Talkin’ To This Chick Sippin’ Magic Potion Streams February 7-26

TheaterWorks Hartford

presents
TALKIN’ TO THIS CHICK SIPPIN’ MAGIC POTION
By James Anthony Tyler
Directed Awoye Timpo
NEW DATES: Streaming on demand February 7-26, 2021

TheaterWorks Hartford announced NEW DATES today for TALKIN’ TO THIS CHICK SIPPIN’ MAGIC POTION by James Anthony Tyler. The play will now stream on demand February 7-26, 2021 to members and single ticket buyers.

Directed by Awoye Timpo (Paradise Blue at Long Wharf), TALKIN’ TO THIS CHICK SIPPIN’ MAGIC POTION features an outstanding cast including newcomer MATEO FERRO as Rubén Zorrilla, Jr., MIRIAM A. HYMAN (The Public, LaMama, Yale Rep) as Shelba Bathson, SHERIA IRVING (The Public, Primary Stages, Yale Rep)) as Jornay Nelson, JULES LATIMER (Atlantic Theater) as Tiffany Nelson and DARIUS MCCALL (Yangtze, The Forum) as Steve Nelson.

TALKIN’ TO THIS CHICK SIPPIN’ MAGIC POTION is a developmental piece. It is a streamed reading of a new play and is a part of the WORKshop series.

Eric Ort, TheaterWorks Hartford Artistic Producer said “I love James’ writing. I’ve wanted to work with him at TWH ever since I saw a reading of his play “hop tha A” at Ars Nova three years ago. It’s been an exciting opportunity for TheaterWorks to support and further the development of this piece working with James, Awoye and this amazing cast.”

STORYLINE:
How do you connect with love that’s lost? This heartfelt new play about mothers and daughters explores relationships, resentment, and the journey to becoming your best self. Jornay is a professional cuddler who learns that her new client Ruben needs more than her touch. Through Ruben, Jornay also learns that she must do what she can to repair her relationship with Tiffany, her 17-year-old daughter. Old wounds are reopened when Jornay attempts to get a ticket to Tiffany’s high school graduation.

This is a story about the profound bond between a mother and daughter written by a compelling and award winning playwright.

While audiences know TheaterWorks Hartford for producing important contemporary stories, this season the theater is also committed to producing developmental pieces and new works. In these challenging times, TWH’s commitment to elevating more voices, more stories and more connections is an integral part of the theater’s mission. The current 20-21 season includes 12 productions of which 5 are a part of the WORKshop Series.

TALKIN’ TO THIS CHICK SIPPIN’ MAGIC POTION is the 5th play in the 20/21 Season.

The WORKshop Series is produced with support from Bank of America and is focused on early development projects, conceived and written primarily by Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC), the WORKshop series reflects the moment we're in. Featuring five compelling stories that offer opportunities for critical thinking, thoughtfulness, humor and uplift.

THE CAST
MATEO FERRO
MIRIAM A. HYMAN
SHERIA IRVING
JULES LATIMER
DARIUS MCCALL

COST
Monthly Memberships (video on demand + perks) $20.21/month with a one-time $5 startup fee
Annual Memberships $130 includes 8 plays VOD
Single Ticket Streams (24 hour streams) $25

WHEN
Streaming on demand February 7-26, 2021

More Membership information at twhartford.org For additional ticket assistance, contact the Box Office at TheaterWorks at 860.527.7838 or email boxoffice@twhartford.org

MATEO FERRO (Rubén Zorrilla, Jr.) is making his TheaterWorks Hartford debut. Thank you all for watching this piece of art. May we all continue to sit with our own energy and spread love and truth on this planet while going through these reality changing times.

MIRIAM A. HYMAN (Sheba Bathson) is making her TheaterWorks Hartford debut. Miriam A. Hyman aka Robyn Hood (Philly native) is a classically trained actress and a Hip Hop Recording Artist. Off-Broadway : Richard II as Bolingbroke (Shakespeare in the Park Radio Broadcast), Socrates, Richard III (The Public Theater), Three Musketeers (CTH); Tempest (La MaMa E.T.C.) Cymbeline(Yale Rep), Piano Lesson (McCarter Theater). Films: The Laundromat (Netflix), The Sun Is Also a Star (Warner Bros/MGM), , Brittany Runs a Marathon (Amazon), Most Beautiful Island(Independent Spirit Nominee and SXSW winner). TV: “The Chi,” “Grey’s Anatomy,” “NCIS,” “Blue Bloods,” “The Rookie,” “Blindspot,” “The OA Part II,” “High Maintenance,” “OITNB,” “SMILF,” “Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt.” EPs (as Robyn Hood): Alter Ego (2020), Truth Teller (2020), For Higher (2016). Awards: Princess Grace, Leonore Annenberg Fellow. BFA: UArts, MFA: Yale School of Drama

SHERIA IRVING (Jornay Nelson) is making her TheaterWorks Hartford debut. Broadway: Romeo and Juliet (Richard Rodgers Theater). Off-Broadway and NY Theater: White Noise (The Public Theater); Crowndation: I Will Not Lie To David (NBT & CTG); Fit for a Queen (CTH); While I Yet Live (Primary Stages); ###em (Masterworks). Regional: The Model American (Williamstown Theatre Festival); Cymbeline, The Winter’s Tale (Yale Rep). TV/Film: “Bobcat Moretti”; “Them:Covenant”; “Twenties”; “The Good Wife,” and “Madam Secretary”. Founder of the nonprofit Shaping Her Earth, ###a rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" href="https://theaterworkshartford.us10.list-manage.com/track/click?u=e1cb9eae3b89ac7874d0e8109&id=99f5149b8c&e=45dd77f72c" fg_scanned="1">www.shapingherearth.com. MFA Yale School of Drama. www.sheriairving.com.

JULES LATIMER (Tiffany Nelson) is making her TheaterWorks Hartford debut. Off-Broadway: PARIS (Atlantic Theatre); Regional: ANGELA’S MIXTAPE (Martha’s Vineyard Playhouse), ROMEO AND JULIET (Chautauqua Theatre Company). A recent graduate from The Juilliard School. Some of her past roles at school have been Prospero in The Tempest, She in The Owl Answers, and Pumpkin in Paradise Blue. Before Juilliard, she was the winner of the August Wilson Monologue Competition in Atlanta. It was documented in the film “The Start of Dreams” starring Kenny Leon and Denzel Washington.

DARIUS MCCALL (Steve Nelson) is making his TheaterWorks Hartford debut. Nominated for Best Lead Actor in his role as Franco Wicks (SUPERIOR DONUTS), Darius McCall has performed in both contemporary and classical roles such as Thomas (THE SHIPMENT), Wil Parish (FLYIN' WEST), and Old King (THE BLOODY BANQUET). Darius trained with renowned acting teacher, Wynn Handman in New York, NY. He also trained in voice, classical movement, stage speech, Shakespeare, the Stanislavski method, Meisner and Stella Adler's techniques at the Studio Theatre Conservatory in Washington, DC.

JAMES ANTHONY TYLER (Playwright) is making his TheaterWorks Hartford debut. He is the recipient of the 3rd Annual Horton Foote Playwriting Award and an inaugural playwright to receive a commission from Audible. His plays include Artney Jackson (World Premiere at Williamstown Theatre Festival, 2018 Edgerton Foundation New Play Award), Some Old Black Man (Berkshire Playwrights Lab at St. James Place and 59E59 Theaters), Dolphins and Sharks (LAByrinth Theater Company and Finborough Theatre in London). He has a MFA in Film from Howard University and a MFA in Dramatic Writing from New York University. He is also a graduate of The Juilliard School’s Lila Acheson Wallace American Playwrights Program, and he recently was the Staff Writer for the new OWN Network show Cherish the Day created by Ava DuVernay.

AWOYE TIMPO (Director) is making her TheaterWorks Hartford debut. She a Director and Producer based in Brooklyn, NY. Awoye’s work has been seen on stages around the country and in Scotland and South Africa. Her New York directing credits include The Loophole (Public Theater), In Old Age (New York Theatre Workshop), Carnaval (National Black Theatre), Good Grief (Vineyard Theatre and Audible) and The Homecoming Queen (Atlantic Theater Company). Regionally she has directed Pipeline at the Studio Theatre, Paradise Blue at Long Wharf, Everybody Black at Actors Theatre of Louisville and School Girls Berkeley Rep. Awoye is the Founding Producer of CLASSIX, a series exploring plays by Black writers. theclassix.org.

ROB RUGGIERO (Director/Producing Artistic Director) has been part of TheaterWorks artistic leadership for 26 years. He has directed over 60 shows, including TW productions of American Son, The Legend of Georgia McBride, Constellations, Next to Normal, Relativity (starring Richard Dreyfuss) and CHRISTMAS ON THE ROCKS, which he also conceived. His Broadway credits include Looped (starring Valerie Harper in a Tony-nominated performance) and High (starring Kathleen Turner) which had its world premiere at TW. He also conceived and directed the musical revue Make Me a Song: The Music of William Finn which moved off-Broadway and was nominated for Drama Desk and Outer Critics Circle Awards. Rob conceived and directed Ella, a musical about Ella Fitzgerald, which saw sold-out runs in 24 regional theaters and was produced as a National Tour. His work on plays and musicals has received multiple awards in Connecticut and around the United States. In his eleventh collaboration with Goodspeed Musicals, Rob directed Oliver where he has also directed many award-winning musical productions. His adaptation of Show Boat is now being licensed by the Rodgers & Hammerstein Organization. Internationally he directed Fiddler on the Roof in Athens, Greece.

TheaterWorks Hartford Unrolls a Membership Plan - 8 Plays left this season.

This Season TheaterWorks Hartford (TWH) introduced a flexible membership model which includes shifting from a traditional 5 play season to a season of 12 plays delivered monthly. Rob said "We’re super excited about the opportunities this creates and the important voices we can elevate and stories we can share in the coming year”.

"Converting our subscriptions to monthly memberships is something we’ve been interested in for a while. We’re working to make our connection to our audience as agile and frictionless as possible by embracing a no stress / no risk model. We’re trusting that if we deliver artistic quality and important stories that our community will stay with us month to month and hopefully for seasons to come. We believe we can tell stories in a compelling way that maintains connection and elevates hope and humanity."

TWH MEMBERSHIP is a yearlong ticket to great stories you can enjoy from the comfort and safety of your home. You can buy a season long membership at a discounted annual rate or opt for a risk-free monthly membership. Both, Individual and Household memberships are available.

Visit twhartford.org for more.

About TheaterWorks Hartford
Celebrating its 35th season, TheaterWorks Hartford (TWH) produces high quality, contemporary theater that is relevant to our audiences, engages a diverse community, and provides insight into the human experience. TWH is committed to the power of storytelling in creating community. Founded in 1985, TWH has produced over 170 plays and presents approximately 225 performances per season. TWH also owns and manages the historic property at 233 Pearl Street, known as City Arts on Pearl. City Arts provides an affordable home and services to a diverse family of non-profit arts organizations.
For updates on TheaterWorks Hartford, visit here and follow on Facebook, Instagram, or YouTube.

Support: Hartford Foundation for Public Giving, Travelers, Aetna, Hartford Financial Services, Hartford Healthcare, Lincoln Financial Foundation, Bank of America, Maximilian E. & Marion O. Hoffman Foundation, Greater Hartford Arts Council, Edward C. and Ann T. Roberts Foundation, Richard P. Garmany Fund, United Technologies Corporation, J. Walton Bissell Foundation, The Shubert Foundation, Ensworth Charitable Foundation, John and Kelly Hartman Foundation, Connecticut Office of the Arts, George A. and Grace L. Long Foundation, Cheryl Chase & Stuart Bear Family Foundation, People’s United Bank, TD Bank, William and Alice Mortensen Foundation, The Saunders Foundation.