Yale Bulletin and Calendar

September 17, 2004|Volume 33, Number 3

Pictured is the publicity photo for "The Clean House," an award-winning play by Sarah Ruhl being staged Sept. 17-Oct. 9 at the University Theatre.

Life is portrayed as a messy
affair in Rep's 'Clean House'

The world premiere of a prize-winning play about a family forced to face its dysfunctional ways when it hires a Brazilian maid who loves to laugh but hates to clean will open the Yale Repertory Theatre's new season.

"The Clean House," by playwright Sarah Ruhl, is the winner of the 2004 Susan Smith Blackburn Prize. It will be performed Sept. 17-Oct. 9 at the University Theatre, 222 York St. Opening night is Thursday, Sept. 23, at 8 p.m.

"The Clean House" centers on a Brazilian maid named Mathilda, who works for a woman doctor who doesn't have time to clean and her husband. While Mathilda hates to clean, the doctor has a sister who loves to clean. When the doctor's husband moves out, the doctor finds that her house is clean but her life is a mess, and Mathilda has another house to clean. The various family members find love and laughter in surprising places, and come to realize that life's pleasures lie as much in its messiness as in its orderliness.

Bill Rauch, artistic director and co-founder of the Cornerstone Theater Company, will direct "The Clean House." He has directed over 40 of the company's productions in Los Angeles and nationwide, many of them collaborations with diverse communities. He is the associate artist of the Yale Rep, where he conceived, co-adapted and co-directed the award-winning "Medea/Macbeth/Cinderella." Rauch was the only artist to win the inaugural Leadership for a Changing World Award.

Playwright Ruhl's other works include "Eurydice," "Melancholy Play," "Late: a cowboy song," "Orlando" and "Passion Play." Her plays have been performed in Chicago, New York, London, Seattle, Williamstown, San Diego and Los Angeles, among other cities. In 2003 she was the recipient of the Whiting Writers' Award and the Helen Merrill Award for Playwriting. She is a member of 13 Playwrights and New Dramatists.

The cast for "The Clean House" includes Tom Bloom as A Man/Charles; Carmen De Lavallade as A Woman/Ana; Laurie Kennedy as Virginia; Zilah Mendoza as Mathilda; and Elizabeth Norment as Lane.

Bloom most recently appeared in Williamstown in "Design for Living" and has numerous New York theater credits. He has performed for six seasons at the Williamstown Theatre Festival and in the films "The Thomas Crown Affair" and "Emperor's Club," among others, and on the television shows "Ed," "The Jury," "Max Bickford," "Law & Order" and "All My Children."

De Lavallade has had a long career in dance, during which she has worked with such choreographers as Lester Horton, John Butler, Geoffrey Holder and Alvin Ailey, among others. Her choreographic and acting credits include the Yale Rep's productions of "Seven Deadly Sins" and "A Midsummer Night's Dream." She received the Actors Equity's Clarence Bayfield Award for her role as Emilia in "Othello" with Earle Hyman. She was director of the dance department at Adelphi University and is presently a member of the dance trio Paradigm.

Kennedy's Broadway credits include the title role in "Major Barbara" and Violet in "Man and Superman," which earned her Tony Award and Drama Desk nominations for Best Featured Actress. She also appeared in "Angels in America" and "Copenhagen." She has appeared for 20 seasons at the Williamstown Theatre Festival. Her television credits include "Oz," "Homicide," "Law & Order" and "Third Watch." Her honors include the Clarence Derwent Award and the Theatre World Award.

Mendoza is the recent recipient of the 2003-2004 Obie Award for her leading role in the New York premiere of "Living Out" at Off-Broadway's Second Stage Theatre. Prior to that, she appeared in the same role in the world premiere of "Living Out" at the Mark Taper Forum in Los Angeles. She has performed at a number of regional theaters and is often seen on network television, where she will soon have a guest lead role on "Nip & Tuck" and on the new show "Wanted." She has had a recurring role on "Reba."

Norment, an alumna of the Yale School of Drama, has appeared on Broadway in "Plenty" and off-Broadway in "All Over," as well as in other New York productions. She is a founding member of the American Repertory Theatre, where she performed for three seasons. She performed for four seasons at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival. At the Yale Rep, she appeared in "The 1940's Radio Hour" and "As You Like It." Her screen credits include "Romy and Michele's High School Reunion," the HBO show "Murder in Mind," and the television shows "Law & Order," "ER," "Doogie Howser," "L.A. Law" and others.

The creative team for "The Clean House" includes scenic designer Christopher Acebo, costume designer Shigeru Yaji, lighting designer Geoff Korf, sound designer and composer Andre Pluess, vocal coach Stephen Gabis, dramaturg Rachel Rusch and production stage manager James Mountcastle.

Performances are Tuesday-Saturday at 8 p.m., with matinees on Saturday at 2 p.m. There is a special Monday evening performance on Sept. 20 at 8 p.m. and a Wednesday matinee on Oct. 6 at 2 p.m.

Special events during the run of "The Clean House" include Yale Night on Friday, Sept. 17, which includes a pre-show discussion with members of the creative team as well as free pizza courtesy of BAR for students from area colleges and universities. A celebration following the opening night performance on Sept. 23 will be held at The Playwright in New Haven. Re-Play, a question-and-answer session with the cast and crew, will follow the matinee performance on Saturday, Sept. 25, and there will be a matinee for seniors on Wednesday, Oct. 6. Additionally, the Rep will offer a sign-interpreted and audio-described performance on Saturday, Oct. 9, at 2 p.m.

A variety of subscription packages for the Yale Rep's 2004-2005 season is available. Single tickets for "The Clean House" range from $30 to $45 and are available by phone at (203) 432-1234, in person at the Yale Rep box office at 1120 Chapel St., and online at www.yalerep.org. Student, senior and group rates are also available.

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IN MEMORIAM