WHAT: Due to popular demand, the Huntington Theatre Company adds performances to its run of Huntington Playwriting Fellow Lydia R. Diamond’s Stick Fly, a smart, moving, and funny portrait of a complex African-American family. This production is produced in collaboration with Arena Stage.

WHEN: Now – March 28, 2010

Evenings: Tues. – Thurs. at 7:30pm; Fri. – Sat. at 8pm; Select Sun. at 7pm

Matinees: Select Wed., Sat., Sun. at 2pm; Thurs., March 18 at 10am (Student Matinee)

Days and times vary; see complete schedule at end of release.

WHERE: The Huntington’s second stage – Calderwood Pavilion at the BCA, 527 Tremont Street in Boston’s South End.

TICKETS: $20-$60. Available online at huntingtontheatre.org; by phone at 617 266-0800; and in person at the B.U. Theatre Box Office (264 Huntington Avenue) or the Calderwood Pavilion at the BCA Box Office (527 Tremont Street in Boston’s South End).

$5 senior and military discounts.

$10 Subscriber and B.U. Community discounts.

$25 “35 Below” tickets for patrons 35 years old and younger (valid I.D. required).

$20 back row of the orchestra tickets.

$15 student rush seats (available 2 hrs. before curtain time for each performance; valid I.D. required)

(BOSTON) – Due to universal critical acclaim, record-breaking ticket sales, and a continued high demand for tickets, the Huntington Theatre Company has added the following performances to its run of Stick Fly:

• Sunday, March 7 at 7pm
• Sunday, March 21 at 7pm
• Tuesday, March 23 at 7:30pm
• Wednesday, March 24 at 2pm and 7:30pm
• Thursday, March 25 at 7:30pm
• Friday, March 26 at 8pm
• Saturday, March 27 at 2pm and 8pm
• Sunday, March 28 at 7pm

All seats at added performances are $60. Discounts listed above may be applied.

Stick Fly, a smart, moving, and funny portrait of a complex African-American family, is by Huntington Playwriting Fellow Lydia R Diamond. Kenny Leon, Tony Award-nominated Broadway director of A Raisin in the Sun returns to the Huntington this season following his much-praised production of August Wilson’s Fences (Sept. – Oct. 2009) before beginning rehearsals as director of the Broadway revival of Fences, starring Academy Award winner Denzel Washington and Tony Award winner Viola Davis in April 2010.

Sparks fly when Kent LeVay brings Taylor, his fiancée, to his family’s luxurious Martha’s Vineyard summer home to meet his parents. Taylor, under the microscope and unaccustomed to the LeVay’s affluent lifestyle, challenges the household dynamic. When Kent’s womanizing older brother arrives with his white girlfriend, long-hidden family secrets are revealed in this funny, moving and poignant portrait of a complex African-American family – an of-the moment look at sibling rivalry and the weight of parental expectations.

CRITICAL ACCLAIM FOR THE HUNTINGTON’S PRODUCTION OF STICK FLY

“SHOUT FOR JOY! Stick Fly is brilliant and endlessly fascinating. Acutely observant, laugh-out-loud funny, and complicated as only real human stories can be. Lydia R. Diamond is one of Boston’s finest playwrights.” – The Boston Globe

“TOP-NOTCH AND MEMORABLE! A complex, funny, and moving play. It shows us a side of African-American culture seldom portrayed in popular entertainment. That’s refreshing. Even more refreshing is Kenny Leon’s production for the Huntington Theatre Company, as crisp and fresh as a fine pino grigio.” – Boston Herald

“AN ASTOUNDING ACHIEVEMENT! An All My Sons for a new generation. Director Kenny Leon and a cast that’s a joy from top to bottom makes Diamond’s script sing.” – TAB Newspaper

PRODUCTION CALENDAR and RELATED EVENTS

Stick Fly

by Lydia R. Diamond

Directed by Kenny Leon

The Huntington’s production of Stick Fly plays for 31 more performances. Related post-show events are free with ticket purchase to any performance.

Thurs., March 4 at 7:30pm Actors Forum

Fri., March 5 at 8pm

Sat., March 6 at 2pm and 8pm

Sun., March 7 at 2pm and 7pm Humanities Forum, a lively post-show talk with a leading local scholar about the historical/literary context of the play
(2pm performance)

Wed., March 10 at 2pm and 7:30pm Actors Forum (2pm performance)

Thurs., March 11 at 7:30pm

Fri., March 12 8pm

Sat., March 13 at 2pm and 8pm

Sun., March 14 at 2pm and 7pm

Tues., March 16 at 7:30pm

Wed., March 17 at 7:30pm

Thurs., March 18 at and 7:30pm

Fri., March 19 at 8pm

Sat., March 20 at 2pm and 8pm

Sun., March 21 at 2pm and 7pm

Tues., March 23 at 7:30pm

Wed., March 24 at 2pm and 7:30pm

Thurs., March 25 at 7:30pm

Fri., March 26 at 8pm

Sat., March 27 at 2pm and 8pm

Sun., March 28 at 7pm

Ongoing–
Post-Show Conversations

New this season, the Huntington offers post-show audience conversations with members of the staff after most Tuesday-Friday, Saturday matinee, and Sunday matinee performances. Free with a ticket to the performance. See huntingtontheatre.org/season/0910/stickfly/calendar-events.aspx for complete schedule.

Sunday, March 7, following the 2pm performance at the Calderwood Pavilion
Humanities Forum

A lively post-show talk with a leading local scholar about the historical/literary context of the play.

Ongoing–
American Stories Contest: Share your American Story

The Huntington Theatre Company’s 2009-2010 Season features seven windows into the American experience by American writers, and is filled with American stories. Join us by sharing your American story and enter to win VIP tickets to each of our opening night performances and post-show cast parties throughout the season. Enter in either category: 18 and under or General. We’ll name a winner from each per show, and a Grand Prize winner for the year.

Create a video or write an essay response to the following question – or simply tell us your American story. Send it with your name, address, and phone number to contest@huntingtontheatre.org. All entries will be posted on the Huntington’s blog and winners will be featured in our monthly e-newsletter.

In Stick Fly, a complicated African-American family gathers for a weekend at their vacation home on Martha’s Vineyard. How would you describe your family dynamic? What do you like most about your family?

The following press release was sent to the Fenway News by Councilor Arroyo’s office:

Boston City Councilor At-Large Felix G. Arroyo, Chair of the Boston City Council Committee for Labor, Youth Affairs, and Human Rights, has brought together leading youth organizations from throughout the city to discuss and create a Youth Agenda.  The Youth Agenda will help ensure priorities of leading youth organizations, leaders, and youth themselves are implemented by key government, non-profit, and for-profit entities.

The first of the Advisory Committee meetings took place on January 26th at Boston City Hall and a follow-up working group meeting took place at Boston City Hall on Monday, February 22nd in order to develop strategic vision for addressing the concerns or issues faced by Bostonian youth.

As part of the work, the Councilor filed an Order for Hearing focusing on a key component of the Youth Agenda—full funding and support for youth summer jobs.

Councilor Arroyo stated, “The youth of our city must receive the support and encouragement that they deserve.  A key component of that is full funding and support for youth summer jobs.  A summer job promotes the well-being of our youth which we should always strive for.   The qualifications for these jobs should be as expansive as possible so no youth is left out of an opportunity to work this summer.”

Melanie Santos, a youth participant with Maverick Landing Community Services, explained the importance of youth summer jobs.  “To me, summer jobs give you the chance to learn great skills to help better your future.  I plan on majoring in early education.  The last two summers, I have been working with young kids.  It has been an invaluable experience.”

Funding for youth summer jobs, between direct state and municipal aid, has shrunk by 1/3 since Fiscal Year 2002, and state aid for summer jobs throughout the Commonwealth is expected to decrease even further in this year’s proposed state budget.

The City of Boston’s contribution to summer youth jobs increased each year between Fiscal Year 2006 and Fiscal Year 2009, and, despite significant budgetary pressures, the city of Boston was able to level-fund summer jobs in Fiscal Year 2010.

THIS EVENT IS SPONSORED BY THE FENWAY CDC – CIVIC ENGAGEMENT AND URBAN VILLAGE PLANNING COMMITTEES

The former Fenway Community Health site at 7 Haviland Street reopened in January as a new Berklee College of Music building after a quick, eight-month reconstruction. Berklee invites the Fenway community to join them in celebrating the new space with Berklee President Roger Brown, Councilor Michael Ross and students, faculty, and staff on February 25, at 1:00 p.m., at 7 Haviland Street. Enjoy live music, tours, refreshments, and a ribbon-cutting ceremony.

The building gives Berklee 18,000 square feet for new classrooms and offices. The outdoor plaza provides open space for students and neighborhood residents. The Liberal Arts, Music Business/Management, and Music Therapy Departments have all moved in. Also enjoying their new homes are the Heavy Rotation record label, Africana Studies, and the Center for Writing and English as a Second Language, among others.

Bill Richardson, president of the Fenway Civic Association, received the following message and asked us to help spread the word:

Dear Bill:

Senator Tolman, Senator Chang-Díaz and Representative Rushing were in contact with the Department of Conservation and Recreation last Thursday and Friday regarding the snow emergency tickets the State Police issued on Wednesday [Feb 10].  Senator Tolman, Senator Chang-Díaz and Representative Rushing are pleased to inform you, and the Fenway Community, that the Department of Conservation and Recreation has decided to void the tickets in light of the fact the expected storm never arrived.  People who received tickets should simply ignore them; the ticket will be voided centrally by the State Police.

If you should have any further questions regarding this or any other issue please feel free to contact Senator Tolman, Senator Chang-Díaz and Representative Rushing, again.

Ben Franco
Budget and Communications Director

Office of Senator Steven A. Tolman
2nd Suffolk & Middlesex District
Room 312C, State House
Boston, MA 02133-1053
Ph. (617) 722-1280
Fx. (617) 722-1069