Audible Theater Announces Talk-Back Series for 'Coal Country'

Newark NJ

04 March, 2022

11:16 AM

Description

The Acclaimed Public Theater Production Presented by Audible TheaterPerformances Begin Tonight Today Tix Rush Policy Now Open Opening Thursday, March 10, 2022Playing Six Weeks OnlyAt the Cherry Lane Theatre CoalCountryMusical.com Audible Inc., the leading creator and provider of premium audio storytelling, is pleased to announce a special series of post-show talk-backs for the return engagement of The Public Theater's critically acclaimed Coal Country, written by Drama Desk winners Jessica Blank and Erik Jensen with original music written and performed by three-time Grammy Award winner Steve Earle. For four Wednesday nights during the run, audience members are invited to stay after the show for discussions featuring the following guests: Wednesday, March 16 & Wednesday, March 30Steve Earle discusses the process of creating original music for Coal Country. Wednesday, March 23 & Wednesday, April 6Director & Co-Playwright Jessica Blank and members of the Coal Country cast discuss the play and bringing this true story to the stage. Coal Country begins previews tonight, Friday, March 4 at the Cherry Lane Theatre (38 Commerce Street, NYC) ahead of opening on Thursday, March 10, 2022. Opening night will mark 2 years to the day that the original production shut down as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Each day beginning at 9:00am, a limited amount of rush tickets for Coal Country will be available on a first-come, first-served basis through TodayTix for $25. To gain access to rush tickets, ticket-buyers must download the TodayTix app and share the show information on their Facebook or Twitter pages. Tickets will be available for pick up at the Cherry Lane Theatre box office. The mobile rush concludes either when inventory has sold out, or two hours before the performance. The cast of Coal Country features Mary Bacon (Patti), Amelia Campbell (Mindi), Kym Gomes (Judge), Ezra Knight (Roosevelt), Thomas Kopache (Gary), Michael Laurence (Tommy), Deirdre Madigan (Judy) and Carl Palmer (Goose). Steve Earle returns to perform his original score, with select performances by Joe Jung. Directed by Jessica Blank, Coal Country's world premiere run opened as a New York Times Critic's Pick on March 3, 2020. Before an untimely closing in the face of the pandemic, The New York Times called it "devasting and heart-wrenching," The Hollywood Reporter said it is "political theater of the most lucid, urgent, and necessary kind, given soaring emotional heft by Steve Earle's songs," and The New Yorker praised it as "an outstanding, outraged, life-filled documentary play." In September 2021, Audible recorded and released the play, with the majority of the original cast, as an Audible Original (available here), giving the riveting documentary play new life and extending its reach to millions of Audible listeners around the world. Jessica Blank and Erik Jensen, the creative minds behind the award-winning docudrama The Exonerated, bring their signature style to this strikingly innovative New York Times Critic's Pick that delves into the aftermath of the West Virginia mine explosion of 2010, highlighting the indomitable resilience of an American community on a quest for justice. Featuring the musical talents of three-time Grammy Award winner Steve Earle (the Audible Original (The Moment in) 1965 (When Rock and Roll Becomes Art), Coal Country powerfully combines the country/folk legend's "superbly evocative string-picking" (The Hollywood Reporter) with actual first-person accounts from survivors and family members, immortalizing their stories of survival in this soulful yet resolute tribute. The show's original creative team is reunited for this production: Richard Hoover (scenic design), Jessica Jahn (costume design), David Lander (lighting design), Darron L West (sound design), and Adesola Osakalumi (movement director), in addition to Janelle Caso (Production Stage Manager) and Andy Jones & Dylan Pager (General Management, Baseline Theatrical). Casting by Jordan Thaler & Kate Murray with additional Casting by X Casting, Victor Vazquez. TICKETING INFORMATIONTickets are on sale to the general public at www.coalcountrymusical.com.