BWW Stage Mag JQA - San Diego Rep Stage Mag

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JQA

 
at San Diego Rep
 
 
Directed by
Sam Woodhouse
Written by
Aaron Posner
Film Director
Tim Powell
 
Starring
 
Crystal Lucas-Perry
 
Larry Bates
Rosina Reynolds
Jesse Perez
 
 
 
 

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Cast

Crystal Lucas-Perry
Actor
Larry Bates
Actor
Jesse Perez
Actor
Rosina Reynolds
Actor

Creative Team

Aaron Posner

Writer

Sam Woodhouse

Director

Tim Powell

Film Director

Justin Humphres

Scenic Design

Anastasia Pautova

Costume Design

Chris Rynne

Lighting Design

Matt Lescault-Wood

Sound Design

Joel Castellaw

Dramaturg

Rebecca Myers

Assistant Director

Sarah Zimmerman

Health Safety Manager

San Diego REP Extends Viewing for Aaron Posner's JQA

San Diego Repertory Theatre (San Diego REP) announced today extended viewing access for the theatre's filmed version of Aaron Posner's play JQA. Directed by REP Artistic Director Sam Woodhouse, the film of Posner's play about President John Quincy Adams will now be available for viewing through November 29. Tickets and more information are available now at sdrep.org.

John Quincy Adams, child of the American Revolution, son of a Founding Father, President and Congressman, had an incredible political career that spanned 54 years and was one of the greatest diplomats in American history. In JQA we are taken through a series imagined conversations from the brilliant minds of extraordinary Americans like George Washington, Frederick Douglas, Andrew Jackson, Abraham Lincoln and others. In this funny, moving, inspiring piece Award-winning playwright Aaron Posner (Stupid F**ing Bird) challenges us to reexamine ourselves, our definition of government and our future in light of our past. This is just the show to elevate the conversation during the election season about what government should do for the people of America. In the spirit of Hamilton, JQA is presented by a cast of actors that look like what America looks like today.

For tickets and more information on how to view JQA, visit sdrep.org.

BWW Review: JQA at San Diego Repertory Theatre

In the popular zeitgeist, John Qunicy Adams hasn't had the best of luck. He's often overshadowed by his father, John Adams the 2nd President of the U.S., and is also overshadowed by the controversial, and hot-headed Andrew Jackson who beat Quincy Adams in his second run for president. JQA from San Diego Repertory Theatre allows Quincy Adams to step into the spotlight as it reviews his life, politics, and the U.S. government in general through a more modern lens and is streaming through November 5th.

Don't worry about knowing the history to enjoy this production, JQA does not assume that you remember Quincy Adams in any particular detail in order to enjoy the play. Each scene is a series of conversations or outright debates with people ranging from his parents, George Washington, Henry Clay, James Madison, Andrew Jackson, Frederick Douglas, to Abraham Lincoln.

Starting as an eager young man, through the end of his life, the play doesn't shy away from his strengths or weaknesses. Adams may have been incredibly smart, but he was also the very definition of a privilege. He often viewed the world unfavorably if it did not live up to his lofty definitions. His intellectual brilliance was dulled by his emotional shortcomings, especially in regards to his children, or in extending much empathy to people or things that did not interest him.

Featuring a truly excellent cast, including Crystal Lucas-Perry, Larry Bates, Jesse Perez, Rosina Reynolds this play is dynamic and dramatic. Each has a turn to make Quincy Adams their own, along with some very memorable supporting historical characters. Their characterizations are interesting, entertaining, and convey energy, which is often very difficult through a camera lens.

Lucas-Perry as Adams' long-suffering wife Louisa delivers a beautiful, and dignified set down Adams' standoffish behavior with his sons who he says "bore him", and how he defines what makes a man worthy. She also notes "As I sit in the gallery watching the Senate at work, I cannot stifle the impression that it resembles nothing so much as Georgie's school during recess. Full of wounded badly behaved little boys fighting ceaselessly over whose marbles are the brightest or whose fort is the strongest."

An observation that seems to still ring true even today.

Perez has a lot of fun as Secretary of State Henry Clay who advises Adams "If you don't learn to compromise you're going to be playing more golf than governing." He also shines as a grieving Adams later in the production.

Bates is perfectly loathsome as Andrew Jackson, as he smugly confronts Adams after defeating him in the Presidential race. Shortly afterward he returns with gravitas as the writer, statesman, and abolitionist Fredrick Douglass.

Reynolds makes a formidable family matriarch in Abigail Adams, as well as a delightfully sharp and candid George Washington.

Written by Aaron Posner the play uses each scene to contemplate questions both personal and political. What kind of person is Adams as a boy, a politician, or a father? What good is a family dynasty in a government ruled by white, wealthy men, if you're not also one of the charismatic figures that politics seems to thrive upon? Is political compromise a bad thing?

Directed by Sam Woodhouse, the show is an excellent and engaging piece, especially in this run-up to our election. Set design by Justin Humpres, Lighting by Chris Rynne, costumes by Anastasia Pautov, and sound by Matt Lescault-Wood all work together to create each scene as well as be effective while filmed. Film Directing by Tim Powell lets this feel as close to being in a theatre to see the show as possible.

JQA by San Diego Repertory Theatre is streaming through November 5th. For tickets and additional information go to www.sdrep.org You will be sent a unique link to view the show after you have purchased your ticket.

JQA

Written by: Aaron Posner

Directed by: Sam Woodhouse

Film Director: Tim Powell

Actor: Crystal Lucas-Perry

Actor: Larry Bates

Actor: Jesse Perez

Actor: Rosina Reynolds

Scenic Design by: Justin Humphres

Costume Design by: Anastasia Pautova

Lighting Design by: Chris Rynne

Sound Design by: Matt Lescault-Wood

Dramaturg: Joel Castellaw

Assistant Directed by: Rebecca Myers

Health Safety Manager: Sarah Zimmerman

Run Time: approx 90 minutes

Photo Credit: Clockwise from Left: Crystal Lucas-Perry, Larry Bates,
Rosina Reynolds, Jesse Perez. Photo by Daren Scott

San Diego REP Announces Updates to 45th Season

The leadership of San Diego Repertory Theatre (San Diego REP) has released the following statement regarding the theatre's upcoming 2020/21 season:

"With safety, flexibility and transparency as our guides, it is with cautious optimism that we share a news update about our slate of upcoming productions, including A Paris Love Story, originally scheduled to begin in September 2020. We are devoted to the sharing of exceptional theatrical experiences with you. We are equally devoted to the safety of our performers, our staff and our audience.

Season 45 will happen between late Fall 2020 and Summer 2021, on an adaptable schedule subject to the success of our community in controlling the COVID-19 pandemic. As of today we do not know when each production will play, but we are sure the six plays will happen, and we know that each demands to be experienced.

We commit to sharing detailed schedule updates as soon as we are able to confirm them; clear, frequent and open communication about how we will keep audiences, artists and staff safe; and creating theatre that wraps you in intimacy, opens its arms to all the voices of our culture and thrills you with provocative ideas and discoveries.

When the time is right, we look forward to: laughing with the world-famous comedy of The Second City with She The People; traveling back to the founding of our nation to experience a great debate about what the American government should do for its people with JQA; reveling in the brilliant and moving comedy of actor Ric Salinas in his solo performance in 57 Chevy; helping a boy with a remarkable mind solve a mystery in The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time; taking a road trip for the ages with us in the sweeping epic Mother Road; and relishing in the virtuosity of musician and storyteller Hershey Felder in Anna & Sergei.

We are pleased to announce that details regarding A Paris Love Story will be announced by Hershey Felder himself following the September 13 broadcast of Hershey Felder as George Gershwin Alone, live from Florence, Italy."

San Diego REP To Film Aaron Posner's JQA Ahead Of Presidential Election

San Diego Repertory Theatre announced today the details of a filmed version of Aaron Posner's play JQA, the second production of the theatre's revised 2020/21 online and onstage season that begins with the release of the feature film of A Weekend with Pablo Picasso, written by and starring Herbert Siguenza.

Directed by REP Artistic Director Sam Woodhouse, the film of Posner's play about President John Quincy Adams will be available for viewing beginning October 16 through November 5 for $35 per household. Subscribers to San Diego REP's 2020/21 season will receive access to view JQA for free. Tickets and more information are available now at sdrep.org.

"The recent Democratic and Republican conventions made it clear how differently the two political parties look at the role of government in the lives of the American people. Playwright Aaron Posner asks us to consider what the Founding Fathers and their successors thought about what a government should do for its people," says Woodhouse. "I cannot think of a more important conversation to be had in the weeks leading up to one of the most significant races for President in my lifetime."

Similar to the record-breaking Broadway musical Hamilton, the cast of JQA at San Diego REP looks like America today. The cast of four includes an African American woman, an African American man, a Latinx man and a white woman. The four actors all play President John Quincy Adams at different points in the play. The two women play historical figures, both men and women, who were white. The two African American actors play characters who were white people in history. This purposeful casting invites the viewer to embrace the diversity of America's contemporary culture while meeting historic characters from the past.

Comprising the diverse four-person ensemble is Crystal Lucas-Perry (2019 Lucille Lortel Award Winner for Ain't No Mo' at The Public Theatre, Bull in a China Shop at Lincoln Center Theatre), Larry Bates (The Mountaintop at San Diego REP, HBO's Big Little Lies), Jesse Perez (Seize the King at La Jolla Playhouse, Director of The Old Globe/USD MFA Program) and Rosina Reynolds (The Humans, Uncanny Valley).

John Quincy Adams, child of the American Revolution, son of a Founding Father, President and Congressman, had an incredible political career that spanned 54 years and was one of the greatest diplomats in American history. In JQA we are taken through a series imagined conversations from the brilliant minds of extraordinary Americans like George Washington, Frederick Douglas, Andrew Jackson, Abraham Lincoln and others. In this funny, moving, inspiring piece Award-winning playwright Aaron Posner (Stupid F**ing Bird) challenges us to reexamine ourselves, our definition of government and our future in light of our past. This is just the show to elevate the conversation during the election season about what government should do for the people of America. In the spirit of Hamilton, JQA is presented by a cast of actors that look like what America looks like today.

JQA is written by Posner and directed by Woodhouse. The production team is rounded out by: Justin Humphres (Set Design); Anastasia Pautova (Costume Design); Chris Rynne (Lighting Design); Matt Lescault-Wood (Sound Design); Joel Castellaw (Dramaturgy); Rebecca Myers (Assistant Director); and Kim Heil (Casting Director & Associate Producer).

To ensure the safety of those participating in the production of JQA, San Diego REP will follow strict public health guidelines and protocol related to filmmaking during the COVID-19 pandemic. This protocol includes the wearing of masks, social distancing, multiple testing of all participants, repeated sanitation of all materials and more. For the production, Sarah Zimmerman will serve as the Health Safety Manager.

For tickets and more information on how to view JQA, visit sdrep.org.

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