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In 1961, Sunset Playhouse in Elm Grove nearly closed when it chose to produce the controversial Tennessee Williams’ classic, “A Streetcar Named Desire.” Now, 37 years later, the play lives on and so does Sunset as the Pulitzer Prize-winning drama returns to the Furlan Auditorium April 11 to May 3, with talkbacks after the Sunday matinees.
Set during the restless years following World War II, “Streetcar” is the story of Blanche DuBois, a fragile and neurotic woman on a desperate prowl for someplace in the world to call her own. She seeks temporary shelter with her pregnant sister, Stella, and brutish brother-in-law, Stanley, in the French Quarter of New Orleans, but rumors of Blanche's past follow her. “Streetcar” follows Sunset’s successful rendition of “Cat on a Hot Tin Roof,” voted favorite show of the 2005-2006 season.
While “Streetcar” won awards on Broadway and also for its 1951 film version, Marlon Brando’s legendary stage and screen performance as the bestial Stanley Kowalski tends to receive the most recognition and attention when mentioning the title.
“There’s no ignoring Brando’s strength in this iconic role, but it’s not Stanley’s story,” says Sunset Artistic Director Mark Salentine, who is directing the play. “We know the challenges of presenting not only the subject matter and style of this play,” says Salentine, “but in presenting one that the public so closely associates with Brando’s Stanley, whether it’s his story or not.” Any actor performing in this show may dip into the same creative pool as those actors before them, but Sunset’s goal is to stay true to the script as written by Williams, telling the story of Blanche. It will even lean on seeing the world through her point of view.
Local professional actress Mary C. DeBattista will carry the complex weight of the crumbling Blanche DuBois. Andy North, a UW-Milwaukee Theatre graduate, gets to sink his acting teeth into Stanley, while Angela Beyer, a theater graduate from Cardinal Stritch who has been getting acclaim in the Milwaukee area, will play his abused, yet devoted, wife, Stella. Jim Santelle of Brookfield returns to the Sunset stage as Mitch, the sensitive friend of Stanley’s who falls for Blanche.
Other cast members include Caitlin Bradley, Heather Clayton, Joaquin Hernandez, Michael Lonergan, all of Milwaukee, Angela Fink of New Berlin, J. R. Frost of West Allis, and Jason Will from Germantown. Doug Smedbron of Muskego will join the ensemble but is also the acting dramaturge for the show.
The moody squalor of the Kowalski apartment in the French Quarter will be designed by J. Michael Desper, and built with the help of Philip C. Warren and Sunset volunteers. Marty Wallner takes on the important role of lighting designer in this show of shadows and light. Pat Boeck and Barbara Decker will costume for the post-war period, while Brenda Gravelle handles prop duty and Jan Pritzl designs the many detailed sound needs. Jennifer Allen and Elizabeth Keller will stage manage.
A Streetcar Named Desire runs April 11th through May 3rd, 2008.
Full-priced tickets for A Streetcar Named Desire are $18.00. Group rates for 15 or more people are available.
NEW VALUE SEATING AVAILABLE – ask about seating in our value section where tickets are 2/$18 or 3/$24 (only available by calling the box office).
For more information or to order tickets by telephone, call the Box Office at (262) 782-4430. Box Office hours are Monday through Friday 12:00 p.m.-5:00 p.m. and Saturdays 1:00 p.m.- 4:00 p.m.
TICKETS ALSO AVAILABLE ONLINE!