Staff Report
For Giving Productions and Warehouse 21 present The Valerie of Now and Imagining Brad by Peter Hedges.
The production is directed by Janet Davidson. There will be two shows, 7:30 p.m. Saturday, June 29 and 4 p.m. Sunday, June 30 at Warehouse 21, 1614 Paseo de Peralta, Santa Fe. Tickets are $18 general admission and $15 for seniors. Order advance tickets at Hold my Ticket.com or call 505 886-1251. Tickets may also be purchased at the door for $20, general admission and $17 for seniors. Because of adult content, no one under 18 will be admitted unless accompanied by an adult.
THE VALERIE OF NOW stars 13 year-old Marika Sayers in her theatrical debut. Twelve-year-old Valerie is home alone getting ready for her birthday party when suddenly she experiences her first menstrual period. Chatting on the phone, or to herself, Valerie contemplates the injustices of having to deal with the fears, and excitement, of momentous physical change even though outwardly she is still very much a little girl.
IMAGINING BRAD stars Debrianna Mansini and Judith Jones Arute. Two women meet after church and strike up a conversation. One, Dana Sue, chatters on about her “wonderful husband.” The other, Brad’s wife (Valerie grown up) is new to Nashville, and she is quiet and shy. As the play progresses these two women discover their strengths, while discovering who their respective husbands really are ─ and aren’t. This play presents many questions, is the only “safe partner,” one who is physically incapable of harming one? What is real love? What do we look for in a partner?
Can art affect social change? An open dialogue will follow both performances with the actors, director and representatives from Esperanza Shelter with the audience.
“With one out of four women in the world abused daily, this should prove to be a lively, challenging and hopefully healing discussion,” Davidson said.
