MEDIA CONTACTS

Connie Shaver, 612.308.5785

connieshaver@charter.net

Susan Berdahl, 651.767.8492

berdahl@parksquaretheatre.org

Stick Fly, a juicy family drama, on stage at Park Square April 26-May 19

Produced on Broadway by Alicia Keys, Park Square presents the regional premiere of Lydia R. Diamonds comedy-drama set on Marthas Vineyard

(St. Paul, Minn.) Feb. 21, 2013 -- A relaxing weekend on Marthas Vineyard: Two brothers of an affluent African American family bring their girlfriends home to meet their parents. One girlfriend is white and affluent; the other is black but grew up on the low end of the economic scale. Dad is in residence, but Mom never shows up. As family secrets unravel and sibling rivalries flare, class distinctions rise to the surface. Tony-nominated director Marion McClinton, recently profiled as a Minnesota Original on tpt, directs Stick Fly.

Playwright Lydia Diamonds work has been performed across the United States and in the United Kingdom. A Huntington Playwriting Fellow and Professor of Playwriting at Boston University, she has won numerous awards for her work, including Stick Fly and Voyeurs de Venus. In an interview with McCarter Theater in Princeton, NJ, Diamond spoke about her play: Stick Fly was going to be my fun play. The themes I wanted to explore had to do with my relationship to white women. I have all of these very good white friends who are like sisters whom I love, but outside of my circle I still feel a tension. Thats interesting, because Im also a feminist, and if Im going to have visceral negative reactions socially to a person it should be white men, and I found that I bumped heads most often with white women. I wanted to explore that, because its a contradiction and a really interesting one. She continued, Also, in my personal life there is always this search for father and what that means, and it was very much a part of what the play is exploringrelationships with fathers.

Pop star Alicia Keys was intrigued by the story, and produced the 2011-2012 run on Broadway. "This is a story that everybody can relate to. I'm passionate about this play because it is so beautifully written and portrays Black America in a way that we don't often get to see in entertainment, said Keys. I know it will touch all audiences, who will find a piece of themselves somewhere inside this house."

Stick Fly is a well-made, familiar-feeling play the privileged Marthas Vineyard setting has its own New York play vibe, says Park Square Artistic Director Richard Cook. But here our playwright is a woman and her story is about an elite American African family. The premise is a fresh, surprising, totally authentic one and there is a rich set of relationships here that I know Marion and this cast will mine for all its worth.

McClinton has assembled a stellar cast for this production: James A. Williams, who thrilled Park Square audiences with his portrayal of Othello in 2009, portrays the family patriarch, Dr. Joe LeVay, a successful African American academic. Darius Dotch and Darrien Burks both make their Park Square debuts as the LeVay sons, joined by Tracey Maloney (Park Squares American Family) and Traci Allen (in her Park Square debut), as the girlfriends. Brittany Bradford, who was Sarah last season in Park Squares highly acclaimed production of Ragtime, is returning to the Twin Cities to portray Cheryl, the daughter of the familys maid.

Park Square is collaborating with Mixed Blood Theatre Company to present a series of post-show conversations on May 12 and May 19 to dig deeper into issues explored by the play, such as how class affects attitudes about and realities of racism. These discussions are included in the price of the ticket.

Stick Flys production team includes A. Emily Heaney (Costume Designer), Sarah Holmberg (Properties Designer), Kit Mayer (Scenic Designer), Michael P. Kittel (Lighting Designer), and C. Andrew Mayer (Sound Designer). Megan West is stage manager.

Performance Schedule: Previews begin April 26 and run through May 2. Friday, May 3 is Opening Night, and the run continues through May 19. Showtimes are 7:30 p.m. except for Sunday performances, which begin at 2 p.m. All performances are in the companys intimate 340-seat theater in Saint Pauls historic Hamm Building, 20 W. Seventh Place.

The show contains adult sexual themes and strong language.

Ticket prices: Previews: $25. Regular Run: $38 & $58. Discounts are available for seniors, those under age 30, and groups. Tickets are on sale at the Park Square box office, 20 W. Seventh Place, or by phone: 651.291.7005, (12 noon-5 p.m. Monday through Friday), or online at www.parksquaretheatre.org.

CALENDAR INFORMATION

Stick Fly

By Lydia R. Diamond

Directed by Marion McClinton

Previews: April 26-May 2, 2013

Regular Run: May 3-19, 2013

A relaxing weekend on Marthas Vineyard until the baggage gets unpacked. Two sons of a financially privileged African American family bring their girlfriends home to meet their parents and find that Dad is the only one in residence. As family secrets unravel and sibling rivalries flare, class distinctions rise to the surface. Conflict and sexual sparks. A juicy family drama. (The New York Times)

Tickets: Previews: $25. Regular Run: $38 & $58

PARK SQUARE THEATRE, 20 W. Seventh Place, Saint Paul

Box office: 651-291-7005 or www.parksquaretheatre.org

P: Preview O: Opening B: 99-cent Preview (no advance sales) ASL: American Sign Language Interpretation

AD: Audio Description D: Post-show Discussion C: Open Captioning

Sherlock Holmes

and the Adventure of the Suicide Club

Previews: June 7-13, 2013

Regular Run: June 14-July 14, 2013

In the heart of London, behind the impassive facade of a windowless house, some of Europes most powerful men gather to play a game. The game is murder. This is The Suicide Club, and they have a new member: Sherlock Holmesbrilliant, perceptive, the greatest detective in the English-speaking world. Does Holmes wish to die? Will he have to kill? Can Dr. Watson save him? A rapid-fire parade of clues that keeps your mind racing. (azcentral.com)

PARK SQUARE THEATRE. 20 W. Seventh Place, Saint Paul. Box office: 651.291.7005. www.parksquaretheatre.org