| Theatre fans are in for a massive treat. The first production in the newly renamed Conrad Prebys Theatre at the Dea Hurston New Village Arts Center is the 2019 Tony Award winning Best Play “The Ferryman” by Jez Butterworth. I was urged by my dialed-in buddy to see the play in London several years ago, and as I wrote then: “I have not been so spellbound in the theatre for as long as I can recall.” The upcoming show will be the first US production after Broadway, quite a feat for the renovated and intimate theatre. The show runs from January 27 (opening February 4) to March 5, 2023. North County San Diego is enjoying a renaissance with the imminent opening of The Sound, a state of the art concert venue on the Del Mar Fairgrounds managed by The Belly Up and now the Conrad Prebys Theatre. The renaming of the latter venue comes as the arts center has its auditorium modernized and public spaces redesigned to be a cultural gathering space and arts education center for the community. The project is being underwritten by The Next Stage, a $2.5-million fundraising campaign supported by the Conrad Prebys Foundation and the Sahm Family Foundation. Kristianne Kurner, Founder and Executive Artistic Director states, “I cannot imagine a more exciting time for New Village Arts since we first moved into this building in 2007. We have renovated the space so that it can present a much wider variety of performing and visual arts, and at the same time we are mounting the most ambitious season in our history.” “I’ve spent my career focused on the work of the actor and I can’t imagine a better play and a better cast to bring that work to fruition. I’m also proud that we are bringing a diverse group of actors and designers together to tell this universal story. All of us at New Village Arts are honored to bring this incredible show to our community.” “The Ferryman” takes place in Armagh, 1981 during the heart of The Troubles. In addition to its Tony Award it is universally acknowledged as one of the greatest plays of the modern era. The play won the Evening Standard Theatre Award and the Laurence Olivier Award for Best Play during its West End run and the New York Drama Critics’ Circle, Outer Critics Circle, and Drama Desk Awards for Best Play for its Broadway run. Ben Brantley said in The New York Times, “By the end of this magnificent drama, Mr. Butterworth has connected the contradictions with a skill that takes the breath away.” I could not agree more. Tickets now on sale at NewVillageArts.org and by calling 760.433.3245 |
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