Sophisticated New Ones, by Keith Powell
Directed by Dawn Thomas Reidy
View Sophisticated New Ones program
Featuring: Lloyd Ekpe, Lisa Hill-Corley and DeJeanette Horne
Designed by: Ian Claar, Sharlene Clinton, Matthew Datcher and Kristen Jepperson
Stage managed by: Margo Weill and Christopher Goodrich
June 15 – July 3
River Road Unitarian Universalist Congregation Building, Bethesda
Proof of Covid vaccination and masks are required for admission to the theater, for in-person attendance.
Long since given up on love, Avery has made herself content running an antique repair shop with her adult son in Philadelphia. But when a charming new man enters the shop and her life, Avery’s past, present, and future collide, forcing her to make a decision that will have lasting implications on her family. Set in 2007 during Obama’s political rise, the play asks the question: What do we lose in the face of progress?
Sophisticated New Ones explores the intersection of identity, belonging, and antique furniture, as a family grapples with their present and future, living within a country they no longer recognize.
Playwright Keith Powell is an American television actor, writer, director, and web series creator, known for his role as James “Toofer” Spurlock on 30 Rock, Dr. Vance on This Is Us, and for creating and starring in the web series Keith Broke His Leg, for which he won several Indie Series Awards in 2016.
Please see our Health and Safety page for details regarding current vaccination and other safety requirements.
SPECIAL PERFORMANCES:
Pay What You Wish Preview Performance, Wednesday, June 15 at 7:30 p.m. Please reserve your tickets in advance to confirm availability.
Opening Night Performance on Saturday, June 18 at 7:30 p.m. will be followed by a reception with light refreshments.
ASL-interpreted performances on Sunday, June 26 at 2:00 p.m. and Wednesday, June 29 at 7:30 p.m.
Benefit Performance: Thursday, June 30 at 7:30 p.m. – 25% of ticket sales goes to the Innovations Scholarship Fund Association and 25% of tickets sales goes to the H.D. Woodson Alumni Association
Post-show discussions with members of the artistic/production team on Saturday, June 25 at 2:00 p.m. and Friday, July 1 at 7:30 p.m.