Download The Submission Dominates the Next Stage at Theatre Memphis

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
CONTACT:
March 21, 2013
Randall Hartzog
Theatre Memphis, Director of Marketing and Communications
[email protected]
901.682.8601
The Submission Dominates the Next Stage at Theatre Memphis
Memphis, TN – The Submission, A Mid-South premiere by Jeff Talbott will take over the Next Stage at Theatre Memphis
April 4 and run through April 19, 2014. Raw, unsentimental, and sometimes fiercely funny, this play exposes prejudices
among young artists one might think more liberal and progressive. A white male playwright submits a race-based play to
a national theatre competition, but when it is selected for production he is faced with producing the fictitious AfricanAmerican female whose name he invented as the playwright.
Directing this recent Off-Broadway hit, Jerry Chipman has assembled a cast that has come together to perfectly gel as the
script’s characters. Chipman says, ”One review of the New York production mentioned how the roles of Danny, the
playwright, and Emilie, the actress, call for fearless performers who can ‘act without a net.’ This Theatre Memphis
production is blessed with two brave and talented and ‘fearless’ actors taking on those roles.” Danny, the playwright, is
played by Gabe Beutel-Gunn, a recent Memphis transplant from Chicago, seen recently in Theatre Memphis' As You Like
It. Jessica Johnson as Emilie, the ficticious nom de plume, makes her Theatre Memphis debut after appearing with
Hattiloo Theatre and Circuit Playhouse, among other local stages. Kinon Kiplinger as the playwright's partner, and Evan
McCarley as the playwright's best friend who becomes romantically attracted to the actress, complete the cast of this
emotionally charged play.
With a cast of four, the intimate Next Stage setting creates an up-close environment that depicts various locations.
The Submission moves smoothly from light bantering to stark unpleasantness as it exposes how liberal minded
individuals can resort to using words that hurl and sting and reveal bigotry about race and gender. Chipman alerts, “The
play has the power to shock an audience in the way it suddenly depicts wounds in friendships that will likely never heal.”
Theatre Memphis Executive Producer Debbie Litch talks about The Submission with no trepidation. She says, “It is
important that we produce contemporary work to keep our artistic and patron base engaged with relevant topics. Even
with the graphic language advisory, we felt this well written play told an interesting story that was about as current as it
could get.”
###
TITLE: The Submission
WRITTEN BY: Jeff Talbott
DIRECTOR: Jerry Chipman
VENUE AND ADDRESS: Theatre Memphis in the Next Stage, 630 Perkins Ext, Memphis, TN, 38117
RUN DATES: April 4—19, 2014
TIMES OF SHOWS: Thursdays @ 7:30pm, Fridays and Saturdays @ 8pm with matinees @ 2pm on Sundays
TICKETS: $25 adults, $15 students with valid ID
BOX OFFICE: 901.682.8323
WEB: www.theatrememphis.org
SPONSORED BY: Bert and Carol Barnett
MEDIA SPONSOR: WKNO
Production photos available 4/01/14.
Theatre Memphis is a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) organization located at 630 Perkins Extended (corner of Perkins Extended and Southern) and is a
community theatre whose mission is to provide outstanding theatrical experiences to enrich the lives of our audiences and participants.
Theatre Memphis receives season sponsorship and funding from: