Tribes
by Zach Theatre

Jan. 27 - Feb. 28, 2016
Wednesdays-Sundays

ZACH Theatre is pleased to produce the Texas premiere of NINA RAINE’s family drama, Tribes, January 27 – February 28, 2016 on stage in the Topfer Theatre featuring MITCH PILEGGI (The X-Files), STEPHEN DRABICKI (Tribes Canadian Premiere), AARON JOHNSON, BABS GEORGE (Mad Hip Beat and Gone), IRIS McQUILLAN-GRACE, and recent Texas State University graduate AVA L'AMOREAUX.

 

“Tribes is one of the most exciting and powerful family dramas in the past decade,” says Director Dave Steakley. “This show is not written exclusively for the Deaf community - Austin has the second largest Deaf population in the US - it’s a show we can all share and experience together, truly examining how we say what we need to say. I am delighted to bring the extraordinary Mitch Pileggi back home to ZACH.  He began his career here, and his performance in Frankie and Johnny in the Clair De Lune by Terrence McNally twenty-five years ago clinched my decision to take my job at ZACH. I'm thrilled that Stephen, who has played Billy across the United States, is joining us.  He is a dear guy and brings an incredible sincerity to this role," says Steakley.  "Our initial plan was for Russell Harvard to play Billy, but Russell made his Broadway debut this fall in the critically acclaimed Deaf West production of Spring Awakening. The production's extended run prevents him from returning to Austin for rehearsals for our production of Tribes." 

 

As the only deaf member of his sharp-tongued family, sweet-natured Billy has spent much of his life feeling out of place.  But when he meets a young woman on the brink of deafness, he finds out what it means to belong for the first time.  This provocative and touching play is as much about the tyranny of language, as it is about the challenge of not being able to hear it.  Tribes won the Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Play in 2012. The Wall Street Journal calls Tribes “The best-written, best-plotted, deepest, most daring and funniest new play in recent years.” Tribes is recommended for mature audiences.

 

The Tribes creative team includes DAVE STEAKLEY as the Director, MICHELLE NEY as Scenic Designer, CARL J. BOOKER as Costume Designer, SARAH MAINES as Lighting Designer, ELIOT HAYNES as Video Designer, CRAIG BROCK as Sound Designer, and SCOTT GROH as Properties Designer. 

 

Special events in celebration of Tribes include:

·      Press Night: Saturday, January 30, 2016. Please RSVP to llovell@zachtheatre.org

·      Discussion Night: Wednesday, February 3

·      Sign Interpreted/Open Captioned performances: February 3 at 7:30 p.m. and February 20 at 2:30pm

·      Z Lounge: Pre-show musical entertainment in the Topfer Theatre’s Main Lounge 

 

Tickets start at $25 and are available online at www.zachtheatre.org, by phone at 

512-476-0541 ext. 1, or in person at the ZACH Theatre Box Office, in the Topfer Theatre, 202 South Lamar Blvd. (corner of Riverside Drive and South Lamar Blvd.) Monday through Saturday, 12 noon – 7 pm.  ZACH Theatre is wheelchair accessible. Discounts are available for groups of 8 or more. Student Rush Tickets are $18 one hour before show time (with valid ID).

 

Feature on Mitch Pileggi's Austin origins, by Robert Faires, Austin Chronicle, February 4, 2016 

CAST

 

Mitch Pileggi – Christopher

Stephen Drabicki - Billy

Aaron Johnson – Daniel

Babs George – Beth

Iris McQuillan-Grace – Sylvia

Ava L'Amoreaux - Ruth

 

DIRECTION & DESIGN

 

Dave Steakley - Director

Michelle Ney - Scenic Designer

Carl J. Booker - Costume Designer

Sarah Maines - Lighting Designer

Eliot Haynes - Video Designer

Craig Brock - Sound Designer

Scott Groh - Properties Designer

Cate Tucker - Stage Manager

Megan Barrett - Assistant Stage Manager

Megan Smith - Assistant Stage Manager

 

About ZACH Theatre

A non-profit organization, ZACH creates intimate theatre experiences that ignite the imagination, inspire the spirit, and engage the community. As Austin’s leading professional producing theatre, ZACH employs more than 300 actors, musicians, and designers annually to create its own diverse array of nationally recognized plays and musicals under the leadership of Producing Artistic Director Dave Steakley and Managing Director Elisbeth Challener. Each year, ZACH serves nearly 115,000 Central Texans – 60,000 of which are children and youth who participate in our education and outreach programs, as well as inspiring camps and classes. ZACH Theatre is honored to host private and community events across the beautiful rental-ready spaces on our three-stage campus located in the heart of Austin. Founded in 1932 and in its 83^nd season, ZACH is the longest continuously running theatre company in the state of Texas, and one of the ten oldest in the country. Visit www.zachtheatre.org for more information.

ZACH Theatre’s 2015-16 Season is sponsored in part, by Applied Materials, Austin Catering, Baylor Scott & White Health, Holiday Inn-Lady Bird Lake, Kirk Tuck Photography, Marquee Event Group, OnRamp Access, Schlotzsky’s, and KXAN TV 36; and by grants from The Shubert Foundation, the Junior League of Austin, The National Endowment for the Arts, Texas Commission on the Arts, and the Cultural Arts Division of The City of Austin Economic Development Department.

 

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Tribes
by Nina Rain
Zach Theatre

Zach's Topfer Theatre

January 27 - February 28, 2016

Weds - Saturday at 7:30, Sundays at 2:30 p.m.