This year, in collaboration with our Conversationalist-in-Residence Christina Bevilacqua, we are launching a series of conversations that will take place outside the theater, in locations that resonate with themes in the shows. We’re calling the series Context & Conversation, and the idea is to bring together people with expertise on the themes present in the show in order to unpack all the ways that the plays that happen at Trinity Rep actually help us live and work in community together.

What does this look like? Well, I’m glad you asked.

Lizan Mitchell as Faye and Jude Sandy as Reggie. Photo by Mark Turek.
Lizan Mitchell as Faye and Jude Sandy as Reggie. Photo by Mark Turek.

For The Fall Rep we are producing two plays: Dominique Morisseau’s Skeleton Crew and Arthur Miller’s Death of a Salesman. These plays focus on labor, unions, aging in the workplace, and how people and systems don’t always mix. We are partnering with RI Jobs with Justice on the show, and asked them for help in planning our Context & Conversation. They suggested a union hall, which sounded perfect. After going back and forth, we landed on the Amalgamated Transit Union in South Providence, which represents mass transit workers. We brought together a panel featuring: Cedric de Leon, Tufts Professor in Labor Movements, a Jobs with Justice representative, and a member of the Amalgamated Transit Union to  be in conversation with Christina Bevilacqua. Whether or not you’ve seen the shows we’ll have a robust conversation about the challenges and joys of working in Rhode Island, with a great mix of people in the audience including Trinity Rep subscribers and members of the ATU.

Mauro Hantman as Howard, Rachel Dulude as Miss Forsythe and Stephen Beresnson as Willy Loman. Photo by Mark Turek.
Mauro Hantman as Howard, Rachel Dulude as Miss Forsythe and Stephen Beresnson as Willy Loman. Photo by Mark Turek.

Dreaming up where to hold all of these talks in our community has helped us build bridges between the art we create the lives we all live, which is incredibly joyful work. We’re anxious to get to share all of this with you. We’re still building the partnerships, and so can’t yet give you all the details about the Context & Conversations for the rest of the season, but watch this space as the season progresses and we hope to see you next Thursday!

WHAT: The Fall Rep Context & Conversation
WHEN: Thursday October 26, 2017 from 7:00 pm-9:00 pm
WHERE: The Amalgamated Transit Union, 172 Longfellow St, Providence, RI 02907
COST: FREE

To reserve your spot or for more information: Email Braxton Crewell at bcrewell@trinityrep.com.