FINAL CASTING ANNOUNCED FOR WORLD PREMIERE OF THE PEOPLE’S TEMPLE Berkeley Rep and Z Space also welcome four new sponsors BERKELEY CA, MARCH 16, 2005Fact Sheet Today, Berkeley Repertory Theatre announced final casting for the world premiere of The People’s Temple, a theatrical exploration of the roots, the rise and the tragic demise in Jonestown, Guyana of the movement led by the Reverend Jim Jones. A daring new play from the creators of The Laramie Project, the show also welcomed four new sponsors: The William & Flora Hewlett Foundation (production sponsor), the Phyllis C. Wattis Foundation (production sponsor), the Walter & Elise Haas Fund (education sponsor) and the Alafi Family Foundation (student matinee sponsor). The final cast member is Robert Ernst, an accomplished actor who was last seen at Berkeley Rep in The Green Bird in 2000. He has numerous film, television and theatre credits, including at local stages such as the American Conservatory Theater, Magic Theatre, Marin Theatre Company and TheatreWorks. He is also the author of two plays and three pocket operas. Mr. Ernst joins an ensemble of talented performers who are bringing the story to life: Miche Braden, Velina Brown, James Carpenter, Colman Domingo, Margo Hall, Lauren Klein, John McAdams, Greg Pierotti, Barbara Pitts, Kelli Simpkins and Adam Wade. “We are honored to have attracted such fine talent to our production,” says Berkeley Rep’s Artistic Director Tony Taccone, “and appreciate the extensive community support that makes a project of this scope and ambition possible.” The People’s Temple is directed by Leigh Fondakowski, best known for her work on The Laramie Project, a groundbreaking play that received its West Coast premiere at Berkeley Rep in 2001. The script was written by Ms. Fondakowski with Mr. Pierotti, Stephen Wangh and Ms. Hall, and the show is presented in association with Z Space Studio. The People’s Temple is supported in part by an award from the National Endowment for the Arts and by Executive Producers Jean and Michael Strunsky and the Ira & Leonore Gershwin Philanthropic Fund. The show also benefits from Berkeley Rep’s Season Sponsor BART and three production sponsors: San Francisco Chronicle, SF Gate and Seagate Properties, Inc. As head writer for The Laramie Project, Fondakowski led her collaborators in sculpting interviews with Wyoming residents into a stirring portrait of the effects of hatred on a small town. Her newest work explores the unique mix of radical politics, racial integration and Pentecostal fervor that attracted thousands of followers to Peoples Temple and its leader, Jim Jones. A tale of faith, community and survival, the show spans 25 years of Temple history—which culminated in 1978 with 913 deaths at the jungle settlement known as Jonestown, the assassination of Congressman Leo J. Ryan and the murders of three journalists. The play weaves together music from the Temple, archival materials and interviews with survivors to create a conversation between the living and the dead. After decades enshrouded in secrecy, the stories of Jonestown survivors are now being told, many for the first time. In its quest to make sense of the inexplicable—and perhaps to find healing in the process—The People’s Temple explores this historic event with a candor only hindsight can provide. Performed in the Roda Theatre at Berkeley Rep, The People’s Temple begins previews on April 15, opens on April 20 and closes May 29, 2005. For tickets or information, call 510.647.2949 or toll-free at 1.888.4BRTTix—or simply visit www.berkeleyrep.org. THE PEOPLE’S TEMPLE WHO written by Leigh Fondakowski with Greg Pierotti, Stephen Wangh and Margo Hall directed by Leigh Fondakowski designers: Sarah L. Lambert (sets), Gabriel Berry (costumes), Betsy Adams (lights), Jake Rodriguez (sound), Jean Isaacs (choreography), Martha Swetzoff (video) and Denice Stephenson (researcher/archivist) featuring: Miche Braden, Velina Brown, James Carpenter, Colman Domingo, Robert Ernst, Margo Hall, Lauren Klein, John McAdams, Greg Pierotti, Barbara Pitts, Kelli Simpkins and Adam Wade WHAT The People’s Temple, a world-premiere play, presented by Berkeley Repertory Theatre in association with Z Space Studio WHERE Berkeley Rep’s Roda Theatre / 2015 Addison Street / Berkeley Berkeley Rep’s Box Office / 2025 Addison Street / Berkeley WHEN Previews April 15–19, 2005 / performances April 20–May 29, 2005 • Tuesdays and Fridays, 8 PM • Wednesdays, 7 PM (except opening) • Thursdays and Saturdays, 2 PM & 8 PM • Sundays, 2 PM & 7 PM • No matinees during previews or on April 21, April 30, May 5, May 14 and May 19 • No performance on Friday, May 27 SPECIAL EVENTS TEEN NIGHT @ THE REP: Friday, April 15, 2005, 6 PM OPENING NIGHT: Wednesday, April 20, 2005, 8 PM TARGET® PLAY DATE (discounted tickets with childcare): Sunday, May 1, 2005, 2 PM PAGE TO STAGE (free talk with Leigh Fondakowski): Monday, May 2, 2005, 7 PM POST-PLAY DISCUSSIONS: Thursday, May 5, 2005; Tuesday, May 17, 2005; Friday, May 20, 2005 TICKET PRICES Standing room (once sold out) $10.00 Under 30 with valid ID (some restrictions apply) $20.00 Preview Performances (Fri/Sat/Tue 8PM, Sun 7PM) $39.00 Opening Night (Wed 8PM) $50.00 Tuesday and Thursday evenings 8PM $43.00 Wednesday evening 7PM $43.00 Friday evening 8PM $49.00 Saturday evening 8PM $55.00 Sunday evening 7PM $45.00 Thursday and Saturday matinees 2PM $43.00 Sunday matinee 2PM $45.00 DISCOUNTS 20 half-price HotTix go on sale at NOON Tuesday–Friday Student/Senior half-price RUSH tickets sold one-half hour before curtain Groups of 15+ contact 510.647.2918 or groups@berkeleyrep.org TICKET INFO 510.647.2949 or 1.888.4BRTTix (toll free) or www.berkeleyrep.org Media contact: Terence Keane 510.647.2917, tkeane@berkeleyrep.org BACK TO TOP