences Opens - Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival presents August Wilson\u2019s Fences CENTER VALLEY, PA: July 14, 2022\u2014 August Wilson\u2019s groundbreaking Pulitzer Prize- and Tony Award- winning drama Fences opens at Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival, the professional theatre on the campus of DeSales University. 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