Wildflower at the McGinn Cazale Theatre

Second Stage Theatre continues this summer's Second Stage Theatre Uptown Series with the world premiere of Lila Rose Kaplan's Wildflower, opening at McGinn Cazale Theatre on 27 Jul 2009, following previews from 13 Jul and run through to 8 Aug 2009.

Directed by Giovanna Sardelli, Wildflower features Nadia Bowers, Ron Cephas Jones, Quincy Dunn-Baker, Jake O'Connor and Renee Felice Smith.

Wildflower: A woman and her troubled son look to escape their past in Crested Butte, a small town with its own share of secrets. They encounter a curious girl, a forest ranger, and an ex-drag queen. The five collide in a summer of botany and sexual awakening.

The production features scenic design by Steven Kemp, costume design by Paloma Young, lighting design by Lap Chi Chu, and sound design by Jill Duboff.

Created as a program to help develop and provide exposure for the voices of a new generation of theatre artists, Second Stage Theatre Uptown seeks to develop the skills of emerging playwrights, to provide early-career artists with the support of a major artistic institution, and to create new plays for the American Theatre. Each show has a limited rehearsal period, as well as a streamlined budget.

The series has helped launch and advance the careers of several up-and-coming playwrights, including Rajiv Joseph (Animals Out of Paper, nominated for a Lortel Award for Outstanding Play), Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa (Good Boys and True), Adam Bock (The Receptionist, The Drunken City), and Brooke Berman (Hunting and Gathering).

Lila Rose Kaplan's plays include 'Aquarium,' 'Catching Flight,' 'Chicken with Stars,' and 'Wildflower.' Her works have been seen and developed at Arena Stage, The Kennedy Center, Ensemble Studio Theatre, Mixed Blood, Manhattan Rep, La Jolla Playhouse and The Culture Project among others.

Giovanna Sardelli (director) recently won the 2008 Joseph A. Callaway Award for excellence in stage direction for Second Stage Theatre Uptown's production of Rajiv Joseph's 'Animals Out of Paper.' Other credits include: 'Taking Flight' (Goodman Theatre & Stages Repertory Co., CTG, San Diego Rep., and Sundance), 'All This Intimacy' (Second Stage Uptown), 'Bengal Tiger at the Baghdad Zoo' (The Lark), 'Huck & Holden' (Cherry Lane), Lynn Rosen's 'Apple Cove' (The Lark/TMTP)

Nadia Bowers: Broadway credits are 'Doubt' and 'Metamorphoses.' New York City stage credits include: 'Julius Caesar' (NYSF); 'Romania, Kiss Me!' 'Not Waving,' 'Eyes of the Heart' and others.

Ron Cephas Jones: NY credits include are Richard III; (Public Theatre), LAByrinth's 'Our Lady of 121st St.' and 'Jesus Hopped the A-Train' (Donmar, the ArtsTheatre; Lucille Lortel nominee).

Quincy Dunn-Baker's Off-Broadway credits include 'The Good Negro' (Public Theatre, dir. Leisl Tommy), 'Romeo and Juliet' (Public Theatre, dir. Michael Grief), 'Mr. Marmalade' (Roundabout, dir. Michael Greif).

Jake O'Connor recently appeared on the television programs 'Fringe'� and 'Gossip Girl'� as well as in the film 'Return To Sleepaway Camp.'

Renee Felice Smith is making her off-Broadway debut. She recently appeared on the television program 'Gossip Girl.'

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