1984
Based on the novel by George Orwell
A new play by Robert Icke and Duncan Macmillan
Running April 19 – May 12, 2019
The Circuit Playhouse
51 South Cooper
Memphis, TN 38104
The Circuit Playhouse, in partnership with Karen McCarthy and super sponsor Dr. Thomas Ratliff, present the Regional Premiere of the theatrical adaptation to George Orwell’s formerly banned novel.
1984 brings us the story of Winston Smith, a cog in the giant machine state of Oceania. Under the close eye of Big Brother, Winston has been caught struggling for scraps of love and freedom in a world awash with distrust and violence. With the brutal “help” of four Party Members, Winston is forced to confess his Thoughtcrimes before an unseen inquisitor, and the audience — who act as a silent witness to his torture.
As literary political fiction and dystopian science fiction, Nineteen Eighty-Four is a classic novel in content, plot, and style. Many of its terms and concepts, such as Big Brother, doublethink, thoughtcrime, Newspeak, Room 101, telescreen, 2 + 2 = 5, andmemory hole, have entered into common usage since its publication in 1949. Nineteen Eighty-Four popularized the adjective Orwellian, which connotes official deception, secret surveillance, brazenly misleading terminology and manipulation of recorded history by a totalitarian or authoritarian state. In 2005, the novel was chosen by Time magazine as one of the 100 best English-language novels from 1923 to 2005.[5] It was awarded a place on both lists of Modern Library 100 Best Novels.
–Wikipedia
The retelling of the literary masterpiece falls in the hands of Playhouse on the Square Associate Company Member Danny Crowe (A Perfect Arrangement, Fun Home), as Winston Smith. The ensemble cast is anchored by Resident Company Member Brooke Papritz (Significant Other, Little Women: The Broadway Musical) in the role of Julia. Multiple Ostrander winner and Resident Company Member, Courtney Oliver (The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, Peter Pan) heads this project as director.
The complete cast of 1984 is as follows:
Cast List
Winston – Danny Crowe
Julia – Brooke Papritz
O’Brien – Greg Boller
Charrington – Jason Gerhard
Parsons – David Hammons
Syme – Kevar Maffitt
Martin – Chase Ring
Mother – Claire Rutkauskas
Child – CJ Santo
Directed by Courtney Oliver
Assistant Director – John Smiley
Stage Manager – Savannah Thibodeaux
Scenic Designer/Technical Director/Production Manager – Phillip Hughen
Lighting Designer – Terry Eikleberry
Costume Designer – Lindsay Schmeling
Sound Designer – Carter McHann
Please be aware 1984 contains partial nudity, sexual situations, graphic violence, and torture.
Performances will run Thursday – Saturday 8:00 pm curtain and with 2:00 pm curtain on Sunday. Matinee performances for school groups are also available select days during the week. For tickets, call the Box Office at (901) 726-4656 or visit our website www.playhouseonthesquare.org. Follow with social media using #BigBrother901. Group rates available.
Special ticket pricing for opening weekend $25. Pay What You Can performance, sponsored by Arts First and the First Tennessee Foundation is April 25th.
For questions and booking, please contact Playhouse on the Square Director of Community Relations, Marcus Cox (901) 937-6496.
