The co-production with Goodman Theatre in Chicago opened at MTC's Off-Broadway home at New York City Center Stage I on Feb. 10. The day after, major critics cheered the play and production. It now will play to April 12. Kate Whoriskey directs.
Ruined's first leg opened at Chicago's Goodman last fall. In recent days, the playwright was named a finalist for the Susan Smith Blackburn Prize for the topical drama. There is also buzz about a possible 2009 Pulitzer Prize nomination.
Ruined features Quincy Tyler Bernstine (The Misanthrope at NYTW), Cherise Boothe (King Hedley II at Signature), Chris Chalk (MTC's Defiance), Saidah Arrika Ekulona (Well, Nottage's Fabulation), William Jackson Harper (Queens Boulevard), Chiké Johnson (The Crucible at Steppenwolf), Russell G. Jones (Our Lady of 121st Street), Simon Shabantu Kashama (Ruined at the Goodman), Kevin Mambo ("The Guiding Light"), Tom Mardirosian (Wonderful Town, HBO's "Oz"), Ron McBee (The Colored Museum) and Condola Rashad (Pearl at The Kennedy Center).
According to MTC, "From Lynn Nottage, the Obie Award-winning author of such plays as Fabulation and Intimate Apparel and director Kate Whoriskey (The Piano Teacher, Fabulation), comes this haunting, probing work about the resilience of the human spirit during times of war. Set in a small mining town in Democratic Republic of Congo, this powerful play follows Mama Nadi (Ekulona), a shrewd businesswoman in a land torn apart by civil war. But is she protecting or profiting by the women she shelters? How far will she go to survive? Can a price be placed on a human life?"
Nottage has been honored with a MacArthur Foundation "Genius Grant" Award, the 2004 PEN/Laura Pels award for Literary Excellence, two ATT Onstage Awards, a Heideman Award, and numerous best play awards, including the OBIE. She is a previous Blackburn Prize Finalist for her play Mud, River, Stone. The creative team includes Derek McLane (scenic design), Paul Tazewell (costume design), Peter Kaczorowski (lighting design), Rob Milburn and Michael Bodeen (sound design and music direction), Dominic Kanza (original music), Lynn Nottage (lyrics) and Randy Duncan (movement director).
For more information on Manhattan Theatre Club, visit www.ManhattanTheatreClub.com. For tickets visit the New York City Center Box Office at 131 West 55th Street, call CityTix at (212) 581-1212 or visit www.nycitycenter.org.
Tickets are $75. Group and student rates are also available. For group ticket information, call (212) 399-3000 ext. 4132. Student tickets are $25 and will be on sale for all performances based on availability on the day of the performance, up to one hour before showtime. Call (212) 581-1212 for further information.
EXTENSION PERFORMANCE SCHEDULE (Monday March 30–Sunday April 12): Tuesday at 7 PM, Wednesday through Saturday at 8 PM. Matinees on Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday at 2 PM (no performance on Monday).
