"O Jerusalem" by A. R. Gurney: May 15-30 2009

GroundWorks Theatre proudly announces the Nashville premiere of A. R. Gurney's thought-provoking "O Jerusalem," which opens May 15 2009 at the Darkhorse Theater.

"Assured... intelligent... The focused ensemble confidently hits its marks."

-Martin Brady, Nashville Scene

Set in 2001, the play centers around Hartwell, an oil company executive, appointed to a diplomatic post in the Middle East. Amira is a Christian Palestinian woman with whom he had an affair years before. Sally, a friend of Hartwell's, is a fellow bureacrat attempting to help him navigate the treacherous waters of his new post. Hartwell reunites with his former lover, discovers she has a son in Hamas, and agrees to help put forth a peace proposal of their creation. And, looming over the proceedings, is the rumor of a planned terrorist attack on U.S. soil...

Veteran director Melissa Bedinger Hade leads a seasoned cast of Darkhorse favorites. Jim Wright stars as Hartwell, Caroline Davis (GWT's "Bad Dates") is Sally, and Terry Ochiogrosso is Amira. Pat Rulon and Dan Millard round out the cast as swings, and function as a kind of Greek chorus.

GroundWorks Theatre presents "O Jerusalem" at the Darkhorse Theater, 4610 Charlotte Avenue, from May 15-30 2009. Performances are Thursdays through Saturdays at 7:30pm, and Sundays at 2:30pm. Call 615-262-5485 for reservations, or purchase tickets online HERE.

Next Up: "O Jerusalem" by A. R. Gurney!

Auditions: "O Jerusalem" by A. R. Gurney

GroundWorks Theatre announces auditions for A. R. Gurney's "O Jerusalem," to be directed by Melissa Bedinger Hade. Auditions will be held on Saturday, March 21 2009, from 1:00 - 5:00pm. The play will run May 15-30 2009, also at the Darkhorse.

Set in 2001, the play centers around Hartwell, an oil company executive, appointed to a diplomatic post in the Middle East. Amira is a Christian Palestinian woman with whom he had an affair years before. Sally, a friend of Hartwell's, is a fellow bureacrat attempting to help him navigate the treacherous waters of his new post. Hartwell reunites with his former lover, discovers she has a son in Hamas, and agrees to help put forth a peace proposal of their creation. And, looming over the proceedings, is the rumor of a planned terrorist attack on U.S. soil...

Roles are available for 2 men (30s-50s), 2 women (30s-50s), and one specifically Middle-Eastern woman, also 30s-50s. Appointments are not necessary, headshots and resumes are helpful but not required, and auditions will be by cold readings from the script.

For more information, visit www.groundworkstheatre.com or contact the director at bedingerhade@juno.com.

GroundWorks Theatre Announces 2008-2009 Season

GroundWorks Theatre proudly announces their 2008-2009 season, including a one-man show, original Christmas story, the company's first musical, and an incisive look at the Middle East. Since 2004, GWT has presented a slate comprised exclusively of Nashville premieres at the Darkhorse Theater, including four world-premiere productions.

The new season opens October 3 with Lee Blessing's one-man-show "Chesapeake," directed by company co-founder Robert A. O'Connell and starring Jack E. Chambers.

"Basically, we'd like to be able to say three words and leave it at that. Art. Politics. Dogs. Anyone who finds each word intriguing on its own and the three irresistible together should be transported by the shaggy Blessing story." (Newsday)

The company continues its run of original holiday entertainment with the premiere production of O'Connell's own "The Road To Bethlehem" (which he will also direct), a light-hearted yet tender look at some lesser-known characters from the story of the original Christmas -- two shepherds, a drunk, another newborn child, a Roman Centurion, an inkeeper, and a certain little drummer boy.

March 2009 brings GroundWorks' first-ever musical offering, Stephen Sondheim's "Marry Me A Little," a collection of outtakes and lesser-known songs from the acknowledged master of the modern American musical theatre. The songs were collected and assembled by Craig Lucas (who also wrote "Prelude to a Kiss") and Norman Rene, and tell the story of a young man and woman living in the same apartment building, each unaware of the other, whose lives are more interconnected than they could know. Jack E. Chambers will direct the production, with Brian T. Hill providing the musical direction.

The season closes in May with A. R. Gurney's "O Jerusalem," a seriocomic take on diplomatic and interpersonal relationships in the modern-day Middle East, centered around a novice diplomat who falls in love with a woman whose son is a member of Hamas. The New York Times called it "deeply touching in [its] urgency." Melissa Bedinger Hade will direct the production.

GroundWorks also announces the addition of online ticket sales (through a partnership with BrownPaperTickets.com), and the introduction of season tickets in the form of 4-ticket FlexPasses, which will be available at the Box Office and through www.groundworkstheatre.com.



Contact Information

Robert A. O'Connell -- Co-Founder, Artistic Director -- home 615-262-1832
Jack E. Chambers -- Marketing Director -- home 615-300-5560