originally published: 02/07/2022

(SUMMIT, NJ) -- Vivid Stage, formerly Dreamcatcher Repertory Theatre, in residence at Oakes Center at 120 Morris Avenue in Summit, will present a workshop production of Twirl by Joe Sutton from February 17 through 27. All audience members will be asked to show proof of vaccination at the box office.

Twirl is a new play that was a part of Vivid’s Meet the Artist reading series in May of 2021. It was partially inspired by the phone call Ginni Thomas, wife of Justice Clarence Thomas, made to Anita Hill years after her original testimony. In this play, a prominent judge similarly survived accusations of sexual harassment by a colleague and made it onto the Supreme Court. Today, his wife contacts his accuser and asks for a meeting. What does she want? And is the episode really behind them?

Joe Sutton has written plays including Voir Dire (nominated for the Pulitzer Prize and the Best Play Award of the American Theatre Critics Association), As It Is In Heaven, The Third Army, and Restoring the Sun. Theatres producing Joe’s plays include New York Theater Workshop, Long Wharf, Arena Stage, BAM, the Cleveland Play House, and the Old Globe. Some time ago, Joe’s play Complicit opened at London’s Old Vic and is now playing around the world, most recently at Heidelberg’s Zimmertheater. More recently, Joe’s play Orwell In America premiered at Northern Stage before continuing on to a successful run at 59E59. More recently still, Joe's play Robey won the Liberty Live commission given by Premiere Stages and was workshopped in the Fall of 2019.

This past year Joe’s play Twirl won the Julie Harris Award given by the Beverly Hills Theatre Guild (the third time one of Joe’s plays has won this award.) In addition to his theatre work, Joe has developed a pilot for television called Scales of Justice (USA Network). A recipient of numerous awards and honors, among them fellowships from NYFA, the NEA, and this year, for a second time, from New Jersey Arts, Joe taught playwriting for many years at Dartmouth College. Joe lives with his wife Anne at their home in West Orange, New Jersey.

Directed by Laura Ekstrand, Artistic Director of Vivid Stage, the cast includes Vivid Stage ensemble members Clark Carmichael (Montclair) and Harriett Trangucci (Summit), and guests Sydney Marie Fucito (Hackettstown) and Becca L. McLarty (Montclair).

Vivid Stage will require all visitors to show proof of vaccination and a photo ID for all events, and to mask throughout their time in the facility. Proof of vaccination may include a valid paper vaccination record, a photo of a valid vaccination record, the NJ Docket App, or equivalent app from your state.

Twirl will appear at Vivid Stage at 120 Morris Avenue in Summit from February 17 through 27. Performances are Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights at 8:00pm, and Sundays at 2:00pm. Special dates: Thursday, February 17, is a preview performance; all tickets are $25. Sunday, February 20, is Senior Sunday; seniors age 65+ pay $25. Talkbacks follow the February 20 and February 27 matinees.

Tickets range from $25 to $39, with special rates for subscribers and groups. For touchless advance ticket purchases, click here. For more information, call 908-514-9654. The theatre at Oakes Center is wheelchair accessible. The parking lot is accessible from Ashwood Avenue, behind the theatre.

Vivid Stage was founded in 1994 as Dreamcatcher Rep, and is a non-profit professional ensemble of actors who build community with the audience by sharing contemporary, life-affirming stories that challenge, energize and entertain. Our work has at its heart a belief in the essential goodness of people and the power of live performance to connect people through our shared humanity. We expose theatregoers to ideas and lives like and unlike their own with the intention of awakening their imaginations and creating empathy for others. We deepen the experience of all our patrons with personal contact through receptions, talkbacks, and interactive programs.

The company’s activities include mainstage productions, improvisational comedy and cabarets, new play readings and a variety of educational and senior outreach programs.

Vivid Stage’s programs are funded by the New Jersey State Council on the Arts/Department of State, a Partner Agency of the National Endowment for the Arts, the Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation and many other corporations, foundations and individuals. Vivid Stage is an Equity Producing member of the New Jersey Theatre Alliance.