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About the play
A middle-aged man, Ian, and young woman, Cate, enter a hotel room. As private and public violations collide, and personal violations open doors to progressively greater violent acts, the world fragments around them. Kane’s best-known and most controversial play Blasted was written in 1995 and directly inspired by the war in Yugoslavia, a multicultural jerry-rigged nation that consumed itself in civil-war violence. It was Kane’s insight that disclosed that many of the same historical influences which led to this violence were just as present in the streets of our western cities today as they were in the streets of Srebrenica. WARNING: BLASTED contains graphic violence. Audience discretion strongly advised. |
News & Reviews
"A remarkable job...three very talented actors and an equally talented creative team have put together a high-quality production of a very challenging play that many other theater companies wouldn't touch with a ten-foot pole." -Broadway World "Not for the squeamish. Blasted offers a pretty intense ride through a nightmarish world." -The Providence Journal "Skillfully directed...a wonderful cast not only makes us uncomfortable to the extreme but also allows us to catch the brief glimpses of humanity in all of them." -Motif Magazine "This production features stellar performances from its three cast members and exemplary direction on a makeshift stage that perfectly conveys the cage-like environment where the characters and audience are essentially imprisoned, as well as captivated." -Edge Providence "Very little in the theatre world shocks me these days. However, Wilbury Theatre’s production of Sarah Kane’s Blasted is about as shocking a play as you will see on any stage...The saving grace is the outstanding acting." -Warwick Beacon "The craftsmanship, wit, and yes, BEAUTY with which the play is staged makes it that much more horrible, and more necessary. That proves how powerful and necessary this play is." -Theater Mirror |
Special Events: Post-Show Conversations Following Performances of BLASTED
Friday, March 21- Sarah Kane, Blasted, and why we care
At the age of 23 Sarah Kane wrote Blasted, a play that had a profound effect on countless playwrights and theatre practicioners around the world. Join Erik Ehn, award-winning playwright and Head of Playwriting and Performance Studies at Brown University, for a discussion on who Sarah Kane was, what she wrote Blasted for, and why we're still talking about it today.
Friday, March 28th-Practicing Non-Violence
Does it seem like our society is always at War? Does it feel like every time you turn on the news or read a paper you are hearing about some form of violence. What can our society do? Join the Executive Director from The Institute for the Study and Practice of Non violence, Teny Gross, as we discuss how the act of non-violence can be used in times of trouble and war.
Friday, April 4- The Impact of War
We all know war is bad and effect everyone involved. Have you ever taken a moment to think about the people that live in the war zones? How are they affected. Please join Andy Stigler, Associate Professor in the National Security Affairs Department of the Naval War College in Newport, RI and James Tackach, Professor of Literature at Roger Williams University for a discussion about psychological impact of living in war zones and the effects of combat, both real and in as depicted in literature.
At the age of 23 Sarah Kane wrote Blasted, a play that had a profound effect on countless playwrights and theatre practicioners around the world. Join Erik Ehn, award-winning playwright and Head of Playwriting and Performance Studies at Brown University, for a discussion on who Sarah Kane was, what she wrote Blasted for, and why we're still talking about it today.
Friday, March 28th-Practicing Non-Violence
Does it seem like our society is always at War? Does it feel like every time you turn on the news or read a paper you are hearing about some form of violence. What can our society do? Join the Executive Director from The Institute for the Study and Practice of Non violence, Teny Gross, as we discuss how the act of non-violence can be used in times of trouble and war.
Friday, April 4- The Impact of War
We all know war is bad and effect everyone involved. Have you ever taken a moment to think about the people that live in the war zones? How are they affected. Please join Andy Stigler, Associate Professor in the National Security Affairs Department of the Naval War College in Newport, RI and James Tackach, Professor of Literature at Roger Williams University for a discussion about psychological impact of living in war zones and the effects of combat, both real and in as depicted in literature.
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CAST & CREW
Blasted by Sarah Kane Directed by Josh Short Alexander Cook*, Ian Amber Kelly, Cate Jo-án Belanger Peralta, Soldier Fight Direction by Normand Beauregard Projections by Mike Commendatore & Adam O'Brien Lighting Design by Jason Eckenroth Sound Design by Cyrus Leddy Costume Design by Sylvi Re Scenic Design by Monica Shinn Stage Management by Alex Maynard Assistant Director, Kira Hawkridge; Production Manager, Seth Finkle; Poster Image Design, Jacqueline Frole; Production Photography, Brian Gagnon. *Member of Actors’ Equity Association |
CALENDAR OF PERFORMANCES
Thursday, March 13 7:30pm preview
Friday, March 14 7:30pm preview Saturday, March 15 7:30pm preview Sunday, March 16 7:30pm pay-what-you-can Monday, March 17 7:30pm press/opening Friday, March 21 7:30pm Saturday, March 22 7:30pm Friday, March 28 7:30pm Saturday, March 29 7:30pm Friday, April 4 7:30pm Saturday, April 5 7:30pm Friday, April 11 7:30pm JUST ADDED Saturday, April 12 7:30pm JUST ADDED ... Post-show talkbacks following all performances. |
Company BiosAlexander Cook (Ian) makes his debut at the Wilbury Theatre Group with Blasted. Recent Boston roles include the Vizier (and seven other characters) in Central Square Theater’s award-winning production of Arabian Nights, Colonel Dulac in the premiere production of Burning at Boston Playwrights, (another) Ian in The Other Place at the Nora Theater, and Mary Prime Deity in The Lily’s Revenge at American Repertory Theater. He is familiar to Providence audiences as Dr. Zubritsky in last year’s Fools at Ocean State Theater. In New York, he originated the role of Schumann in Carnaval Off-Broadway, and was a member of the Riverside Shakespeare Company, appearing in their productions of The Tempest, Julius Caesar and Richard III. He was a founding member of Pittsburgh’s City Theater Company, appearing in such productions as Curse of the Starving Class, Indians and How I Got That Story. Mr. Cook can be seen in upcoming films The Forger, Catatonk Blues and The Equalizer. He starred in the indie thriller This Killing Business, now in European distribution, and appeared in George Romero’s classic Dawn of the Dead as the Sledgehammer Zombie. He received his BFA in Acting from Carnegie-Mellon’s School of Drama.
Amber Kelly (Cate) previously appeared in Gruesome Playground Injuries with the Wilbury Group and is happy to be making her return with Blasted. Now a Chicago-based actor, Amber tours nationally and internationally with Catharsis Productions using humor and performance to engage college and military audiences in conversation about sexual assault prevention. Amber's experience spans from Shakespeare to voicing young boys on the Cartoon Network shows DragonBall and DragonBallZ. While living in Rhode Island, she created Theater of Thought which produced site-specific theater to enhance and challenge the audience experience. As an actor, some Rhode Island performances include: THEATER OF THOUGHT: Killer Joe (Dottie), Tape (Amy); SECOND STORY: Nuts (Claudia). With a penchant for including and challenging audiences, Amber is thrilled to join forces with Sarah Kane to have personal warfare explode onstage in a way that can't be ignored.
Jo-án Belanger Peralta (Soldier) is a founding member of Providence's Wilbury Theatre Group where his previous roles include Mace in The Elaborate Entrance of Chad Deity, the Bailiff in The Threepenny Opera, Lyncoya in Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson, and James in The Lieutenant of Inishmore. In addition to his work with The Wilbury Group, Jo-án has appeared as an actor at Trinity Repertory Company, The Sandra Feinstein-Gamm Theatre, and the Perishable Theatre. A graduate of the theatre performance program at Marymount Manhattan College, NY, Jo-án would like to thank Wrenn Goodrum for her constant support and her endless wisdom. "She opened my eyes to the world of theatre, and I will forever be eternally grateful"
Josh Short (Director) is the Founding Artistic Director of The Wilbury Theatre Group, where his directing credits include; Martin McDonagh’s The Lieutenant of Inishmore, Kristoffer Diaz's The Elaborate Entrance of Chad Deity, and the New England premieres of Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson (w/ David Tessier), Lisa D'Amour's Detroit, and Wallace Shawn's adaptation of The Threepenny Opera. As an actor with the Wilbury Group he appeared in the New England premiere of Rajiv Joseph’s Gruesome Playground Injuries, and the group's inaugural production, Edward Albee’s Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?. Other theatres include; Theater of Thought (Providence, RI), Perishable Theatre (Providence, RI), The Sandra Feinstein-Gamm Theatre (Pawtucket, RI), Elemental Theatre Collective (Providence, RI), The LaJolla Playhouse (San Diego, CA), The Gaslamp Quarter Drama Department (San Diego, CA), The Provincetown Tennessee Williams Theater Festival (Provincetown, MA), and The Providence Black Repertory Company, where he served as Associate Producer from 2008-2010.
Alex Maynard (Stage Manager) is a recent graduate of the University of Rhode Island, her most recent projects include working as a Literary Assistant at Florida Studio Theatre, Assistant Directing both Detroit and An Iliad at The Wilbury Group, and Stage Managing Wilbury's A Very Merry Unauthorized Children's Scientology Pageant.
Monica Shinn (Set Designer) lives and works in Providence, Rhode Island. Her latest projects include set design for Open for Dancing with Island Moving Company and Third Rail Projects in collaboration with the The Steel Yard, fall 2013 and inclusion in Locally Made, RISD museum: Collection Acquisitions, fall 2013. Her drawings can be seen in the upcoming edition of “Outlook” magazine. Currently, she is happy to work with the other designers and artists for this production of Blasted and to go to her day job, fabricating bus stops for RIPTA and Corley Metals. Sylvi Re (Costume Designer) is once again delighted to design costumes for The Wilbury Group. She got her degree in Theatre Arts and English Lit from Illinois Wesleyan University. She moved to the lovely state of Rhode Island four years ago to work for Trinity Repertory Company where she has done wardrobe as well as stitching, dyeing, and costume crafts. In the past, Sylvi has worked for numerous theatres including Theatre by the Sea, The Great River Shakespeare Festival, and Drury Lane in Chicago. Previous Design Credits include James and the Giant Peach, How to Succeed in Business…, Singin’ in the Rain, and The Man Who. Her work could also be seen at the Newport Art Museum where she was hired by a local artist to fabricate one of the pieces in the “Recasting the Loving Cup: from Traditional Silver to Contemporary Media.” Her other shows for Wilbury Group include An Iliad, Detroit and last season’s The Threepenny Opera. Seth Finkle (Production Manager) is thrilled to be back with the Wilbury Group not only as the Production Manager but as the Education Director. He has also been the Production Stage Manager for previous Wilbury shows that include An Iliad, Detroit and last years’ Body Awareness. A 2006 graduate of the University of Rhode Island (BFA, Acting & Stage Management), Seth went on to earn his MA in Educational Theatre from NYU. Following graduating from NYU with his Masters, he moved to DC where he worked at Theater J as both the Production Manager and Stage Manager. Previous Production Manager credits include Scena Theater's productions of Purge, The Weir, The War of the Worlds, and The Importance of Being Earnest. He has also been the Production Manager for Synetic Family Theatre's production of The Rough Faced Girl, The Magic Paintbrush, The Nutcracker, Cowardly Christopher Finds His Courage and Tio Conjeo. He has also worked as a PSM at Theater J for Sandra Bernhard: Without You I’m Nothing, Benedictus, Zero Hour, In Darfur, Iris Bahr’s Dai (Enough) and Judy Gold’s It’s Judy’s Show. Jason Eckenroth (Lighting Designer) is an emerging designer, working notably with the Wilbury Group and the Brown/Trinity MFA Program, as well as Circus Smirkus, in the realms of sound, lighting, and multimedia. It's important to him to see increased collaboration and resource sharing in the Rhode Island theatre community, especially as economic realities threatens to push it apart. Mike Commendatore (Projection Designer): Mike is excited to be working on his fifth Wilbury show this season with fantastic help from Adam O'Brien and Tim Burbank. Past projection design with Wilbury include A Very Merry Unauthorized Children's Scientology Pageant, Detroit, Threepenny Opera, It's a Spaceship Now, and The Elaborate Entrance of Chad Deity. Adam O’Brien (Projection Designer) is the creator of Menacing Cod Productions, an amorphous digital media company based in Rhode Island. His recent work includes projection shows for The David Tessier All-Star Band of All-Star Stars, Mystic Aquarium and the Wheeler School One Act Plays program. He is currently working with Mike Commendatore and Tim Burbank to establish Providence's newest, if not first, digital projection company. This is Adam's third show with the Wilbury Group, previously providing video and projections for Detroit and A Very Merry Unauthorized Children's Scientology Pageant. Cyrus Leddy (Sound Designer) is a writer, performer, and sound designer living in Providence. Previous shows with The Wilbury Group include A Very Merry Unauthorized Children's Scientology Pageant, Detroit, The Elaborate Entrance of Chad Deity, Exit the King; Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson, and Destefano on the Air, which he also wrote. In February the Wilbury Group’s New Works program presented a workshop of his current work-in-progress: The Teller. Kira Hawkridge (Assistant Director) is a local Actor, Director, and Teaching Artist based out of Providence, RI. She received her B.F.A. in Acting and Directing from the University of Rhode Island in 2012 and has experience working with The Gamm Theatre, The Contemporary Theatre Company, and La Voce: Theatre that Speaks. She is the Artistic Director of OUT LOUD Theatre, a touring Troupe of Theatre Artists, and is Head of the Senior Drama Program at SMARTS: The Southeastern Massachusetts Arts Collaborative. She is currently working on a collaborative Socially Engaged Theatre Pilot project with Heads Up, Inc. where her Troupe will perform and tour a piece based on women's body image. This is Kira's first production with The Wilbury Theatre Group and she is thrilled to be working with this collaborative team. |
