Image: Georgia playwright Lauren Gunderson’s “The Revolutionists” is a darkly comedic play set during the French Revolution, bringing together four unlikely heroines—playwright Olympe de Gouges, assassin Charlotte Corday, former queen Marie Antoinette and Haitian rebel Marianne Angelle—who wrestle with art, violence, legacy and the meaning of change in uncertain times. Gunderson, a Decatur native and one of the most produced playwrights in the country, is known for blending humor, history and humanity to examine how stories shape social movements. The production will be staged at the Morton Theatre, one of the oldest surviving African American–built, owned and operated vaudeville theaters in the United States. Located in downtown Athens, the venue opened in 1910 under the leadership of Monroe Bowers “Pink” Morton and has hosted performers including Duke Ellington, Cab Calloway and Bessie Smith. Today the theater is a community performance space and cultural landmark, making it a fitting backdrop for a play about voices pushing their way into history. Director Asia Meana said the rehearsal process has centered on what she calls the “revolutionary pulse.” “My cast entered the frame and made the material,” Meana said. “They felt it, too—each of them in their own individual way—and linked their expressions into a collective one. The piece you’ll experience is the product of that union.” Costume designer Nathanael Tria said the team approached the play with an eye toward parallels between past and present. “It’s these connections to our past that drive The Revolutionists,” Tria said. Scenic designer Lindsey Taylor added that the “paper theater” style of the set reflects the instability of the revolutionary moment, while lighting designer Andrew Neal emphasized that the design highlights “the individuality of Gunderson’s characters.” Julie Ray, head of the Department of Theatre and Film Studies, said the collaboration with the Morton Theatre has been an important part of the production. “We’re thrilled to share this story in a space as historically significant as the Morton,” Ray said. “Our cast and crew have invested deeply in this work, and we look forward to sharing it with audiences.” Performance Schedule: September 25: 8:00 p.m. (Special Preview) September 26: 8:00 p.m. September 30, Oct. 1-2: 8:00 p.m. Oct. 2 performance will feature American Sign Language (ASL) Interpretation September. 28 & October 5: 2:00 p.m. (Matinees) For more information, visit ugatheatre.com/revolution or call the Performing Arts Center Box Office at (706) 542-4400. Read More: The Revolutionists | Show Page
