There’s a new theater company in town with some familiar faces.
Former Firehouse Theatre Project Artistic Director Carol Piersol will be assuming the artistic director position for 5th Wall Theatre with Billy Christopher Maupin as her associate artistic director. They will be producing shows in partnership with other flagship companies, according to a press release. Over half of the former Firehouse board will be joining them.
From their release:
Continuing their partnership and a shared artistic vision, Ms. Piersol and Mr. Maupin officially launch a new theatre company, 5th Wall Theatre, Inc., with a full board of directors, including GeorgeAnn Broth, President; Joe Walton, Vice President; Don Baker, Secretary; Lisa Kotula, Treasurer; Jacob H. Rooksby, Legal Counsel; Stacie Birchett; Stuart A. Broth; Harry Kollatz, Jr.; Dennis Lieberman; Sara Marsden; Billy Christopher Maupin; Carol Piersol; Lorraine Tracy; Pat Vastano; Vivian Keasler; and Amy Wight. I am excited to once again lead a company in this vibrant theatre community, to be able to support and nurture playwrights, and to produce compelling and innovative works,” says Piersol.
The 5th Wall season begins with the second production of acclaimed and mysterious playwright Jane Martin’s H2O. A “riveting” and “mind-blowing” play that follows a young actress as she auditions for a young movie star who has been cast as Hamlet on Broadway, H20 runs September 4 – 27, 2014 at Virginia Repertory Theatre’s Theatre Gym. The next show in 5th Wall’s inaugural season is a new production of Nicky Silver’s recent smash hit, The Lyons, a quirky, dark comedy in which the Lyons family tries to find their way through dysfunction to discover love and peace. The Lyons runs January 15 – February 7, 2015. Concluding the season is the second production of The Human Terrain by emerging playwright Jennifer Blackmer. The Human Terrain, which will receive its world premiere in St. Louis this fall, is the story of an anthropologist hired to study the culture of the Iraqi people to report back to the U.S. military. Through the course of her work, she befriends an Iraqi woman who is later implicated in a tragic bombing. The Human Terrain will run March 19 – April 9, 2015 at a venue to be announced.
Board member Sara Marsden says: “I am thrilled to be a part of 5th Wall Theatre and I’ve always admired and respected Carol. She and Billy Christopher fill a vital role in the Richmond theatre scene. Their shared dedication to new works and talent is an important part of raising the profile of area theatre and Richmond’s rising status as a U.S. cultural hub.”
Visit: www.5thwalltheatre.org for additional details. Season subscriptions and single tickets will be on sale soon.
Stay tuned to more coverage from Style’s theater critics of this development.
