Salt Lake Acting Company Offers the Latest from Pulitzer Prize Winning Playwright David Lindsay-Abaire In GOOD PEOPLE
“That’s normal. To struggle. For most people, it’s normal. Most people I know at least.
That’s just how it is…”—Margie in GOOD PEOPLE
Salt Lake Acting Company presents the winner of the New York Drama Critics’ Best Play Award, GOOD PEOPLE by Pulitzer Prize winning playwright, David Lindsay-Abaire, October 30 through November 24, 2013.
At times hilarious and other times heart-breaking, GOOD PEOPLE is an affectionate look at the ‘haves’ and ‘have nots’. Set in working-class South Boston, this story examines the struggles of a group of women trying to make ends meet. When tough, mouthy Margie gets fired from her cashier job at the dollar store, she is desperate to find a job to support herself and her disabled adult daughter. Margie turns to an unlikely source for help when she encounters Mike, an old high school boyfriend, who got out of Southie and became a successful doctor. Through tense and engrossing encounters with Mike and his much younger wife Kate, Margie is forced to look at her own life choices.
“Class is something I know about,” Daivd Lindsay-Abaire said in The New York Times on Feb. 11, 2011. “I’ve lived it every day of my life, and it shaped me in my identity. I don’t want to be didactic about class. I thought, ‘Let me write about the people I know and love and class will bubble up inevitably.’”
Director Robin Wilkes-Dunn said, “David Lindsay-Abaire doesn't pull any punches with his spot-on dialogue as his characters navigate the waters of class, character, race and luck in this moving, yet humorous play. This production stars an ensemble of Salt Lake's finest actors.”
The six-member cast includes Actors’ Equity Association members Nell Gwynn, Robert Scott Smith and Stephanie Howell. Dee Macaluso, Michelle Patrick and Gordon Dunn also join the cast.
Having previously produced KIMBERLY AKIMBO and RABBIT HOLE by David Lindsay-Abaire, SLAC is thrilled to bring GOOD PEOPLE to Utah audiences. Lindsay-Abaire’s characters are often painfully real in all their raw, gritty, flawed glory. The brilliant playwright intertwines comedy and drama seamlessly in poignant, thought-provoking and entertaining theatre that audiences will not forget.
THE PLAYWRIGHT
DAVID LINDSAY-ABAIRE is a playwright, screenwriter, lyricist, and librettist whose play RABBIT HOLE premiered on Broadway and went on to receive the 2007 Pulitzer Prize for Drama, the Spirit of America Award, and five Tony nominations. He was also nominated for a Grammy Award (Best Musical Show Album) and two Tony Awards (Best Book of a Musical and Best Score) for his work on SHREK THE MUSICAL. Prior to that, David was awarded the 2008 Ed Kleban Award as America’s most promising musical theater lyricist. David’s other plays include FUDDY MEERS, KIMBERLY AKIMBO, WONDER OF THE WORLD, and A DEVIL INSIDE, among others. His play GOOD PEOPLE premiered on Broadway, starring Frances McDormand, and was nominated for a 2011 Tony Award. In addition to his work in theatre, David's screen credits include "Rabbit Hole," “Rise of the Guardians” and “Oz: The Great and Powerful.” David is a proud New Dramatists alum, a graduate of Sarah Lawrence College and the Juilliard School, as well as a member of the WGA and the Dramatists Guild Council.
DIRECTOR
ROBIN WILKS-DUNN
Robin is back at SLAC after directing DOTTIE: THE SISTER LIVES ON. She recently directed LAST LISTS OF MY MAD MOTHER and THE GOOD BODY for Pygmalion Theatre Company. Robin is script supervisor, co-writer and director for a children's touring show for the Intermountain LIVE campaign. Robin has directed several staged readings at SLAC, most recently David Kranes' THE LAST WORD. Other productions she has directed at SLAC include BOOM, PEARL, ONE LAST DANCE and NAPOLEON'S CHINA. She reads scripts for the Sundance Theatre Lab and works as Outreach and Education Coordinator for Kingsbury Hall.
CAST
NELL GWYNN (Margaret)
Nell returns to SLAC having previously been seen in THE EXIT INTERVIEW, GOD OF CARNAGE, THE PERSIAN QUARTER and ANGELS IN AMERICA. Her New York City credits include, David Johnston's THE ORESTEIA and CANDY & DOROTHY (GLAAD New Media Award Winner), Tom Rowan's KISS & CRY (GLAAD New Media Award Nominee, Innovative Theatre Award Nomination-Best Supporting Actress), COUNSELLOR AT LAW (Lortel Award Winner, Obie Award Winner), Robyn Burland's PIECEWORK and Charles Mee's BIG LOVE at Theatre for a New City, among others. Nell can currently be seen in the short films “Red Flag,” “Monsura Is Waiting” and “After We Rest.”
ROBERT SCOTT SMITH (Mike)
Scott’s previous credits with SLAC include, CHARM, SWIMMING IN THE SHALLOWS, SIX YEARS, BIG LOVE, BATBOY: THE MUSICAL and GROSS INDECENCY. Other Salt Lake City acting credits include SHH! BURLESQUE, PAINS OF YOUTH and SANTALAND DIARIES (Tooth and Nail Theatre) and BASH (Plan-B Theatre). His New York City credits include KEEPING ISHMAEL (Workshop), PERICLES (SLANT), and the co-development of Roger Benington’s new work, MORMON BIRD PLAY. His film and TV credits include “Blessing,” “Animae,” “Guiding Light” and “The Unfortunate Moment of Misunderstanding.” He graduated with an MFA from the Old Globe Theatre in San Diego and a BFA from the actor training program at the University of Utah. Scott is also the Founder and Co-Artistic Director of Flying Bobcat Theatrical Laboratory.
DEE MACALUSO (Dottie)
Dee started her career in stand-up comedy and improvisation. She founded a number of comedy troupes, taught acting and directed plays and film. Dee is a veteran actor in numerous commercials, television shows, films and stage productions. She is also an award winning writer of stage plays, screenplays, commercials, and news and magazine articles. Previous SLAC appearances include, THE MEMORY OF WATER, ICE GLEN, BILLION DOLLAR BABY and SATURDAY’S VOYEUR.
STEPHANIE HOWELL (Jean)
Stephanie has appeared locally in BORDERLANDS, THE END OF THE HORIZON, THE ALIENATION EFFEKT and BASH with Plan-B Theatre Company. She has also acted in all 10 ‘slam’s (Plan-B’s annual 24-hour-hour theatre festival). Other local credits include ONE FLEW OVER THE CUCKOO’S NEST, BIG RIVER, FORUM and SOUTH PACIFIC at Pioneer Theatre Company. Additional favorite roles include Cassie in A CHORUS LINE, Amy in COMPANY and Susie in W;T. Stephanie is a graduate of Northwestern University with a degree in Theatre Arts. Her film and television credits include “Days of our Lives” and “Peculiarities.”
MICHELLE PATRICK (Kate)
Michelle was last seen at SLAC in THE OVERWHELMING. She began her career as a dancer with the Feld Ballet in New York City and later received her BA in Performing Arts from Bradford College. She has appeared in various productions including THE CRUCIBLE, THE SEAGULL, FLYIN’ WEST and IN THE NEXT ROOM OR THE VIBRATOR PLAY. Her directorial accomplishments include her debut at the Producer's Club in New York City, a collection of autobiographical stories she wrote and produced; Neil Simon's THE ODD COUPLE (Female Version) and Ntozake Shange's FOR COLORED GIRLS WHO HAVE CONSIDERED SUICIDE WHEN THE RAINBOW IS ENUF, which she also choreographed. Michelle’s independent film and television credits include “The Drifter,” “95fers,” “One Life to Live” and “Everwood,” as well as regional commercials.
GORDON DUNN (Stevie)
Gordon will make his SLAC debut in GOOD PEOPLE. He is a graduate of Utah State University with a BFA in Performance. A former teacher, writer and director for the University of Utah's Youth Theatre program, Gordon is also a founding member of Ex Machina Films. Past stage credits include; EMMA (USU), THE MIRACLE WORKER (USU), MAURITIUS (USU), PRIVATE LIVES (Old Lyric Repertory Company), BIG RIVER (Old Lyric Repertory Company), HANCOCK COUNTY (Westminster Players) and INHERIT THE WIND (The Grand Theatre).
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SLAC is a not-for-profit 501(c)3 professional theatre founded in 1970 and is dedicated to producing, commissioning and developing new works and to supporting a community of professional artists. SLAC has been nationally recognized by the Shubert Foundation, the National Endowment for the Arts, the Pew Charitable Trusts and the Edgerton Foundation, among others. SLAC operates under a STP Actors Equity Association contract. SLAC is a Constituent Member of Theatre Communications Group, a national organization for non-profit professional regional theatres, and the National New Play Network.
WHO:
Salt Lake Acting Company
WHAT:
GOOD PEOPLE
By David Lindsay-Abaire
WHEN:
October 30 through November 24, 2013
Wednesdays through Saturdays at 7:30 p.m.
Sundays at 1:00 p.m. & 6:00 p.m.
WHERE:
Salt Lake Acting Company
168 West 500 North, Salt Lake City
PRICE:
Single tickets range from $15 to $42, depending on the performance.
Student, Senior and 30 & Under discounts are available.
Discounts are also available for groups of ten or more.
MORE INFORMATION:
Box Office: 801-363-7522
Open 10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m., Mon – Fri
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