Preview of 'Our Country’s Good' by Connecticut Repertory Theatre

PHOTO: L to R: Ademide Akintilo (Capt. Campbell / Harry Brewer), Braley Degenhardt (Lt. Will Dawes / Liz Morden) and James Jelkin (Maj. Robbie Ross / Ketch Freeman) in OUR COUNTRY’S GOOD by Timberlake Wertenbaker, onstage at CT Repertory Theatre’s Nafe Katter Theatre from November 30 – December 10, 2017. Tickets at crt.uconn.edu or 860-486-2113. Photo by Matt Pugliese.

Connecticut Repertory Theatre presents

Our Country’s Good

STORRS. Connecticut Repertory Theatre (CRT) will stage the Tony Award-nominated and Olivier Award-winning play, “Our Country’s Good”, by Timberlake Wertenbaker. CRT Artistic Director Michael Bradford will direct. Performances will be held in the Nafe Katter Theatre from November 30th through December 10th, 2017. For tickets and information please visit crt.uconn.edu or call (860) 486-2113.

New South Wales, 1780s: The Sirius arrives on the shores of Australia bringing Royal Marines and convicts together in a penal colony. Second Lieutenant Ralph Clark stages the first play in Australia casting the convicts in an experiment to discover the rehabilitative power of art. Theft, escapes, and only two copies of the script provide most of the drama in rehearsals, but the play ultimately turns the prison into an escape from punishment. Soon the lines blur between captors and captives and the players begin to discover the characters that lie within, both on and off the stage. “Our Country’s Good” is an acclaimed and award-winning historical drama that provides both passion and humor and a look at the humanizing power of play.

Michael Bradford is an award-winning playwright and the Artistic Director of Dramatic Arts at the University of Connecticut. Previous directing credits at CRT include “Waiting for Lefty/Severance” and “Intimate Apparel.” Bradford’s writing has been produced Off-Broadway at the American Place Theatre, and elsewhere in New York at the Lark Developmental Theatre, The Flea, The Access and the NADA Theatre. His plays have received readings and work-shops at the Manhattan Theatre Club, LARK Theatre, the Ensemble Studio Theatre, the Connecticut Repertory Theatre, the Steppenwolf Theatre, and the Actors Theatre of Louisville. Bradford is considered one of the most promising African American playwrights today.

Bradford said, “At its core, ‘Our Country’s Good”’ explores the nature of our humanity and who defines it. In the end, each character is challenged to step beyond the safety and security of their “role” and choose the possibility of life, love, and hope. Please join us at CRT as we explore this harsh, yet beautiful, world!”

UCONN and CRT alum James Jelkin returns to CRT as Major Ross/Ketch Freeman. Former CRT roles include Benedick in Much Ado about Nothing, Jack Stone in the premier of Band of the Black Hand and Aramis in The Three Musketeers. Most recently seen as Puck in the New York premier of Some Night (Ophelia Theatre Company), his other credits include: Passion Play (Red House Theatre), The Cherry Orchard (Columbia University), Wait Until Dark (Monomoy Theatre), Cabaret (Monomoy Theatre), and Henry IV (Monomoy Theatre). Film credits include The Mordeo (CryptTV; YouTube) and Blood Feuds (American Heroes Channel).

Nigerian and England-born, Ademide Akintilo makes his debut appearance at CRT as Harry Brewer/Captain Campbell. Recent work includes Beyond the Oak Trees (Black National Theater Festival) and his Regional experience includes Beyond the Oak Trees (Crossroads Theatre Company) and The Merchant of Venice (Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey). Other credits include A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Shakespeare Globe Theatre), The Last Days of Judas Iscariot (Interlochen Arts Academy), and Fear & Misery in The Third Reich (Rutgers Theater Company).

PERFORMANCE AND TICKET INFORMATION

Evening performances start at 7:30pm on Wednesdays and Thursdays, and at 8pm on Fridays and Saturdays. Select matinee performances start at 2pm on Saturdays and Sundays. Single tickets are available now. Single tickets range from $10 to $33. All student tickets are $10.

On Wednesday, December 6th, patrons can purchase tickets to Dine with Design, a pre-show dinner with members of the creative team for a behind-the-scenes experience. Dinner includes entrees and dessert.

Post-show discussions with members of the cast and crew will follow the performance on Thursday, December 7th at 7:30pm and the matinee Saturday, December 9th at 2pm.

Children must be at least 4 years old to attend CRT productions. CRT recommends ages 15 and up (R) for this production. For additional ticket information or to charge tickets by phone, call 860.486.2113. All sales are final; no refunds. Play selections and performance dates are subject to change.

Please call the box office at 860.486.2113 for tickets and additional information or visit www.crt.uconn.edu for specific show dates and times because performance schedules vary and are subject to change.

The Nafe Katter Theatre is located on the campus of the University of Connecticut in Storrs, CT.