(MADISON, WI) StageQ is excited to announce the cast for it’s April production of “RAID! Attack on Stonewall.” The play, commissioned by StageQ to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the famous queer uprising, will run from April 19th though April 27th at the Bartell Theatre in downtown Madison, Wisconsin.
“RAID” is the cornerstone of StageQ’s 2018-2019 season which is themed around the 50th anniversary of the Stonewall Riots and the spirit of rebellion that surrounded it. The riots--which lasted several days in June 1969 and centered around the mob-owned, queer speakeasy know as the Stonewall Inn in New York’s Greenwich Village--are widely considered to be the catillist that launched what became known as the Gay Liberation Movement and transformed into the modern-day queer rights movement. Given this event has such an important role in queer history, StageQ approached Madison-based playwright, Malissa Petterson, to bring the famous, yet generally misunderstood, events to life for modern theatre audiences. “My goal with this piece was to provide as accurate an account as possible of the events before, during, and immediately after the raid on The Stonewall Inn the evening of June 28th, 1969,” says Petterson. “I wanted to provide an unflinching view of the horrors, the magic, and the love and liberation that took place that night, which for many marks the beginning of a long journey toward LGBTQ+ rights.” “RAID” also marks the first time StageQ has had a play commissioned in its 18 year history.
Designed as an immersive experience, audiences will be placed inside the ill-fated bar to meet the owners, patrons, and employees as they begin what was supposed to be a regular night of drinking, dancing, and escape from an outside world that often rejected queer people. Audiences will then be placed in the middle of a police raid and experience the panic, chaos, and--ultimately--defiance as the Stonewall inhabitants take their lives into their own hands. The piece is intense, powerful, moving, and more relevant than ever as we find ourselves in a world that is increasingly hostile to queer people including transgender students in schools and the military, gay and bi men and women still fighting for employment and housing rights.
“With the 50th anniversary of the Stonewall riots I wanted StageQ to celebrate that historic event by putting on a show that retold what happened in a vivid, immersive, and--most importantly--accurate way.” says the show’s executive producer, and StageQ President, Zak Stowe. “Malissa's script is just that and more. I'm so excited to bring audiences back in time and bring the amazing patrons of the Stonewall Inn to life on stage.” Tickets may purchased online at www.stageq.org or www.bartelltheatre.org, in person at the Bartell Theatre or by calling the Bartell Box Office at 608-661-9696.
Cast
Ethan Soderberg …………………………………………………………………………………..... Johnny Shades
Shauntel Burzynski ………………………………………………………………………………..... Dawn Hampton
Ja’More Boyd ……………………………………….. ……………………………………….…. Marsha P Johnson
Ember Reed …………………………………………………………………………………………... Yvonne Ritter
Alyssa Stowe ……………………………………………………………………………………….… Jennifer Hardy
Joshua Biatch ………………………………………………………………………………..…………. Martin Boyce
Ameera Khan ………………………………………………………………………………..……………………... Kiki
Noah Koebe ………………………………………………………………………………..……….... Inspector Tatem
EmmaJane DeWeese ……………………………………………………………………... Undercover Policewoman
Erica Hagen ……………………………………………………………………...…………………..…………. Virginia
Jim Chiolino …………………………………………………………………………………………...... Seymour Pine
Steven Smith ………………………………………………………………………………………....…. Howard Smith
DJ Xayasouk ……………………………………………………………………………………….... Raymond Castro
Shane Heim.…………………………………………………………………….. Man 1/Bartender 1/Police Officer 1
Kat Johnson …………………………………………………………………….. Man 2/Bartender 2/Police Officer 2
Run Dates
Friday, April 19th 7:30pm
Saturday, April 20th 7:30pm
Sunday, April 21st 2:00pm
Wednesday, April 24th 7:30pm
Thursday, April 25th 7:30pm
Friday, April 26th 7:30pm
Saturday, April 27th 2:00pm
About RAID! Attack on Stonewall :
An original work, commissioned by StageQ; this fully immersive experience will transport audiences back to the Stonewall Inn on the night of the infamous raid. As the stories of Stonewall’s owners, patrons, and employees interweave and unfold, the raid that started the near-week-long riots places the audience between the people who could live as themselves within the confines of the ill-fated bar and the police sent to crush their spirits.
About StageQ :
StageQ is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit, community theatre based in Madison, Wisconsin dedicated to celebrating and advancing queer representation through theatre written by and about LGBTQ+ persons. Founded in 2001, StageQ produces several shows each season at the Bartell Thearte in Downtown Madison and prides itself on telling its community’s stories on stage and opening the joys of theatre to as many people in their community as possible. Some of StageQ’s best-known previous productions include Bent, Corpus Christi, Falsettos, Boys in the Band, Die Mommie Die, Southern Baptist Sissies, and most recently, Cabaret.
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