Pillsbury House + Theatre is excited to announce its 2022 season, the first curated by Artistic Director Signe V. Harriday. The 30th anniversary season celebrates new work from longtime PH+T collaborators Mikell Sapp (Charlie Brown Black) and Sharon Bridgforth (bull jean stories); and the life and work of iconic playwright Lorraine Hansberry through a series of events inspired by and centered around the installation of Alison Saar’s “To Sit Awhile” statue in the Pillsbury House + Theatre campus.
“As we move into our 30th season we are exploring the rippling resonance that solo artists, in conversation with community, reverberate,” said Artistic Director Signe V. Harriday. “I’m excited by the ways these dynamic stories inspire, challenge and affirm us all.”
Performances of Charlie Brown Black and bull jean stories will be presented indoors in the theatre space at Pillsbury House + Theatre and will adjust as needed to accommodate COVID-19 safety precautions.
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ABOUT THE LINEUP:
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CHARLIE BROWN BLACK
By Mikell Sapp
Directed by Talvin Wilks
May 28 – June 5
A dynamic, heartfelt and uproarious solo performance by actor Mikell Sapp, Charlie Brown Black chronicles his journey to becoming an actor and so much more. This comic strip style telling weaves stories and memories to take audiences on a journey that celebrates triumphs, illuminates struggles, and tickles the funny bone. With vulnerability and wit, Charlie Brown Black continues the legacy of Black storytelling that reminds us of our connections and reflects our humanity.
TO SIT AWHILE
The Lorraine Hansberry Initiative: Elevating our Past, Investing in our Future
By Alison Saar
August 15 – September 15
Alison Saar’s work, To Sit Awhile, is an installation that features five chairs representing different aspects of Hansberry’s too-short life and under-recognized legacy that will shift the paradigm of not just who is worthy of a statue, but how a modern democracy honors its leaders. The figure of Hansberry is not on a pedestal looking down on us, but is surrounded by five bronze chairs, each representing an aspect of her art and advocacy. The chairs invite us to do just that: to sit with her and think. Alison Saar, profiled in NPR’s “She’s Challenging You: Alison Saar’s Sculptures Speak to Race, Beauty, Power,” is also the creator of Swing Low, The Harriet Tubman Memorial. To Sit Awhile will solidify her standing as a preeminent creator of public art in our time. The installation will come to Pillsbury House + Theatre after its launch in NYC and will be activated with multiple performance events and community engagement activities.
The bull-jean Experience
By Sharon Bridgforth
Directed by Signe V. Harriday
October 27, 28, and 30
An invitation and catalyst to explore the world of Sharon Bridgforth’s beloved bull-jean stories, this collaborative performance between artist and scholar Dr. Omi Oshun Joni L. Jones and filmmaker Za’Nia Coleman weaves linguistic rhythm and poetic moving collages to create an immersive jazz experience traversing bull-jean’s world of the 1920s rural South.
TICKET INFORMATION
Pillsbury House + Theatre continues to offer pick-your-own-price tickets for all its Mainstage productions.
Season passes and single tickets will be available soon.
ALSO IN THE 2022 SEASON
CHICAGO AVENUE PROJECT
Saving for a Rainy Day |April 24 & 25
Rebuilding the Village | July 28
Method to the Madness |December 15 & 16
The Chicago Avenue Project pairs local theatre artists with Minneapolis youth to create original theatre. CAP is an award-winning example of the creative mentoring that is part of all our youth work. Free and family-friendly.
NAKED STAGES
December 1 – 10
The culmination of the 7-month Jerome Fellowship for three early career performance artists at Pillsbury House + Theatre, featuring fresh and bold solo performances.
Pick-your-own-price tickets. Applications opened February 1 and are due March 25, 2022 at 5PM.