(WEST ORANGE, NJ) -- Luna Stage presents the world premiere of Tranquil, a new play by McKnight Fellow Andrew Rosendorf: a raw and provocative look at one family's attempt to heal from an unthinkable tragedy. Tranquil opens to previews on Thursday April 13th and runs Thursdays through Sundays until May 13th, with an added Saturday matinee on May 13th.
Paralyzed in the car accident that claimed her mother's life, 17-year-old Ellen is determined to experience all her teenage years have to offer. But when the past comes knocking on the door in the form of Ellen's brother, her small family's delicate balance is upended. In a home awash with anger, guilt, and Ellen's raging hormones, Tranquil is a raw exploration of one shattered family striving to be whole again.
Please note that this production contains mature content and frank sexuality.
Tranquil features Tony Knotts, Frank Licato, Brittany Anikka Liu and Brendan McGrady. The design team includes Christopher and Justin Swader (Set Design), Daisy Long (Light Design), Andy Cohen (Sound Design) and Deborah Caney (Costume Design). The Production Dramaturg is Carlyn Aquiline. The Assistant Director/Production Stage Manager is Daniel Viola. The production is directed by Luna Artistic Director Cheryl Katz.
Opening night is Friday, April 21st. Performances on April 16th, 23rd and 27th will be followed by a talkback. Tickets range from $27-$37 dollars. Group sales are available. $10 Student Rush tickets are available one half-hour before curtain. Individual tickets can be purchased at lunastage.org, or by calling the Box Office Tues.-Fri. 10am-3pm (973-395-5551).
Tranquil was developed at The Lark Play Development Center, La Jolla Playhouse, The terraNOVA Collective, Actor's Express, American Theatre Company and Luna Stage.
Playwright Andrew Rosendorf's plays include Cane (Florida Stage), Brilliant Corners (NNPN National Showcase of New Plays), Good Night & God Bless or The Lone Ranger Rides Again, and The Kid. Andrew is an alum of terraNOVA Collective's Groundbreakers Playwrights Group, NNPN's Playwright-in-Residence program, and has been a VCCA and MacDowell Colony Fellow. He is the recipient of a 2015-2016 Jerome Fellowship and a 2016-2017 McKnight Fellow in Playwriting at the Playwrights' Center. MFA: The New School for Drama, Playwriting.
Tony Knotts' returns to Luna after an acclaimed performance as Hally in "Master Harold"...and the boys. He was recently seen in the film The Renovation, directed by Brian O'Neill, which premiered at Lincoln Center and won The Merit Award at The Big Eddy Film Festival. He is a founding member of Normal Avenue Productions.
Frank Licato has worked with such theatre luminaries as Joseph Chaiken and Peter Brook and was named best actor in Boston for his performance in the American premiere of “Judgment.” He has appeared Off-Broadway and regionally at the American Repertory Theatre, the Delaware Theatre Company and the Boston Shakespeare Company. He is Artistic Director of Hudson Theatre Works.
Brittany Anikka Liu is a 2016 graduate of The College of William & Mary making her Luna Stage debut. She has performed at the Virginia Shakespeare Festival, Williamstown Theatre Festival and Tongue In Cheek Theater. Film/TV credits include The Christmas Experience on the Christian Broadcast Network.
Brendan McGrady makes his Luna Stage debut in Tranquil. He has recently been seen at the Lake Dillion Theatre Co, Stella Adler Studios, DTLA Shakespeare, Park Avenue Players, Gallimaufry Performing Arts and No Square Theatre. Brendan graduated from NYU Tisch School of the Arts (Outstanding Achievement Award).
Luna Stage is a small but mighty professional theatre company located in Essex County, NJ, just under 15 miles from New York City. Throughout the past 25 years, the company has earned a national reputation for developing and producing outstanding new plays and timely revivals and for taking on challenging and provocative subject matters in their work.
A proud member of Valley Arts, Luna Stage is located at 555 Valley Road, West Orange, NJ 07052. The theatre is handicapped accessible and offers assistive listening devices.
