Current Nobody

About the Show:

Riffing on Homer’s Odyssey, playwright Melissa James Gibson flip-flops genders to create a dazzling tale about the ultimate working mom. When photo-journalist Pen heads off to cover the war in Troy, stay-at-home dad Od struggles to maintain his fidelity and raise a child in his wife’s absence. As Pen’s journey extends from weeks to years, Od is forced into the public eye by a relentless trio of documentary filmmakers – while daughter Tel must grapple with the personal cost of her mother’s epic ambition. Following her off-Broadway successes with [sic] and Suitcase, Gibson brings to Woolly the world premiere of her most ambitious work to date.

RAVE REVIEWS:

“A daring and often funny play…fresh & disarming"
– New York Times

“First-rate production...EXTREMELY INVENTIVE”
–Variety

“Wise and heartsome…[an] assured production...
QUIRKY and EVOCATIVE”
–Washington Post

“COOL AND CEREBRAL…Gibson’s language builds, defuses itself suddenly, and builds again”
–City Paper

“FRESH…EMOTIONALLY AFFECTING…
BOTH REALISTIC AND FANTASTICAL”
–DCist.com

“Striking visual compositions”
–TalkinBroadway.com

Additional articles:

Washington Post: A 'Current Nobody' With a Mythic Past by Jane Horowitz
Washington Post: For Many Companies, the Screen's the Thing, Too by Nelson Pressley

Video:

Interview with cast member Casie Platt ("Tel")

Interview with Woolly company member Michael Willis ("Bill the Doorman")

Who's Who

PLAYWRIGHT

MELISSA JAMES GIBSON’s recent plays include [sic] (OBIE for playwriting, Kesselring Prize, The Best Plays of 2001-02); SUITCASE or, those that resemble flies from a distance (NEA/TCG Theatre Residency Program for Playwrights, Rockefeller Foundation’s Multi-Arts Production Fund); Brooklyn Bridge, with a song by Barbara Brousal (AT&T Onstage Award); All Is Not (New York State Council on the Arts Theatre Artist Commission); and Current Nobody, a loose adaptation of Homer’s Odyssey (2005 Susan Smith Blackburn Prize Finalist; 2006 Sundance Theatre Lab). Her work has been produced at Soho Rep, La Jolla Playhouse and The Children’s Theatre Company, as well as many other theaters, regionally and internationally.  Currently, Melissa is working on commissions for Playwrights Horizons, Mark Taper Forum and the Atlantic Theatre Company. A graduate of the Yale School of Drama, Gibson has been a Jerome and MacDowell Colony Fellow, a recipient of a Whiting Writers Award and commissions by Steppenwolf Theatre Company, La Jolla Playhouse and The Children’s Theatre Company/ New Dramatists Playground program. [sic] and SUITCASE are available through Dramatists Play Service. The complete text of Brooklyn Bridge appeared in the July/August 2005 issue of American Theatre. Melissa is a member of New Dramatists and the recipient of a 2006 Lucille Lortel Foundation Playwrights’ Fellowship and a 2007 Guggenheim Fellowship.

DIRECTOR

DANIEL AUKIN, as Artistic Director of Soho Rep. (1999-2006), produced and directed plays by some of New York’s most iconoclastic theater makers and playwrights including Adam Bock, The Flying Machine, Young Jean Lee and Richard Maxwell. As a director at Soho Rep: Mark Schultz's Everything Will Be Different, Melissa James Gibson's [sic] (OBIE Award), Quincy Long's The Year of the Baby, Mac Wellman's Cat's-Paw, Marie Irene Fornes' Molly's Dream (OBIE Award), and Melissa James Gibson's Suitcase (also at La Jolla Playhouse). He has directed plays for The La Jolla Playhouse, The Guthrie, The Children's Theater of Minneapolis, The Huntington and The Play Company. Upcoming projects include A View from the Bridge at Arena Stage.

CAST

JESSICA DUNTON (Suzie) is overjoyed to be making her D.C. debut with Woolly Mammoth. Jessica is a graduate of The Second City (Chicago) and received a BFA in Theatre Performance from Miami University of Ohio. More recently she has appeared at the American Shakespeare Center in Staunton, Virginia, where some favorite turns include the Nurse in Romeo and Juliet, Nerissa in Merchant of Venice and Doll Tearsheet in The Lamentable Comedy of Falstaff, as well as 10 of the 20 characters in the two-person comedy Greater Tuna. She can be seen infrequently around town doing standup comedy and also sometimes attempts to write humorously on her website, www.jessicadunton.com. Jessica wants to thank Paul for his unswerving support; they got married a couple of months back and it’s working out really well.

KATHRYN FALCONE (Jo) was most recently seen at The Bay Theatre of Annapolis in Picnic (Rosemary) and A Man of No Importance (Mrs. Patrick). She has worked extensively with The Baltimore Shakespeare Company as an actor in Julius Caesar (Calphurnia), Othello (Bianca), The Brothers Grimm (Dot) and Mondo Shakespeare (Lady Macbeth, Lady Anne), and as a teaching artist, directing A Midsummer Night’s Dream in a number of Baltimore-area middle schools. California credits include The Merchant of Venice (Jessica), and The Learned Ladies (Philaminte) at Coffeehouse Theatre. Regional credits include The Lover (Housekeeper) and Don Juan (1st woman) at Center Stage of MD; Spring Awakening (Frau Bergman) and Richard Foreman’s Bad Behavior (Miranda Osterman) at the Disney Modular Theatre in CA. Kathryn has her MFA from The California Institute of the Arts.

DEB GOTTESMAN (Joe) is delighted to be back at Woolly where she has appeared in Wonder of the World, Freedomland, The Psychic Life of Savages and The Cockburn Rituals. The Co-Director of The Theatre Lab School of the Dramatic Arts, she has also performed at Arena Stage, Signature Theatre, Theatre Alliance, Studio Theatre and Washington Shakespeare Company, among others. Deb received her MFA from Catholic University and has taught drama in a variety of settings including Woolly Mammoth, Round House and American University. She trains public speakers through her consulting firm, Center Stage Communications, and, along with Buzz Mauro, has co-authored numerous books on applied acting published by Penguin Putnam. Many thanks to Jeanne and Lily.

CHRISTINA KIRK (Pen) Broadway: Well. Other credits include God's Ear (New Georges), Rocket to the Moon (Long Wharf), Current Nobody (Sundance Theater Lab/La Jolla Playhouse Page to Stage Workshop), Nobody's Lunch (P.S. 122), Suitcase (Soho Rep, La Jolla Playhouse), [sic] (Soho Rep), Stage Door (HERE) and David Auburn's Fifth Planet (New York Stage and Film). Film and television credits include Melinda and Melinda, Bug, Final, Safe Men, Law and Order: SVU, Law and Order: Trial by Jury and Stella. She is a founding associate artist of the Civilians.

JESSE LENAT (Od) is a New York-based actor and singer/songwriter. Most recently, he was the opening act for Farm Aid 2007, the music event created by Willie Nelson, John Mellencamp and Neil Young, performed in the world premiere of a stage version of Wim Wender's Wings of Desire (co-production of The Toeneelgroep Amsterdam and The American Repertory Theatre, Cambridge, MA) and completed a month long residency playing his original music at The Living Room. His New York theatre credits include Fucking A (The Public Theatre), Once Around The Sun (The Zipper), Texarkana Waltz (Kirk Theatre) for which he also wrote original music and music directed, Floyd Collins (Playwrights Horizons, cast album), Tooth of Crime: Second Dance (Signature Theatre/Second Stage at the Lucille Lortel), RENT (NY Theatre Workshop), Len Jenkin's new play KRAKEN (Todd Mountain Theatre Project) and Hey, Jack Kerouac by JoAnne Akalaitis (various theatres). Regionally, he has appeared at The Actors Theatre of Louisville, The Alley, The Guthrie Theatre, and the Wilma Theatre among others. His film credits include Venomous with Treat Williams, Went To Coney Island On A Mission From God..., Robbers, The Fish in the Bathtub with Jerry Stiller and Anne Meara, and on TV, Rescue Me, Law & Order: Criminal Intent, HACK, Once and Again, Strangers With Candy and To Hell And Back: The Meatloaf Story. Jesse also performs a solo show on the life of Woody Guthrie, as well as his own music. www.myspace.com/jesselenat.

CASIE PLATT (Tel) is thrilled to be performing at Woolly Mammoth for the first time. Her other credits include We Are Not These Hands (Catalyst Theater), The Sex Habits of American Women (Signature Theatre), The Gingham Dog (African Continuum Theatre Company), The Glory of Living (Didactic Theatre), You Are Here (Theater Alliance), Junie B. Jones and A Little Monkey Business and Bunnicula (Imagination Stage), Cautionary Tales for Adults and The Many Adventures of Trixie Tickles and Lunch (Bouncing Ball Theatrical Productions/Capital Fringe Festival) and Much Ado About Nothing (Maryland Shakespeare Festival). Thank you Mom.

MICHAEL WILLIS (Bill the Delivery Guy) has been a Woolly company member for over 20 years and a Washington-based actor for almost 30 years. At Woolly, he appeared in The Faculty Room, Grace, Big Death & Little Death, After Ashley, Patience, NY Mets, Sharon and Billy, Mud People and Strindberg in Hollywood, to name just a few. Around town, he has been in Antigone, Twelfth Night, The Water Engine and Tartuffe, and the world premiere of Craig Wright’s Melissa Arctic at the Folger Theatre. Very active at New Playwrights Theatre in the late 70’s, Michael developed a love for working on new plays, and has been very fortunate to work on many world premieres onstage and in workshops. Nominated for five Helen Hayes Awards, he received the Outstanding Lead Actor Award for his work in The Boys Next Door at Round House. Michael has appeared in over 20 feature films including Pushing Tin, Men in Black and Just the Ticket. His television appearances include a four season recurring role on HBO's The Wire, a six year stint on Homicide: Life on the Streets, and several appearances on Law & Order. He is grateful to his wonderful and loving family, wife Lori, and their children Mike Jr., Amy, and Rebecca for the unconditional support and tolerance they offer as he pursues his muse.

PRODUCTION

The production team for CURRENT NOBODY includes Tony Cisek (Set Design), Helen Q. Huang (Costume Design), Colin K. Bills (Lighting Design), Ryan Rumery (Composer/Sound Design), Jake Pinholster (Projection Design), Jennifer Sheetz (Properties), John Gurski (Fight Choreographer) and Elissa Goetschius (Dramaturg)

Schedule & Prices

October/November

S	M	T	W	T	F	S
28	29 8pm PWYC	30 8pm PWYC	31 8pm Preview	1 8pm Preview Meet the playwright	2 8pm VIP night invite only	3 8pm Preview Meet the playwright
4 7pm Opening invite only	5	6	7 8pm DISC	8 8pm	9 8pm Club Woolly	10 8pm
11 2pm DISC 7pm	12	13	14 8pm	15 8pm DISC	16 8pm Alumni nite/Club Woolly	17 8pm
18 2pm 7pm	19	20	21 8pm	22 8pm	23 8pm	24 8pm
25 2pm 7pm	26	27	28	29	30

 

	Section A	Section B
Previews (first week)
Mon 8pm	PWYC	PWYC
Tues 8pm	PWYC	PWYC
Wed 8pm	$33	$24
Thurs 8pm	$33	$24
Sat 8pm	$51	$42
Regular run:
Wed 8pm	$44	$35
Thurs 8pm	$44	$35
Fri 8pm	$51	$42
Sat 8pm	$57	$48
Sun 2pm	$51	$42
Sun 7pm	$44	$35

Key:

PWYC — Pay-What-You-Can preview performances
DISC — Post-show discussion with the artists
Club Woolly — Post-show reception with food and drink

Click here to buy tickets.

Directions & Parking

Address:

641 D Street, NW
Washington, DC 20004

View Larger Map

 

Nearby landmarks:

Woolly Mammoth is located in the bustling Penn Quarter neighborhood on D Street between Oyamel and Rasika restaurants, around the corner from TicketPlace, and down the street from Shakespeare Theatre Company's Lansburgh theatre. We are two blocks north of the National Archives and National Gallery of Art and two blocks south of the Verizon Center and the Smithsonian American Art Museum/Portrait Gallery.

Metro

• Take the Yellow or Green line to Archives-Navy Memorial-Penn Quarter. Get off at 7th Street and Indiana Avenue, walk up 7th Street about a block, turn right on D Street, and you will see us.
• Take the Red, Yellow, or Green lines to Gallery Place-Chinatown. Get off at the 7th and F Street exit, walk two blocks down 7th Street (toward The National Museum of Crime and Punishment), and turn left onto D Street, you will see us immediately on your left.
• Check train schedules here

Metrobus

• The 70, 71, D1, D3, and D6 buses stop at the corner of 7th Street and E Street. Get off of the bus, walk south on 7th Street (toward Jaleo), continue 1 block and turn left on D Street, we are immediately on your left.
• The P1, P2, P6, 13A, 13B, 13F, 13G, and 54 buses stop at 7th Street & Pennsylvania Ave. Head north on 7th Street toward Indiana Ave. (you will see the Metro stop for Archives-Navy Memorial-Penn Quarter-Gallery Place). Walk about 2 blocks and turn right onto D Street, we are on the left.
• Not all of these buses have the same route for both directions, so please use WMATA's Trip Planner here.

Parking

There is limited metered street parking in the Penn Quarter near Woolly Mammoth, in addition to the following parking garages:

• LAZ, 325 7th St. NW (entrance is on D Street, directly across from the theatre). Open late during Woolly productions, $10 evening rate when you mention you’re going to Woolly.
  Mobility-impaired patrons, please be aware: LAZ shuts off its elevators on the weekends. Mobility-impaired patrons who wish to use this garage should ask the attendant to park their car in the garage for them. Other options include the Interpark garage at 616 E St. NW which offers an elevator that lets out onto 7th St. opposite The Shakespeare Theatre.
• Interpark, 616 E St NW. Open until 11pm Sunday - Friday and 1am Saturday, $9/hour (maximum $20).
• Interpark Liberty Place, 325 7th St. NW. Open late during Woolly productions.
• Colonial Parking, 601 Pennsylvania Ave (entrance at 6th & C). Open until midnight Monday - Saturday and until 11 pm Sunday, $10 flat evening and weekend rate.*

Garage prices and hours subject to change without notice

Driving Directions

From Virginia via I-395: When crossing the river bear left towards the 14th Street exit. Follow 14th Street, until Constitution Avenue and take a right. Turn left on 6th Street and another left onto D Street NW. (Note, earlier directions indicated the 12th Street Exit, which is currently closed for construction.)

From Virginia via I-66: Take I-66 into the District when it becomes US-50. Turn left onto 7th St NW. Turn right onto D St NW.

From Bethesda, Rockville, Potomac and points west: Reach Wisconsin Ave., NW via either Interstate 270 and River Road or Rockville Pike (which becomes Wisconsin Ave.) Remain on Wisconsin Ave. until reaching Massachusetts Ave., NW just south of the National Cathedral. Take Massachusetts all the way to 9th St. Turn right on 9th. Turn left on D St.

From Rt. 50, Baltimore and points east: Reach New York Ave., NE via either Rt. 50, I95 or the Baltimore Washington Parkway. Remain on New York Ave. all the way downtown to 6th St., NW. Turn left on 6th St. Turn right on D St.