Brüka Theatre Proudly Presents –

Shirley Valentine

A Strategy To Love Just Being Yourself

Written by Willy Russell

Directed by Kristin Moffitt

Featuring Mary Bennett

MAY 31 JUNE 1, 6, 7, 8, 13, 14, 15, 19, 20, 21, 22, 2013 at 8 PM

Matinee: JUNE 9 at 2 PM

Tickets:  $16 Students/Seniors * $18 General * All Tickets $20 At the Door

Reno, NV. Shirley Valentine comes back to the Brüka stage.  Written by Willy Russell, who, like all the best folk artists, holds up familiar aspects of life for inspection and enjoyment. He is an instinctive feminist and expresses a radical desire for people to improve their lives and see themselves with more dignity. This witty, buoyant comedy explores the wild strategy a middle-aged woman comes up with to love just being herself. Mary Bennett revives her role as Shirley Valentine, directed by Kristin Moffitt who was recently seen on stage in God Of Carnage at Brüka. 

Shirley Valentine plays May 31 through June 22, 2013 at Brüka Theatre in downtown Reno. Opening night (May 31) enjoys a post-show champagne reception with catering by the Wild River Grille. Thursday through Saturday with one Wednesday night show – June 19.  All evening shows play at 8 PM with one Sunday matinee performances on June 9 at 2 PM. The customary matinee talkback with the company will immediately follow the matinee performance. 

Reservations are recommended for Shirley Valentine.  Call our box office at 775.323-3221 or visit us at 99 N. Virginia St.  Reno. Reservations for all events and shows are available through our box office at (775) 323-3221. Box-office hours are 1 to 5 Wednesday and Friday, 2:30 – 6:30 Thursday and 12 – 4 on Saturdays or online at www.bruka.org.   Reservations are also available at the Melting Pot Emporium @ their new location: 1049 S. Virginia Street.  Reno. We validate convenient parking at the Parking Gallery on First and Sierra Street.  Check us out at www.bruka.org.  Online tickets are also available at Brownpapertickets.com.

ABOUT BRuKA THEATRE In their 20th season in downtown Reno, Brüka has been named “Best Theatre Company” by The News and Review fifteen years running.  Brüka Theatre is a leader in the region, recognized for its artists, productions and theatre for children series since it’s founding in 1992. Central to its commitment is the reinvestigation of contemporary and classic plays and developing new plays within Brüka’s Artistic Collective, which include winners of the Nevada Arts Council and Sierra Arts Foundation artist grants and local best actor honors.  Brüka is a non- equity and not-for-profit theater company that has produced over 80 shows and enjoys two performance spaces, the main stage, with its unique couch seating holds 64 and the sub-Brüka space seats 44 in its downtown Reno location.  2012/2013 Season tickets are now on sale.  Go to the website at www.bruka.org.  The company is supported by grants from the Nevada Arts Council, The EL Cord foundation, The City of Reno and the Friends of Brüka Program.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR - Willy Russell is well known as the writer of plays and films such as Educating Rita, Shirley Valentine, Our Day Out, and the musical Blood Brothers. His work has attracted huge and appreciative audiences all over the world and his plays and musicals have won countless awards. His first novel, The Wrong Boy, published in 2000, has been translated into fifteen languages. What is perhaps less well known is that Willy has been writing songs since the early 1960s. He wrote not only the book and the lyrics but also the score for his musical Blood Brothers (in continuous production for the past twenty odd years). Add to this the fact that he has provided the scores for the feature films, Shirley Valentine, Dancin' Thru The Dark and numerous other projects. 

Brüka Theatre Proudly Presents –

Six Women With Brain Death Or Expiring Minds Want To Know

A musical comedy that treats Life like a tabloid head line.

Music and Lyrics by Mark Houston

Written by Cheryl Benge, Christy Brandt, Rosanna E. Coppedge, Valerie Fagan, Ross Fresse, Mark Houston, Sandee Johnson & Peggy Pharr Wilson

Directed by Mary Bennett
Musical Direction Bill Quinby

APRIL 12, 13, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 27 
MAY  2, 3, 4, 8, 9, 10, 11, 16, 17, 18, 2013 at 8 PM

Matinee:  April 28 at 2 PM

Tickets:  $18 Students/Seniors * $20 General * All Tickets $25 At the Door

Reno, NV. April – May 2013 Six Women With Brain Death or Expiring Minds Want To Know  (The Musical) is a hard rockin’, harder talkin’ cult classic. This fast-paced, take-no-prisoners satire of life and pop culture at the end of the millennium is written by a pack of folks including Mark Houston and the original cast.   This show features the talented Cami Thompson alongside a local cast of favorites and is full of bizarre, hysterical songs and sketches that steer this entertaining musical directed by Mary Bennett with Bill Quinby as Musical Director. 

Six Women With Brain Death or Expiring Minds Want To Know plays April 12 through May 18, 2013 at Brüka Theatre in downtown Reno.  

Opening night (April 12) enjoys a post-show champagne reception with catering by the Wild River Grille. Thursday through Saturday with one Wednesday night show – May 8.  All evening shows at 8 PM with one Sunday matinee performance on April 28 at 2 PM. The customary matinee talkback with the company will immediately follow the matinee performance.  

Reservations are recommended for Six Women With Brain Death.  Call our box office at 775.323-3221 or visit us at 99 N. Virginia St.  Reno. Reservations for all events and shows are available through our box office at (775) 323-3221. Box-office hours are 1 to 5 Wednesday and Friday, 2:30 – 6:30 Thursday and 12 – 4 on Saturdays or online at www.bruka.org.   Reservations are also available at the Melting Pot Emporium @ their new location: 1049 S. Virginia Street.  Reno. We validate convenient parking at the Parking Gallery on First and Sierra Street.  Check us out at www.bruka.org.  Online tickets are also available at Brownpapertickets.com.

BRÜKA THEATRE’S ARTIST IN THE HOUSE SERIES

and SIERRA NEVADA BALLET present

CLASSICAL DOODLES

By Ananda Bena-Weber

In a Collaborative Residence March 24 – March 30, 2013

Performing Her New Work March 29 at 7 PM

& March 30 at 2 PM and 7 PM, 2013

Students/Seniors/Military $16  General  $18  All tickets at the door $20

(Reno, NV) Ananda Bena-Weber will be in residence in Reno at Brüka Theatre as collaboration between Brüka Theatre and Sierra Nevada Ballet during late March 2013.  Ananda will present her new work Doodles crossing the genres of dance and theatre.

Nevada audiences will be the first to be treated to this innovative presentation as part of Brüka Theatre’s Artist In The House Series crossing several genres of art. Cleverly written and performed by Ananda Bena-Weber, this production offers an insight into the 21^st century society highlighting some of the best and the worst of today's world.  Moving her audience to both laughter and tears, Ananda exposes our weaknesses and commends our strengths as a generation and leaves us with a more optimistic approach to the future. This production is timely in nature and a "must see" for the Nevada community.

Performance dates are Friday, March 29 at 7 PM and March 30 at 2 PM and 7 PM, 2013.  The 2 PM performance will be followed by a talk back with the artist.   While in residence Bena-Weber will present an “Articulation Of The Body” workshop for adult theatre and dance artists form Brüka and Sierra Nevada Ballet.

 Reservations are suggested for Classical Doodles through our box office at (775) 323-3221. Box-office hours are 1 to 4 Wednesday and Friday, 2:30 – 6:30 Thursday and 12 – 4 Saturday or online at www.bruka.org.   Reservations are also available at the Melting Pot Emporium @ their new location: 1047 S. Virginia Street.  Reno. We validate convenient parking at the Parking Gallery on First and Sierra Street.  Check us out at www.bruka.org.

BRÜKA THEATRE FOR CHILDREN PRESENTS ~ SNOW WHITE
Adapted by Mary Bennett

PUBLIC PERFORMANCES 
MARCH 14, 15, 16  2013  Show Times:  10 AM 
(Doors open a half an hour before the show.)

July 6, 2013  Show Times: 11 AM  & 1 PM 
(Doors open a half an hour before the show.)

PERFORMANCES AT BRÜKA THEATRE
99 N. Virginia Street, Reno, NV  89501

Tickets:  $7 Adults or $5 for Children under 12

Call our box office at (775) 323-3221 for reservations and information 

(Reno, NV) Brüka Theatre proudly presents Snow White.  Brüka Theatre For Children is a live theatre performance incorporating physical theatrics, improvisation and audience interaction.  This classic adaptation of Snow White by the Brothers Grimm updates the stories for today’s audiences while enjoying a nod to the past.

Brüka Theatre has been presenting live theatre for our community for 20 years.  These performances for children and families are geared toward grades K – 5, although Brüka’s Theatre for Children has found a large following of all ages.  Hilarious and insightful, featuring top-notch performers and writers who consistently involve young people in learning and participating in theatre and related arts.  Available for touring. Check us out at www.bruka.org

Brüka Theatre Proudly Presents -

Doubt:  a Parable 

Written by John Patrick Shanley

Directed by Sandra Brunell Neace

March 1, 2, 7, 8, 9, 14, 15, 16, 20, 21, 22, 23 2013

Matinee:  March 17, 2013 at 2 PM

Tickets:  $16 Students/Seniors * $18 General * All Tickets $20 At the Door

Reno, NV.  Opening March 1, Brüka Theatre proudly presents: Doubt – A Parable. Written by John Patrick Shanley, Doubt has been honored with many awards including the 2005 Tony Award for Best Play and the 2005 Pulitzer Prize for Drama. This compelling drama explores the moral uncertainty of today's society.  Set in a 1960’s catholic church, Shanley explores the truth of human behavior in the style of an old fashioned detective story. Directed by Sandra Brunell Neace who adapted The Medea Project for the Brüka Stage last season. 

Cast of Doubt at Bruka Theatre.  Photo Credit - Dana Nollsch

Doubt runs March 1 through March 23, 2013 at Brüka Theatre in downtown Reno.  Opening night (March 1) enjoys a post-show champagne reception with catering by the Wild River Grille.   Wednesday (one Wednesday show – March 20) through Saturday shows at 8 PM with one Sunday matinee performances on March 17 at 2 PM. The customary matinee talkback with the company will immediately follow the matinee performance. 

Reservations are recommended for Doubt.  Call our box office at 775.323-3221 or visit us at 99 N. Virginia St.  Reno. Reservations for all events and shows are available through our box office at (775) 323-3221. Box-office hours are 1 to 5 Wednesday and Friday, 2:30 – 6:30 Thursday and 12 – 4 on Saturdays or online at www.bruka.org.   Reservations are also available at the Melting Pot Emporium @ their new location: 1049 S. Virginia Street.  Reno. We validate convenient parking at the Parking Gallery on First and Sierra Street.  Check us out at www.bruka.org.  Online tickets are also available at Brownpapertickets.com.

ABOUT BRuKA THEATRE In their 20th season in downtown Reno, Brüka has been named “Best Theatre Company” by The News and Review fifteen years running.  Brüka Theatre is a leader in the region, recognized for its artists, productions and theatre for children series since it’s founding in 1992. Central to its commitment is the reinvestigation of contemporary and classic plays and developing new plays within Brüka’s Artistic Collective, which include winners of the Nevada Arts Council and Sierra Arts Foundation artist grants and local best actor honors.  Brüka is a non- equity and not-for-profit theater company that has produced over 80 shows and enjoys two performance spaces, the main stage, with its unique couch seating holds 64 and the sub-Brüka space seats 44 in its downtown Reno location.  2012/2013 Season tickets are now on sale.  Go to the website at www.bruka.org.  The company is supported by grants from the Nevada Arts Council, The EL Cord foundation, The City of Reno and the Friends of Brüka Program. 

ABOUT THE DIRECTOR – Sandra Brunell Neace

Sandra Brunell Neace received her B.A. in Theater from The University of California at Riverside and her M.F.A. from The Actor's Studio Drama School in New York.  While in New York Sandra performed in Danny and the Deep Blue Sea at The Actors Studio.  In 2004, she wrote and directed a short independent film titled "Magda".  The film premiered in Reno in 2004 and was recently screened in NYC in May 2012 as part of the Assdance Film Festival.  Sandra is currently a part-time instructor at The University of Nevada Reno in the Theater Department and an artist in residence through The Sierra Arts Foundation.  She has acted in many plays on both the East and West coasts and has directed theater at both Brüka Theatre and The Studio on 4th.  Her latest project was a Readers Theater ArtBox for The Sierra Arts Foundation, which addressed the epidemic of bullying in today's society.  Sandra is currently on staff at The Brüka Theater. 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR – John Patrick Shanley

Nicknamed “Bard of he Bronx”.  His play "Doubt" has won several awards for outstanding dramatic play including: the 2005 Pulitzer Prize, the 2004-2005 Drama Desk Award and the 2005 Tony Award. Successful playwright of such works as "Savage In Limbo" and "Danny and the Deep Blue Sea". Whenever possible, he directs his plays as well. After he was thrown out of Catholic school in New York, he attended the private Thomas Moore Prep School in Harrisville, New Hampshire. He then returned to New York and attended New York University, left to enlist in the military and then returned to finish university on the G.I. Bill. He graduated in 1977 as valedictorian. Directed four Oscar nominated performances: Meryl Streep, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Amy Adams and Viola Davis, all of them for their work in “Doubt”.

Brüka Theatre Proudly Presents -

The Goat or, Who Is Sylvia?

Written by Edward Albee

Directed by Jamie Woodham Plunkett

January 18, 19, 24, 25, 26  February 1, 2, 6, 7, 8, 9 2013

Matinee:  January 27, 2013 at 2 PM

Tickets:  $16 Students/Seniors  $18 General  All Tickets $20 At the Door

Reno, NV.  Opening January 18, 2013, Brüka Theatre presents The Goat or, Who Is Sylvia?  In this dark comedy written by Edward Albee, a successful and professional couple has their world turned up side down by an act of infidelity and....love?  A powerfully confronting and darkly comedic story involving Martin- an architect, Stevie- his wife, Billy- their son, and Ross- a family friend and witness to it all.  Albee subtitles this play "Notes towards a definition of tragedy".  Jamie Woodham Plunkett directs this classic comedy - tragedy with modern twists.  The Goat was the winner of both the 2002 Drama Desk and Tony Award for Best Play. 

The Goat or Who is Sylvia runs January 18 through February 9, 2013 at Brüka Theatre in downtown Reno.  Opening night (January 18) enjoys a post-show champagne reception with catering by the Wild River Grille.   Wednesday (one Wednesday show – February 6) through Saturday shows at 8 PM with one Sunday matinee performances on January 27 at 2 PM. The customary matinee talkback with the company will immediately follow the matinee performance. 

Reservations are recommended for The Goat or Who Is Sylvia?  Call our box office at 775.323-3221 Brüka Theatre.  Or visit us at 99 N. Virginia St.  Reno. Reservations for all events and shows are available through our box office at (775) 323-3221. Box-office hours are 1 to 5 Wednesday and Friday, 2:30 – 6:30 Thursday and 12 – 4 on Saturdays or online at www.bruka.org.   Reservations are also available at the Melting Pot Emporium @ their new location: 1049 S. Virginia Street.  Reno. We validate convenient parking at the Parking Gallery on First and Sierra Street.  Check us out at www.bruka.org.  Online tickets are also available at Brownpapertickets.com.

ABOUT BRuKA THEATRE In their 20th season in downtown Reno, Brüka has been named “Best Theatre Company” by The News and Review fifteen years running.  Brüka Theatre is a leader in the region, recognized for its artists, productions and theatre for children series since it’s founding in 1992. Central to its commitment is the reinvestigation of contemporary and classic plays and developing new plays within Brüka’s Artistic Collective, which include winners of the Nevada Arts Council and Sierra Arts Foundation artist grants and local best actor honors.  Brüka is a non- equity and not-for-profit theater company that has produced over 80 shows and enjoys two performance spaces, the main stage, with its unique couch seating holds 64 and the sub-Brüka space seats 44 in its downtown Reno location.  2012/2013 Season tickets are now on sale.  Go to the website at www.bruka.org.  The company is supported by grants from the Nevada Arts Council, The EL Cord foundation, The City of Reno and the Friends of Brüka Program.

ABOUT THE DIRECTOR – JAMIE WOODHAM PLUNKETT
Jamie is a 30-year-old Nevada native and theatre baby. She found her passion young and has stuck with it ever since. You can find her on stage, behind the scenes or in the director’s chair. Jamie has also been involved in a few independent films and commercials and has taken classes at The Acting Corps, in L.A. and Del Arte in Blue Lake California.  At Brüka Jamie has directed Psycho Beach Party, acted in numerous productions including Amadeus, ‘Night Mother, Richard III, Vampire Lesbians of Sodom, Five Women Wearing The Same Dress and The Weber Family Christmas.  Jamie also played Medea in the original show: The Medea Project which premiered at Brüka Theatre in 2011 and performed this past August in The New York City International Fringe Festival.   

ABOUT THE AUTHOR – EDWARD ALBEE

Some call Edward Albee “The world’s greatest living playwright”. Albee has won three Pulitzer prizes for drama (Including Who’s Afraid Of Virginia Woolf, Seascape and Three Tall Women). Known for works such as The Zoo Story (1958), The Sandbox (1959), Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? (1962), and a rewrite of the book for the unsuccessful musical Breakfast at Tiffany's an adaptation of Truman Capote's Breakfast at Tiffany's (1966). His works are considered well-crafted, often unsympathetic examinations of the modern condition. His early works reflect a mastery and Americanization of the Theatre of the Absurd that found its peak in works by European playwrights such as Samuel Beckett, Eugène Ionesco, and Jean Genet. Younger American playwrights, such as Paula Vogel, credit Albee's daring mix of theatricality and biting dialogue with helping to reinvent the post-war American theatre in the early 1960s. Albee continues to experiment in works, such as The Goat: or, Who Is Sylvia? (2002).