David Javerbaum’s “An Act of God” opens Nebraska Repertory Theatre’s 50th anniversary year season

The Nebraska Repertory Theatre opens its season with "An Act of God."
The Nebraska Repertory Theatre opens its season with "An Act of God."

David Javerbaum’s “An Act of God” opens Nebraska Repertory Theatre’s 50th anniversary year season

calendar icon18 Sep 2018    

Lincoln, Neb.--The Nebraska Repertory Theatre, Nebraska’s Actors’ Equity Association professional regional theatre, begins its 50th Anniversary year season on Sept. 26-27 with two preview performances of the laugh-out-loud comedy “An Act of God,” by God, adapted by David Javerbaum. Opening night is Friday, Sept. 28 with additional performances Oct. 2-6 and 9-13 at 7:30 p.m. and Sept. 30 and Oct. 6, 7 and 14 at 2 p.m. at the Lied Center’s Johnny Carson Theater.

Season and individual tickets are available by contacting the Lied Center Ticket Office at (402) 472-4747 or (800) 432-3231 or at the ticket office window at 301 North 12th St. in Lincoln between the hours of 11 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Tickets are available online at liedcenter.org. Individual tickets are $34, $17 for students/OLLI (Osher Lifelong Learning Institute) members. Season tickets, including tickets to all six productions, are the best value at $130 regular and $65 for students and members of OLLI. Subject matter may not be suitable for all audience members. Please visit nebraskarep.org for more information.

“This time there will be no Moses. I’ve decided to give my commandments directly to the people of Lincoln, Nebraska,” God says. The One with the first and last word on everything has finally arrived to set the record straight. After many millennia, and in just 90 minutes, God (assisted by devoted angels Michael and Gabriel) answers some of the deepest questions that have plagued humanity since Creation. An irreverent night of divine comedy!

The production is directed by Michael Mendelson, the Artistic Director of Portland Shakespeare Project and a Resident Artist at Artists Repertory Theatre. Well known in Portland as an actor, director and teacher, he received a Bachelor of Fine Arts from Wayne State University and a Master of Fine Arts from the University of Washington’s Professional Actors Training Program. While in New York City, he studied with Tanya Berezin. Mendelson directed (among other credits) Pericles Wet, The Tempest, The Taming of the Shrew, As You Like It, and Lear’s Follies for Portland Shakespeare Project.

Guest actor is Trisha Miller. Miller is making her Nebraska Repertory Theatre debut and is a member of Actors’ Equity and SAG-AFTRA. Among her many credits, Miller was most recently seen as Germaine in Picasso at the Lapin Agile at the Palos Verdes Performing Arts Center in California. She has spent six seasons with Trinity Shakespeare Festival in Fort Worth, Texas, where she is an Artistic Associate. Miller holds a Master of Fine Arts in Acting from Detroit’s Wayne State University and currently lives in Los Angeles.

Additional cast members include Nick Prior as Gabriel and Grace Debetaz as Michael. Kate Schini is the understudy for all three roles. Assistant director is Kaitlin Triplett. Scenic design is by Jill Hibbard with lighting design by Jamie Mancuso. Costume design is by Haley Williams and sound design is by Emily Callahan. The production is stage managed by Brad Buffum.

AN ACT OF GOD is produced in partnership with the Lied Center for Performing Arts.

The remaining productions in The Rep’s #HistoryMakers season include:

MOTHER COURAGE
November 7 – 18, 2018
By Bertolt Brecht
Music by Scott Lamps
Book and Lyrics by Andy Park
Translation by William Grange
Temple Building

“You want to live off the war, you have to feed it.”

“Bertolt Brecht’s twentieth century masterpiece, MOTHER COURAGE opens in November. This new adaptation sets the classic play during the American Civil War. The production features live musicians and a stirring score by award-winning composer Scott Lamps,” Andy Park. Follow the fortunes of Mother Courage and her three children as they strive to make a living during the madness of war. While Mother Courage profits from the spoils of war, she faces the ultimate sacrifice in this epic masterpiece of struggle and survival. Andy Park directs. Tobi Mattingly music directs. Individual regular tickets are $30, students/OLLI are $15.

THE HOLIDAY CABARET
December 13 – 16, 2018
Temple Building

“It’s the hap-happiest season of all.”

“In December, our annual THE HOLIDAY CABARET returns to The Rep stage. This melodious night of classic holiday music, rollicking comedy and endless good cheer promises to be both naughty and nice!” Andy Park. Vince Learned music directs. Individual regular tickets are $30, students/OLLI are $15.

DUTCHMAN
February 13 – 24, 2019
By LeRoi Jones/Amiri Baraka
Temple Building

“You don’t know anything except what’s there for you to see.”

“In February, we honor Black History Month by producing Amiri Baraka’s DUTCHMAN. This riveting play first premiered in 1964 and remains shockingly relevant. Nebraska Rep is proud to announce that Ron Himes, producing director and founder of The Black Rep, will direct. The Black Rep is the largest, professional African-American theatre company in the nation, and we are honored to welcome Mr. Himes.” Andy Park.

A conversation on a subway turns vicious as DUTCHMAN’s two passengers, a white woman and a young black man, flirt with race and rage. Amiri Baraka’s Obie-winning drama exerts an incendiary power as it dares to uncover the anger and fear buried below polite American decorum. Produced in partnership with the Lied Center for Performing Arts. Individual regular tickets are $30, students/OLLI are $15.

HAIR
March 27 – April 7, 2019
Book and Lyrics by Gerome Ragni and James Rado
Music by Galt MacDermot
Lied Center’s Johnny Carson Theater
Warning: This performance contains adult content and themes.

“Let the sunshine in.”

“Finally, we close our season with a celebratory musical that inspired a generation, HAIR. This landmark musical opened on Broadway in 1968, the same year The Rep was founded. HAIR remains one of the most popular and important American musicals and a production you don’t want to miss,” Andy Park.

The Rep lets the sunshine in with a fully-immersive production of the classic rock musical, HAIR. 50 years after its premiere, the show continues to assault the status quo, while shining a light on the power of love over hate, peace over war, freedom over repression, and hope over despair. Overflowing with free love, buzzing with youthful energy, and pulsing with iconic rock anthems, the Age of Aquarius is back! Andy Park directs. Vince Learned music directs. Produced in partnership with the Lied Center for Performing Arts. Individual regular tickets are $34, students/OLLI are $17.

SPIRIT OF ‘68
April 20, 2019
Temple Building

Celebrate The Rep’s 50th Anniversary at this special celebration. Enjoy hors d’oeuvres, drinks and a spectacle performance featuring live music, large-scale puppetry and stilt dancing. All individual tickets are $19.68.

The Nebraska Repertory Theatre is the resident theatre company of the Lied Center for Performing Arts and is supported by the Hixson-Lied College of Fine and Performing Arts.

The Nebraska Repertory Theatre Management Staff:
Andy Park, Artistic Director
Christopher Marks, Interim Executive Director
Julie Hagemeier, General Manager
Brad Buffum, Production Stage Manager
Jamie Bullins, Production Manager
Mitch Critel, Production Manager
Molly Gilmartin, Company Manager and Outreach Coordinator