Archive: Arts & Entertainment

Civic Ensemble will present a staged reading of A More Perfect Union by Vern Thiessen, which follows two Law Clerks at the U.S. Supreme Court who have very different backgrounds and opposing political views.  The reading will be performed Sunday, January 25 at 7:30pm at the Kitchen Theatre.

Maddie (Jennifer Herzog) is a white Jewish conservative from Cleveland who calls the conservative male justice she works for 'the wise one.' James (Ryan Hope Travis) is an African American liberal from a wealthy Atlanta suburb who calls the liberal female justice he works for 'the enlightened one.' Their budding love affair challenges their ethics and careers and threatens to expose a dirty little secret about the Highest Court in our land.

A More Perfect Union was originally commissioned by Epic Theatre Ensemble in 2006 and produced Off-Broadway in 2009 by Epic, with Civic Ensemble's Artistic Director Godfrey L. Simmons, Jr. originating the role of James.

Playwright Vern Thiessen is considered one of the most diverse and successful playwrights his native Canada has produced. In addition to A More Perfect Union, well known works include Shakespeare's Will, Apple, Vimy, Einstein's Gift, Lenin's Embalmers and Bird Brain.

Jennifer Herzog, Associate Artistic Director for Civic Ensemble, has performed Off-Broadway and regionally. She was most recently seen in The Kathy & Mo Show and Lenin's Shoe for Civic Ensemble.

Ryan Hope Travis was last seen in Ithaca as Steven in Slashes of Light, a Civic Ensemble co-production with the Kitchen Theatre Company. Hope is Artistic Director of the Paul Robeson Performing Arts Center in Syracuse, NY and will be performing A Shout in Salty Water at the Kitchen in April.

Godfrey L. Simmons, Jr. will direct. Simmons most recently directed an acclaimed off-off Broadway production All God's Chillun Got Wings for Civic Ensemble.

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