THE 2020–2021 SEASON
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The Keep Going Song
created and performed by The Bengsons
August 14, 2020 - October 8, 2020
Part of the Brown-Forman Series
Indie-folk duo Abigail and Shaun Bengson (Where the Mountain Meets the Sea) return to Actors Theatre with this intimate evening of storytelling through song. In the darkest times, people have long found solace in the sound of their shared voices around a small light, and The Bengsons humbly invite you to come lean into the small glow of your phones and computers as they explore living fully even in moments of fear, choosing to love fiercely, and cultivating joy as a form of personal activism.
Fifth Third Bank's Dracula: A Radio Play
based on the novel by Bram Stoker
originally adapted for radio by Orson Welles & John Houseman
new adaption by Hannah Rae Montgomery & Jenni-Page White
executive produced by Dan Gediman
directed by Robert Barry Fleming
sound design by Sue Zizza
originally adapted for radio by Orson Welles & John Houseman
new adaption by Hannah Rae Montgomery & Jenni-Page White
executive produced by Dan Gediman
directed by Robert Barry Fleming
sound design by Sue Zizza
September 15, 2020 - November 1, 2020
Sponsored by Fifth Third Bank
Join the hunt for the world's most infamous vampire! Inspired by master of suspense Orson Welles’s innovative broadcast, this electrifying listening experience comes to bloodsucking life with the talents of Actors Theatre’s creative team, in collaboration with award-winning radio professionals. Tune in for a spine-chilling trip to Transylvania that you won’t soon forget!
COVID-Classics: One-Act Plays for the Age of Quarantine
by Anton Chekhov, Luigi Pirandello, August Strindberg and Guillaume Apollinaire
September 18, 2020 - December 31, 2020
Part of the Brown-Forman Series
This vibrant assortment of short plays brings together tales from trailblazing writers whose creative experiments redefined the possibilities of theatre in moments of seismic change. Reimagining works by master dramatists Anton Chekhov, Luigi Pirandello, August Strindberg, and the first surrealist, Guillaume Apollinaire, this lively, eclectic collection reaches into the past and finds surprising echoes in the present.
Where Did We Sit on the Bus?
by Brian Quijada
directed by Matt Dickson
directed by Matt Dickson
November 13, 2020 - January 7, 2021
Part of the Brown-Forman Series
During a third-grade lesson on Rosa Parks, a Latinx child wonders: where did my people sit on the bus? Infused with an energetic mix of rap, hip-hop, and spoken word, this one-person show captures the experience of growing up in an immigrant family, searching for a place in American history and finding identity in making art.
Fifth Third Bank's A Christmas Carol: A Radio Play
based on the novella by Charles Dickens
adapted by Amy Wegener
executive produced by Dan Gediman
directed by Robert Barry Fleming
sound design by Sue Zizza
adapted by Amy Wegener
executive produced by Dan Gediman
directed by Robert Barry Fleming
sound design by Sue Zizza
November 24, 2020 - December 31, 2020
Sponsored by Fifth Third Bank
This holiday season, Actors Theatre brings Dickens’s tale of redemption, connection, and generosity into your home for the whole family to enjoy. This spirited listening experience, brought to life by our creative team in collaboration with award-winning radio professionals, is infused with all the hearty laughs and abundant good cheer that make this story a cherished Christmas classic.
Erma Bombeck: At Wit's End
by Margaret Engel and Allison Engel
January 8, 2021 - January 28, 2021
Part of the Brown-Forman Series
With wisecracking charm, iconic humorist Erma Bombeck takes us through her journey from homemaker, to popular syndicated columnist, to feminist crusader and more. Starring Louisville-based performer Jessica Wortham, this one-woman show is a frank, poignant look at Bombeck’s ambition to define herself beyond the roles of wife and mother—while still embracing how these “ordinary” things can bring extraordinary joy.
Romeo and Juliet: Louisville 2020
by William Shakespeare
directed by Robert Barry Fleming
directed by Robert Barry Fleming
February 1, 2021 - May 31, 2021
Part of the Brown-Forman Series
An unprecedented global pandemic and social unrest embroil the nation in conflict as Romeo and Juliet, the children of sworn enemies, dare to imagine a world where hearts are not ruled by hatred but by love. This passion-filled interpretation of Shakespeare’s classic narrative explores the entrenched divisions that animate contemporary culture — and the tragic costs of intolerance.
Ali Summit
by Idris Goodwin
directed by Robert Barry Fleming
Part of the 45th Humana Festival of New American Plays
directed by Robert Barry Fleming
Part of the 45th Humana Festival of New American Plays
February 1, 2021 - May 31, 2021
Part of the Brown-Forman Series
In 1967, world heavyweight boxing champion Muhammad Ali met with a group of the top black athletes in the country, who questioned him about his conscientious objection to serving in the Vietnam War. In this new play with deep local roots, acclaimed playwright and poet Idris Goodwin explores a defining moment in the story of a Louisville icon, collaborating with Actors Theatre to catalyze a dynamic communitybuilding initiative.