The cast of Katori Hall’s Our Lady of Kibeho curtain call in solidarity on December 3, 2014. Photo courtesy of Owiso Odera’s Facebook Page.
It’s the final week to see Signature Theatre’s World Premiere of OUR LADY OF KIBEHO by Katori Hall, directed by Michael Greif. The terrific production, set to close on December 7, 2014, was extended through December 14th in The Irene Diamond Stage at The Pershing Square Signature Center (480 West 42nd Street between 9th and 10th Avenues). Tickets are $25 through December 7th; starting at $35 beginning December 9th. To purchase tickets for all Signature productions, call Ticket Services at 212-244-7529 (Tues. – Sun., 11am – 6pm) or visit www.signaturetheatre.org.
Click here to see Katori’s interview.
The NYT critics’ pick is #9 on Time Out New York critic Adam Feldman’s 10 best shows of 2014
“With unabashed devotion to the ability of theater to awe and awaken an audience, Katori Hall packs visionary magic into her depiction of the conflict that arises in a Rwandan village in 1981, when a schoolgirl claims to have seen the Virgin Mary. Michael Grief’s all-stops-pulled Signature production, bolstered by a large and strong cast, conveys wonder as well as sorrow at the unimaginable (or willfully unimagined) horror yet to come.”
“CRITICS’ PICK! TRANSFIXING! THE ACTING IS ACROSS THE BOARD SUPERB. HAS THE GRIPPING INTENSITY OF A THRILLER!”
- Charles Isherwood, The New York Times
“MOST IMPORTANT NEW PLAY OF THE YEAR!”
- Terry Teachout, The Wall Street Journal
“FOUR STARS! RENEWS BELIEF IN WHAT THEATRE CAN DO. A STERLING PRODUCTION!”
- Adam Feldman, Time Out New York
OUR LADY OF KIBEHO Cast. Photo by Joan Marcus
The cast features Starla Benford as Sister Evangelique, Jade Eshete as Girl 3, Danaya Esperanza as Girl 2, Niles Fitch as Emmanuel, Kambi Gathesha as Villager 1, Brent Jennings as Bishop Gahamanyi, Joaquina Kalukango as Marie-Clare Mukangango, Mandi Masden as Anathalie Mukamazimpaka, Owiso Odera as Father Tuyishime, Nneka Okafor as Alphonsine Mumureke, Stacey Sargeant as Girl 1, T. Ryder Smith as Father Flavia, Irungu Mutu as Villager 2, Angel Uwamahoro as Girl 4, Bowman Wright as Nkango.
Nneka Okafor, Starla Benford, Mandi Masden, Joaquina Kalukango. Photo by Joan Marcus
In 1981, a village girl in pre-genocide Rwanda, claims to see the Virgin Mary. Ostracized by her schoolmates and labeled disturbed, everyone refuses to believe, until the impossible starts happening again and again. Skepticism gives way to fear, faith, and fate, causing upheaval in the school community and beyond. Based on real events, Our Lady of Kibeho is the second production of Olivier Award-winning playwright Katori Hall’s Residency at Signature.
Nneka Okafor, Owiso Odera. Photo by Joan Marcus
The design team includes Rachel Hauck (Scenic Design), Emily Rebholz (Costume Design), Ben Stanton (Lighting Design), Matt Tierney (Sound Design), Peter Nigrini (Projection Design), Greg Meeh (Special Effects Design), Paul Rubin (Aerial Effects Design), Michael McElroy (Original Music, Arrangements and Music Direction), Rick Sordelet (Fight Direction), Dawn-Elin Fraser (Dialect Coach) and Faye Armon-Troncoso (Props & Set Dressing). Michael McGoff is the Production Stage Manager. Casting by Telsey + Company, Karyn Casl, CSA.
Owiso Odera, T. Ryder Smith. Photo by Joan Marcus
To purchase tickets for all Signature productions, call Ticket Services at 212-244-7529 (Tues. – Sun., 11am – 6pm) or visit www.signaturetheatre.org.
Click here to see Katori’s interview.
Owiso Odera. Photo by Lia Chang
Other articles on Owiso Odera:
NYT Critics’ Pick OUR LADY OF KIBEHO by Katori Hall, extends through December 14
Signature Theatre Presents World Premiere of OUR LADY OF KIBEHO by Katori Hall through December 7, 2014
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Lia Chang is an actor, a performance and fine art botanical photographer, and an award-winning multi-platform journalist. Lia starred as Carole Barbara in Lorey Hayes’ Power Play at the 2013 National Black Theatre Festival in Winston-Salem, N.C., with Pauletta Pearson Washington, Roscoe Orman, and made her jazz vocalist debut in Rome Neal’s Banana Puddin’ Jazz “LADY” at the Nuyorican Poets Cafe in New York. She is profiled in Jade Magazine.
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