Know Theatre is Excited to Announce THE TWENTIETH-CENTURY WAY

KNOW THEATRE IS EXCITED TO ANNOUNCE
THE TWENTIETH-CENTURY WAY
by Tom Jacobson
directed by Kimberly Faith Hickman

 Two men. Over a dozen roles. A queer piece of American History.

Long Beach, California. 1914. A scourge of homosexuality plagues the city.The Long Beach Police hire two actors to entrap gay men in the crime of “social vagrancy.”

In an empty theatre, two actors meet while awaiting an audition. As tension between them mounts, they find themselves playing the story of a near forgotten piece of American history — a story from a time when people were prosecuted for daring to be themselves. But the truth of who these actors really are is slowly exposed as the story unzips. Performances run April 4-May 3 at Know Theatre in Over-the-Rhine.

A highly theatrical exploration of performance and the masks we all wear in our everyday lives, The Twentieth-Century Way is part engaging historical drama, part acting tour de force, and part incisive social commentary.

“This is the kind of play that begs to be staged,” says Know’s incoming Artistic Director Andrew Hungerford. “Tom Jacobson utilizes the kind of quick character shifts and theatricality that we normally associate with madcap, small cast comedies, like The 39 Steps, in service of a story that, while playful, has decidedly serious undercurrents.”

Director Kimberly Faith Hickman (Assistant Director of Broadway’s Clybourne Park and The Assembled Parties) helms the show in her first Mainstage production with Know Theatre. “The Twentieth-Century Way is one of the most surprising plays I have ever directed,” Kimberly says. “With its muscular theatricality and unpredictable plot twists, the play takes audiences on a ride that they have never experienced before – leading the audience to often consider ‘what is true?’ and ‘what is real?’ ”

“It’s fascinating to me that there are such egregious pieces of our collective history that few remember or have ever heard of,” says current Producing Artistic Director Eric Vosmeier. “I’m pleased Andrew has chosen this show which gives voice to stories that may not otherwise have one. This production marks Andrew’s first in his capacity as the next Artistic Director for Know Theatre. I’m thrilled with his selection, casting, and production crew. I look forward to sitting back with the audience to watch this production unfold under his leadership.”

Know is thrilled to welcome back actor Jens Rasmussen (Skin Tight, Gruesome Playground Injuries). Playing opposite Jens is Chicago actor Michael McKeogh in his Know Theatre debut.

Cast: 

• Jens Rasmussen* – Warren
• Michael McKeogh – Brown
  *Member of Actors’ Equity Association 

Production Team

• Director: Kimberly Faith Hickman
• Scenic and Lighting Designer/Incoming Producing Artistic Director: Andrew Hungerford
• Sound Designer: Doug Borntrager
• Costume Designer: Noelle Wedig

Note: This production has adult content and is recommended for mature audiences only.

Calendar Listing:

Production: The Twentieth-Century Way by Tom Jacobson.
Directed by Kimberly Faith Hickman.
When: April 4 -May 3, 2014. Performances on Thursdays through Saturdays at 8pm.
With a special matinee on Sunday, April 27 at 2pm.
Where: Know Theatre of Cincinnati. 1120 Jackson Street, Cincinnati, OH 45202. In historic Over-the-Rhine.
Tickets: $15 in advance, $20 week of the performance beginning Mondays at noon.

To purchase tickets or for more information, visit: http://www.knowtheatre.com or call 513.300.3669 (KNOW).

Additional Information:
Kimberly Faith Hickman (Director) Off-Broadway and NYC credits include work with Manhattan Theatre Club, Roundabout Theatre Company, Atlantic Theatre Company, Women’s Project, Epic Theatre Ensemble and Theatre Row, as well as terraNOVA Collective, Horse Trade Theatre Group and Writopia Lab. Regional credits include Center Theatre Group, Williamstown Theatre Festival, Westport Country Playhouse, Next Act Theatre, Springer Opera House, Off Square Theatre Company, Playhouse on the Square, Know Theatre / Cincinnati Fringe Festival and national touring companies. Select Broadway assistant directing credits include mentorships with Lynne Meadow (The Assembled Parties), Pam MacKinnon (Clybourne Park) and Susan Stroman (The Scottsboro Boys). BFA: Columbus State University, Artistic Associate at terraNOVA Collective, recipient of the Alec Baldwin Directing Fellowship, two SDC Foundation Observerships and two Manhattan Theatre Club Directing Fellowships. Member of Directors Lab West, Lincoln Center Theater Directors Lab and SDC. Special thanks to Andrew and the rest of the Know team. Visit www.kimberlyfaithhickman.com

Michael McKeogh (Brown) A Chicago-based actor, Michael is thrilled to be making his Know Theartre debut in The Twentieth-Century Way. His most recent credits include: Col. Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain in The Killer Angels (Lifeline Theatre); Farsari/Dmitri in Concerning Strange Devices From the Distant West (TimeLine Theatre); Dr. Greenberg in Freshly Fallen Snow (Chicago Dramatists). Other regional credits include: Algernon in The Importance of Being Ernest (Play Phare Theatre, NYC) and Roderigo in Othello (Boston TheatreWorks). In 2012, Michael received an MFA in Acting from The Theatre School at DePaul University. He is represented by Paonessa Talent.

Jens Rasmussen (Warren) Cincinnati: Know Theatre: Skin Tight (Acclaim Award), Gruesome Playground Injuries (League of Cincinnati Theatres Award) Off-Broadway: La MaMa: I Came to Look for You on Tuesday; Working Theatre: Stories from the 99%; HERE: The Strangest; Theatre Row: The Other Man; Internationalists: The Odyssey; Pan Asian Rep: Carry the Tiger to the Mountain Regional: Studio Theatre: Skin Tight; Folger Theatre: Conference of the Birds; Milwaukee Rep: Merchant of Venice; VA Shakespeare Festival: Taming of the Shrew; Mill Mountain Theatre: Doubt, Proof, Hamlet, Laramie Project; NC Shakespeare Festival: Glass Menagerie Film & TV: Morningside Monster, Stephen King’s Survivor Type, “The Plague,” “Nurse Jackie.” Proud member AEA www.jensrasmussen.info

Since 1997, Know Theatre has been dedicated to creating explosive and evocative live entertainment. We value a playful artistic community where artists can collaborate and grow.

Know Theatre’s work is made possible, in part, by the generosity of community contributions to the ArtsWave Campaign.The Ohio Arts Council helps fund Know Theatre with state tax dollars to encourage economic growth, educational excellence, and cultural enrichment for all Ohioans. Know Theatre is also supported by The Carol Ann & Ralph V. Haile, Jr./U.S. Bank Foundation, helping to change our communities for the better through collaboration and innovation, and the Greater Cincinnati Foundation, which provides a simple, powerful, and highly personal approach to giving.

Know Theatre is a member of Theatre Communications Group and an Associate member of the National New Play Network