The Clarence Brown Theatre kicks off the second half of the season with John Patrick Shanley’s Tony Award-nominated romantic comedy, “Outside Mullingar” February 1-19, 2017 on the CBT mainstage.
A Pay What You Wish Preview performance, where patrons can name their own price, will be held Wednesday, February 1 from Noon to 7 pm at the theatre. A Talk Back with the actors will take place Sunday, February 12 following the matinee. The Open Captioned performance is Sunday, February 19 at 2:00 pm.
The production is sponsored by Schaad Companies, Pilot Flying J, Stowers Machinery and Boyd’s Jig & Reel. Media sponsors are WBIR, WUOT, WUTK, B97.5, the Daily Beacon, the Knoxville News Sentinel and the Knoxville Mercury. Free and convenient parking is available in the McClung Tower Garage on Volunteer Boulevard.
Filled with beautiful language and set in the rural hills of Ireland, this romantic comedy reminds us that -- early or late -- love always arrives on time. Farmers Anthony and Rosemary are clueless when it comes to love. To find it, they will have to overcome a land feud, family rivalries, and their own fears about romance.
The author of more than 23 plays, Shanley won the Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award for his play, “Doubt,” and an Oscar for his screenplay, “Moonstruck.” Called an “Irish Moonstruck,” “Outside Mullingar” was nominated for a Tony Award for Best Play, two Outer Circle Critics Awards and two Drama Desk Awards. According to American Theatre magazine, it has been one of the most frequently produced plays in the United States in recent years. It was the second most popular play in 2014 and placed third in 2015.
Kate Buckley (Director) is an associate professor in the UT Theatre Department. Some previous CBT productions include: “The 39 Steps,” “The Miracle Worker,” “The Trip to Bountiful,” Antigone,” “Copenhagen,” “Charley’s Aunt,” “Merry Wives of Windsor,” “Moonlight and Magnolias” and “Black Pearl Sings.” She was a founding member of Chicago Shakespeare Theatre and served as Artistic Director of The Next Theatre in Evanston, Illinois. She has guest lectured on Shakespeare at universities and arts organizations abroad, including The National Theatre of Slovakia and Colla Marionette Company, Milan, Italy. Directing credits include productions at Oregon Shakespeare Festival, Milwaukee Repertory Theatre, American Players Theatre, Utah Shakespearean Festival, Kansas City Repertory Theatre, Chicago Shakespeare Theatre, New Victory Theatre – NY, Goodman Theatre, Northlight Theatre, Writer’s Theatre, and The Next Theatre. She received four Best Director nominations from the Joseph Jefferson Committee, her productions have won four consecutive Jefferson Awards for Best Ensemble and she has won two After Dark Awards for Outstanding Direction. She has received a Distinguished Alumni Award from Aurora University, a UT Creative Research Award and is currently holding the Paul Soper Professorship in the Theatre department, where she serves as an Associate Professor.
The production features a UT faculty member and visiting professional guest actors.
Performing the role of Aoife Muldoon is Carol Mayo Jenkins. Born and raised in Knoxville, Jenkins attended Salem Academy and Vanderbilt. She trained for the theatre in London, spent four years with the American Conservatory Theatre in San Francisco, and made her Broadway debut as Natasha in William Ball’s production of “The Three Sisters.” In New York, she did a number of Broadway and Off-Broadway plays and also played leading roles in regional theatres across the country. Moving to Los Angeles, she spent five years on the award-winning television series, “Fame.” She continued to work in film and television, while also performing in regional theatre. Edward Albee cast her as Martha in his production of “Who’s Afraid of Virginia Wolfe?” which toured the US, Lithuania, and Russia. In 2001, she chose to return to Knoxville, joining the faculty of the Theatre Department at UT.
Visiting guest artist, Katie Cunningham (Rosemary Muldoon) returns to Clarence Brown for her fourth production, having previously appeared in “The 39 Steps,” “Spamalot,” and “Noises Off.” She has performed in such regional theaters as Palm Beach Dramaworks, Off-Broadway's TACT, The Actors' Company Theatre, FringeNYC, American Place Theatre, The Night Shift (co-founder), and Drunken Shakespeare (co-founder). An Acting and Directing teacher at McCarter Theatre Center in Princeton, NJ, she holds a B.A. from UNC Chapel Hill, an M.F.A. in Acting from FSU/Asolo Conservatory, and has received training at the Gaiety School and the National Theatre School of Ireland.
Visiting guest artist Dan Kremer (Tony Reilly) last appeared at the Clarence Brown as Nils Bohr in “Copenhagen.” He has appeared with the American Conservatory Theatre, Arizona Theatre Company, Denver Center, Geva, Indiana, McCarter, Merrimack, Milwaukee, Missouri, Seattle and Yale Repertory Theatres, the Pearl, and for several seasons at the Shakespeare Theatre Company DC, Utah Shakespearean Festival and Oregon Shakespeare Festival.
Visiting guest artist Richard Price (Anthony Reilly) is thrilled to be making his first appearance at the Clarence Brown Theatre. Off Broadway he has appeared at The Billie Holiday Theatre and Off-Off Broadway at The Metropolitan Playhouse. He has performed regionally at the Studio Theatre DC, Folger Shakespeare Theatre, Olney Summer Shakespeare Festival, New Harmony Theatre, Northern Stage, Opera House Arts, Mason Street Warehouse, Greenbrier Valley Theatre, Hope Summer Repertory Theatre and Theatre at Monmouth. Film and television credits include: “Law and Order,” “All My Children,” “A Crime to Remember,” and “Killer” (2016 Sundance Selection). He received his MFA from Penn State University.
The creative team for this production includes: Kyle Schellinger (Costume Designer); UT MFA candidates Tannis Kapell (Lighting Designer) and Henry Wilkinson (Scenic Designer); and visiting guest designer Joe Cerqua (Sound Designer). Also contributing to the production are Abigail Langham (Voice Coach) and Jacqueline Singleton (Stage Manager).
The Preview for “Outside Mullingar” is Wednesday, February 1 followed by Opening Night Friday, February 3. The production runs through February 19. UT faculty/staff, senior citizens, children and students receive discounts. The Clarence Brown Theatre only sells tickets online through Knoxville Tickets. For tickets, call the Clarence Brown Theatre Box Office at 865-974-5161 or order online 24/7 at www.clarencebrowntheatre.com
With a dual mission to train the next generation of theatre artists and to provide top quality professional theatre, the Clarence Brown Theatre at the University of Tennessee Knoxville is one of only 13 academic LORT (League of Resident Theatre) institutions in the nation. Under the leadership of Producing Artistic Director Calvin MacLean and Managing Director David B. Byrd, the CBT season runs from August through May and features eight productions ranging from musicals to drama.
The CBT provides a cultural resource for both the university and the larger East Tennessee community and affirms diversity and inclusivity in all their forms.
The 2016/2017 remaining season productions include: “The Busy Body,” “Top Girls,” and “Around the World in 80 Days.” For more information or tickets, call the CBT Box Office at 865-974-5161 or visit us online at http://clarencebrowntheatre.com/. Stay connected to the Clarence Brown Theatre on Facebook (Clarence Brown Theatre), follow us on Twitter (@ClarenceBrown) and view Clarence Brown videos on YouTube (Clarence Bro).
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