On Jan. 22, hundreds of people lined up at the box office to take advantage of this season's $15 ticket initiative with an average wait time of over two hours, according to the Equity troupe known for devoting an entire season to one author.
"Despite the bitterly cold temperatures, the long line continued throughout the day and Signature staff served complimentary hot chocolate, coffee and tea to customers," according to Signature. "In addition, 1,000 tickets sold out through the theatre's online ticketing system in less than 45 minutes, making King Hedley II the fastest selling show in Signature Theatre Company history."
Directed by Derrick Sanders, King Hedley II runs through April 15 with an official press opening on March 11.
"Set in a backyard in the decaying Hill District of Pittsburgh, King Hedley II follows the characters created by August Wilson in Seven Guitars," according to Signature. "A woman is tormented by a secret she has kept for 36 years, while her only son returns home after serving time for murder to find a neighborhood riddled with crime, poverty and broken families. King's epic struggle to survive is at the center of this poetic portrayal of life in the inner city during the 1980s."
The cast features Cherise Boothe as Tonya, Lynda Gravatt as Ruby, Stephen McKinley Henderson as Elmore, Russell Hornsby as King, Curtis McClarin as Mister and Lou Myers as Stool Pigeon. The staging has scenic design by David Gallo, costumes by Reggie Ray, lights by Thom Weaver and sound by Jill BC Duboff.
Todd Kreidler and Constanza Romero are associate artists for this production.
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"The demand for $15 tickets for the entire August Wilson Series has been incredibly exciting and rewarding for Signature," stated founding artistic director James Houghton. "I'm thrilled to see so many people take advantage of affordable and accessible theatre, and I'm especially gratified to see new audiences being introduced to August Wilson's legacy, many who have never attended a theatrical production before."
The $15 ticket initiative, made possible by the lead sponsorship of Time Warner Inc., applies to the originally scheduled run of King Hedley II, running February 20-April 15.
For more information, visit www.signaturetheatre.org.
