October 11, 2013
The University of Texas at Austin Department of Theatre and Dance presents Our Country’s Good, a story about the redemptive power of art, October 18-27 at the Oscar G. Brockett Theatre.
“…a backstage play with a social conscience, demonstrating the redemptive power of theater and of education.” – The New York Times
Premiering 25 years ago at the Royal Court followed by a successful run on Broadway, Timberlake Wertenbaker’s Our Country’s Good offers the true story of the early days of the founding of Australia.
Miles from their homeland, a boat full of Royal Marine officers and convicts arrives on the Australian shore in 1789, forced to create a community in a fledgling penal colony. Amid the brutal conditions of the settlement, a determined lieutenant volunteers to direct the convicts – a collection of murderers and thieves – in a comedic stage play. With no support from his fellow Marines and the leading lady’s imminent execution, it’s questionable if the show will go on.
Adapted from Thomas Keneally’s best-selling novel The Playmaker, Our Country’s Good has received great critical acclaim, receiving six Tony Award nominations and winning the Olivier Award for Best Play and New York Drama Critics’ Circle Award for Best Foreign Play.
Director James Daniels shares, “Through the arts - through the theatre - through the ability to find your voice and to stand up for yourself and speak for yourself, you can save yourself. And in saving yourself, you can also work to save those around you. Our Country’s Good offers us this theme in a very meaningful way while also being incredibly entertaining.”
Our Country’s Good features an all-star cast including: Kyle Connealy, Ian Eisenberg, Will Douglas, Luke Linsteadt, Nate Jackson, Ja’Michael Darnell, Brad Billeaudeaux, Trent Lockwood, Cameron Mellin, Austin Dowling, Adam Simmons, James Sandison, Megan Rabuse, Cody Dale Edgar, Tasha Gorel, Aya Seidemann, Kevin Hippler, Shanaya Kapai, Lisa Martinez and Stephen Mabry.
Direction by James Daniels - Scenic Design by James Ogden - Costume Design by Mercedes O’Bannion - Lighting Design by Rachel Alulis - Technical Direction by David Vieira - Stage Management by Carolyn Allingham Hardin
For more information on Our Country’s Good, please visit texasperformingarts.org/event/our-countrys-good-ut-austin-theatre-dance.
CALENDAR LISTING
October 18-27, 2013 – The University of Texas at Austin Department of Theatre and Dance presents Our Country’s Good at Oscar G. Brockett Theatre (300 E. 23rd St.), located in the F. Loren Winship Drama Building. A map of the campus: texasperformingarts.org/visit/maps_directions.
Performance times are October 18, 19, 23-26 at 8:00 p.m. and October 20, 27 at 2:00 p.m. Tickets ($25 adults, $20 UT faculty & staff, $15 student) are now on sale at authorized ticket outlets, which include the Bass Concert Hall Box Office, most H-E-B stores and all Texas Box Office outlets, online at www.JoinTheDrama.org, or by calling (512) 477-6060 or (800) 982-BEVO.
Subscription Packages including Our Country's Good are available. Subscribers save 20% and receive preferred seating for select productions.
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