Free “Open Talk” Video: Arthur Miller’s View, Abridged
available Monday, September 7
Professor Patrick Baliani of the UA Honors College will explore what makes Miller America’s most “moral” playwright, and the special place occupied by A View from the Bridge in the evolution of Miller’s development.
A link to the video on YouTube will be posted here once it is available.
This open talk is supported in part by a generous gift from Bill & Nancy Sohn.
August 27, 2020
Meet with the cast of A View from the Bridge:
Dear Rogues,
In just two weeks, we’ll be opening A View from the Bridge at The Rogue.
It’s thrilling to think that we might actually get to have people in the theatre again! We've been closely watching the Pima County statistics that determine whether we can open. The most important benchmark is the percentage of COVID-19 cases in the county. That percentage must be less than 0.1 percent, and Pima County must maintain this low average over a two-week period. That means that less than 1 in 1,000 people have the virus.
Of course, if we are able to open the play, we will be at a much lower audience capacity than normal. We will have fewer than 45 people in the usual 170-seat theatre on any night, everyone will be masked, we will do extensive cleaning, no one will gather in the lobby, the snack bar will be closed, etc.—for a complete list of precautions you can click here.
We will also be creating a professional three-camera video of the production so that those of you who feel more comfortable staying at home will still be able to see the production.
The play is beautiful and compelling. And our production concept is interesting: masked actors moving to a soundtrack of the play including vocals, music, and sound effects. We are certain it will be a fascinating night at the theatre—whether you see it at home or at The Rogue.
Thank you, as always, dear friends.
Cindy Meier, Managing & Associate Artistic Director
Rogue Radio
8/6/2020
Kate Chopin’s Desirée’s Baby adapted by Christopher Johnson from the 1893 short story
featuring Carley Elizabeth Preston, Christopher Johnson and Cynthia Meier
Carley Elizabeth Preston and Christopher Johnson in Kate Chopin’s Desirée’s Baby
Dear Rogues,
We have been awash in Kate Chopin’s writing these last few months. An early feminist voice of the late 19th century, Chopin writes from a unique and compelling perspective. After we completed The Awakening, we turned to one of her most famous short stories to share with listeners on NPR.
To hear our second edition of Rogue Radio on NPR, click here and scroll to about 15:08 on the Arizona Spotlight recording.
Thank you, as always, dear friends.
Cindy Meier, Managing & Associate Artistic Director
July, 2020:
Rogue Radio
7/22/20 & 7/30/20
Kate Chopin’s The Awakening
We are very excited to share with you the audio adaptation by Christopher Johnson of Kate Chopin’s 1899 novel The Awakening, performed by The Rogue ensemble.
The story centers on Edna Pontellier, a married woman, spending the summer in Grand Isle, a holiday resort popular with the wealthy inhabitants of nearby New Orleans.
Edna is vacationing with her husband, Léonce, and their two sons at the cottages of Madame Lebrun. Léones’s frequent business-related absences mar his domestic life with Edna. Consequently, Edna spends most of her time with her friend Adèle Ratignolle, a married Creole who epitomizes womenly elegance and charm.
Edna’s relationship with Adèle begins Edna’s process of “awakening.” The process accelerates as Edna comes to know Robert Lebrun, the elder, single son of Madame Lebrun. Robert is known among the Grand Isle vacationers as a man who chooses one woman each year—often a married woman—to whom he then plays “attendant” all summer long. This summer, he devotes himself to Edna, and the two spend their days together lounging and talking by the shore...
ACT 1
ACT 2
Stop-Motion Animation
7/16/2020: Salt and Pepper Romeo and Juliet
featuring Joseph McGrath, Cynthia Meier, Doug Levy and Christopher Johnson
Rogue Radio
7/7/20
Virginia Woolf’s The Mark on the Wall featuring Ryan Parker Knox, Joseph McGrath and Cynthia Meier
Ryan Parker Knox and Joseph McGrath in Vrginia Woolf’s The Mark on the Wall
Dear Rogues,
Last January, long before the pandemic hit Arizona, Joe and I met with Mark McLemore at Arizona Public Media to talk about the concept of Rogue Radio—a series of short 10-minute plays broadcast on NPR.
Our timing couldn’t have been better.
We are thrilled to share with you our first edition of Rogue Radio on NPR! Just click here and scroll to about 14:30 on the Arizona Spotlight recording.
Wishing you all the best, dear Rogues!
Cindy Meier, Managing & Associate Artistic Director
June, 2020:
Rogue Backstage Tours
6/30/2020: Backstage with Music Director Russell Ronnebaum
6/23/2020: Backstage with Rogue Radio
6/17/2020: Lighting Designer Don Fox
June 10, 2020
BLACK LIVES MATTER
For things to reveal themselves to us, we need to be ready to abandon our views about them.
—Thich Nhat Hanh, Being Peace
Dear Rogues,
Over the last several days, we’ve been reflecting on our role in creating a more racially equitable community. How does The Rogue, as a primarily white cultural institution, speak to questions regarding inclusion and diversity without being hypocritical or giving lip service in order to feel better about ourselves?
I want to share with you a paragraph I sent to our acting ensemble yesterday after we had a long discussion the previous day on Zoom:
I’ve been thinking deeply about what we can do. I sat for awhile in the green room yesterday and looked around at all the photos of our shows on the wall and imagined that I was a person of color and I couldn’t see myself on the walls. Yes, there’s a photo from Celia A Slave, but that’s about it. I’m overwhelmed right now with all that’s going on—the virus, the theatre closure, the death of George Floyd, and the reminder of the inequality in our world and in our theatre. I’m sure everyone else is a bit overwhelmed right now, too. I read something in the New York Times this morning that seemed to be an outline for a plan for us: “Many arts leaders agree that the most effective response is institutional change—hiring more staff members of color; diversifying the board; presenting a range of programming.” It strikes me that this is a pretty good map for us. I haven’t sent out any statement to our audience. I’ve been reluctant to send out a statement to our audience that we cannot back up with action. I keep coming back to the question--what can we DO? It’s a learning process ahead, which will involve mistakes and corrections and apologies and progress. And I really appreciate moving through it with you all.
Please know, dear Rogues, that we will continue to think about these issues and discover what we can do to move our theatre towards a more equitable world.
With love,
Cindy Meier
Managing Director
Rogue Backstage Tours
6/9/2020: Tucson photographer Tim Fuller
6/2/2020: The Rogue Box Office with Holly Griffith
5/20/2020: Far Side of the Moon Box
5/13/2020: Master Electrician Peter Bleasby
4/28/2020: Costume Shop tour with Nanalee Raphael
4/22/2020: The Rogue Hallway Tour
4/15/2020: Checking in with The Rogues
4/7/2020: Rogue Costume Storage with Hunter Hnat
4/1/2020: The Rogue Founding Donors Plaque
3/25/2020: Matt Walley as Sir Toby Belch
3/25/2020: Joe does Shakespeare
May, 2020:
Rogue Radio
Oscar Wilde’s The Importance of Being Earnest
Featuring
Ryan Parker Knox as John Worthington
Holly Griffith as Gwendolen Fairfax
Hunter Hnat as Algernon Moncrieff
Bryn Booth as Cecily Cardew
Carley Preston as Miss Prism
Joseph McGrath as Doctor Chausable
with
Aaron Shand as Lane / Merriman
and
Cynthia Meier as Lady Bracknell
March, 2020:
March 18, 2020
Dear Rogues,
I've been going for morning walks in our neighborhood this spring. The flowers have been comforting and surprising. How do they manage to weather the rain and wind and hot sun and remain so effortlessly beautiful? Looking closely at their delicate petals and vivid colors has helped me with all the changes we're experiencing right now...
I have to tell you that we are unable to present Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night this spring. We were supposed to start rehearsals last night, but we felt that we couldn't responsibly do that. Twelfth Night has 13 cast members, 2 musicians, a director and 2 stage managers involved. How could we have all those people in the same room rehearsing together with the coronavirus on the loose? We couldn't. And who knows if by April 23 (our projected opening date—and Shakespeare’s birthday, by the way) we'd be able to have an audience in the theatre?
Our problem seems small compared to all that the world is now experiencing. But for 15 years this has been our world—rehearsing plays, presenting them to you, and reveling in some of the greatest ideas and poetry of the English language. It feels very strange to stop.
The Cast and Crew of Moby Dick
Theatre by its very nature is social. We are a community. And how do we do theatre with social distance? We have some ideas for ways we might continue to share with you—through short videos, podcasts, images and words—and we'll keep you updated here on our Website as these plans develop. (Some of our ideas sound like they’ll be quite fun.)
But for now, we ask for your patience and your help. If you have tickets for Twelfth Night, please consider making a tax-deductible donation of them. We would be tremendously grateful and would use the funds to pay our out-of-work actors and staff. If however, you’d like to move your tickets to another performance in the future or if you’d like a refund, please call Holly at our box office—520-551-2053.
Also, if you plan to join us for next year's season, now would be a great time to buy your season tickets. The income would help us make it through this difficult time.
Finally, if you can’t send money or buy tickets, please send love. If there’s a moment at The Rogue this past year that you especially remember, tell us about it. We’d love to hear from you.
Thank you, dear Rogues. I hope you have time to stop and enjoy the flowers. We’ll be in touch soon.
With love,
Cindy Meier
Managing Director
March 13, 2020
Dear Rogues,
It is with a heavy heart that we are canceling the remaining four performances of The Beauty Queen of Leenane at The Rogue Theatre due to the current public health risk of large gatherings. We are also canceling the upcoming staged reading of The House of Bernarda Alba on Sunday afternoon March 22.
At this time, we hope to continue with our production of Twelfth Night which is scheduled to open April 23. We'll be posting updates here on our Website as more developments occur.
As a nonprofit arts organization, we rely on your support. Your support is crucial to our existence, and The Rogue and other arts organizations could see significant losses due to the impact of COVID-19. Please consider making your existing ticket purchases for The Beauty Queen or Bernarda Alba a donation to The Rogue. If you would like to transfer your tickets to another production or would like a refund, please contact our box office at 520-551-2053.
The health and safety of you, our valued patrons, and our employees and artists is of utmost importance. Take care of yourselves. And thank you for your support and patience as we navigate this unprecedented and ever-changing situation. Know that we will be back in touch soon.
With affection,
Cynthia Meier and Joseph McGrath, Co-Founders
Beauty Queen of Leenane will shake your foundations
Review of The Beauty Queen of Leenane by Chuck Graham on March 3 in Let The Show Begin! at TucsonStage.com
Rogue stages a vivid, dark Beauty Queen of Leenane
Review of The Beauty Queen of Leenane by Kathleen Allen to appear in the March 9th Arizona Daily Star
February, 2020:
A Very Irish Play
Review of The Beauty Queen of Leenane by Cliff Cunningham on February 29 in SunNewsTucson.com
Rogue Theatre production takes on the impact of scarcity on the human condition
Preview of The Beauty Queen of Leenane in the February 27th Arizona Daily Star
ANNOUNCING
OUR 2020–2021 SEASON
A SEASON OF AWAKENINGS
SEASON SPONSOR: MARIANNE LEEDY
A View from the Bridge Mary Shelley’s FrankensteinThe OresteiaThe Weir As You Like It
A View from the Bridge by Arthur Miller
September 10–27, 2020
Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein by David Catlin
November 5–22, 2020
The Oresteia by Ellen McLaughlin
January 7–24, 2021
The Weir by Conor McPherson
February 25–March 14, 2021
As You Like It by William Shakespeare
April 22–May 9, 2021
Free Open Talk: Before the Devil Knows You're Dead
On Saturday, February 22, Director Christopher Johnson presented a free open talk on Irish playwright Martin McDonagh and his 1996 play, The Beauty Queen of Leenane.
We also shared some sneak previews of Beauty Queen.
This open talk is supported in part by a generous gift from
Paul Winick & Ronda Lustman and Pat & John Danloe.
Note that all our upcoming season’s plays will be preceded by
a free open talk at 2:00 P.M. on the Saturday before the run begins,
and you are invited! Talks can fill up, so plan to arrive early.
Interview with Cynthia Meier and Joseph McGrath featured on the January 9, 2020 edition of Arizona Public Media’s Arizona Spotlight with host Mark McLemore
Rogue Theatre takes on a whale of a tale with Moby Dick
Preview of Moby Dick in the January 9th Arizona Daily Star
Supporting Materials
Free Open Talk: The Appalling Beauty of Melville’s Moby Dick
On Saturday, January 4, Associate Professor Patrick Baliani of the UA Honors College shared a personal exploration of the paradoxical nature of Herman Melville’s greatest work.
This open talk is supported in part by a generous gift from Kay & Philip Korn.
Note that all our upcoming season’s plays will be preceded by
a free open talk at 2:00 P.M. on the Saturday before the run begins,
and you are invited! Talks can fill up, so plan to arrive early.
The Rogue Theatre received
thirteen nominations and one award in the Arizona Daily Star’s 2019 Mac Awards!
Read all about it here.
The Nominations
Best Actor, Drama: Ryan Parker Knox in Middletown “Knox crawled into the skin of the character.” Best Actor, Drama: Matt Bowdren in The Crucible “ ...was powerful and poignant...he owned the role of John Proctor.” Best Actress, Drama: Bryn Booth in The Crucible Her “portrayal of Abigail made clear the horror and the tragedy that can result from lies and betrayals.” Best Director, Drama: Christopher Johnson for Middletown “His Middletown had a rhythm and a pace that gave the story about small town life full breath.” Best Director, Drama: Christopher Johnson for The Crucible “his direction in The Crucible was riddled with tension and insightful performances.” Best Director, Drama: Cynthia Meier for The Secret in the Wings “ ...wowed us with her direction ...she effectively used costumes and props
to keep us engrossed as she took us from one story to the other.” Best Drama: Middletown “...captured imaginations..” Best Drama:The Secret in the Wings “...captured imaginations..” Best Drama:The Crucible “ ...illuminating and terrifying.” Best Actor, Comedy: Matt Walley in Much Ado About Nothing “...took on the role of Shakespeare’s clown Dogberry and he made him as funny as the Bard intended.” Best Actress, Comedy: Cynthia Meier in Blithe Spirit “...deliciously outrageous.” Best Director, Comedy: Joseph McGrath for Much Ado About Nothing “ ...used a light touch and lots of physical humor ...” Best Director, Comedy: Joseph McGrath for Blithe Spirit “ ...his production of Blithe Spirit danced with humor and rhythm.”
The Winner
Best Comedy: Blithe Spirit “ ...jaunty and sophisticated and grand fun. Playwright Noël Coward’s wit was given full breath by the talented cast..”
This open talk is supported in part by a generous gift from Norma Davenport.
Note that all our upcoming season’s plays will be preceded by
a free open talk at 2:00 P.M. on the Saturday before the run begins,
and you are invited! Talks can fill up, so plan to arrive early.
Poster and Additional Resources
View the full-sized poster for the play
and learn about the Noël Coward Atchive Trust
and much more information on Noël Coward
September, 2019:
Long Day’s Journey filled with unforgettable moments
Review ofLong Day’s Journey Into Night by Chuck Graham on September 17 in Let The Show Begin! at TucsonStage.com
Director offers three reasons to watch Rogue’s O’Neill play
Preview of Long Day’s Journey Into Night in the September 5th Arizona Daily Star
Free Open Talk: On Reading Eugene O’Neill
Saturday, September 7, 2:00 P.M.
Join Associate Professor Patrick Baliani of the UA Honors College as he delves into O’Neill’s many plays and his experimentations with form, providing a holistic context for The Rogue’s production of Long Day’s Journey Into Night.
This open talk is supported in part by a generous gift from Andy & Cammie Watson.
Note that all our upcoming season’s plays will be preceded by
a free open talk at 2:00 P.M. on the Saturday before the run begins,
and you are invited! Talks can fill up, so plan to arrive early.
July, 2019:
Middletown is about the beauty in the banal
Review of Middletown by Kathleen Allen to appear in the July 18 Arizona Daily Star
Director Christopher Johnson will talk about the works of playwright Will Eno, and the Rogue actors will perform scenes from his plays.
We will also share a sneak preview of Middletown.
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