Philadelphia-based Arden Theatre Company (40 N. 2nd Street, Philadelphia, PA 19106) presents the second production of its 2024/25 season with two-time Pulitzer winning playwright Lynn Nottage’s Intimate Apparel on the Arcadia Stage. Intimate Apparel is based on the life of Nottage’s great-grandmother, a seamstress at the turn of the 20th century. Directed by Amina Robinson, the first Black woman to win a Barrymore Award for Outstanding Direction of a Musical for The Color Purple, the powerful production unfolds with previews beginning October 24, opening night October 30, with performances through December 8.
The time is 1905. The place, the Lower East Side. Sewing beautiful lingerie gives Esther Mills, an African American seamstress, an intimate look at the lives of her clientele, but she yearns for a story of her own. The Arden returns to the work of Lynn Nottage after the popular 2023 run of Nottage’s sandwich shop comedy, Clyde’s, for this moving portrait of love, resilience, and the rich tapestry of life directed Barrymore Award-winner Amina Robinson.
“Lynn Nottage is one of the greatest playwrights of our generation,” says director Amina Robinson. “She writes with a skillfully poetic pen and penchant for creating fully realized, and beautifully intricate humans. Intimate Apparel is no exception. In fact, the language, story, characters, and structure of this piece itself, is an exercise in exploring the innermost complexities of desire, fear, and longing that drive us in life. Set in New York 1905, the story of Esther is equal parts heartbreaking and hopeful, begging the question, ‘What are you willing to risk to get what you want out of life?’”
This stellar cast features Brandi Porter (Esther), Zuhairah (Mrs. Dickson), Akeem Davis (George), Julianna Zinkel (Mrs. Van Buren), David Pica (Mr. Marks) and Donnie Hammond (Mayme).
The production design team includes Maureen Henighan Booker (Assistant Director), Alec E. Ferrell (Stage Manager), Alyssandra Docherty (Lighting Designer), Leigh Paradise (Costume Designer), Andrew Cohen (Set Designer), and Damien Figueras (Sound Designer).
Intimate Apparel begins October 24, opens October 30, and runs through December 1. The Opening Night sponsor is Harmelin Media, and our Honorary Producer is Rayenne Chen. Single ticket prices vary by performance and start at $37. Tickets are available online at ardentheatre.org, by phone at 215.922.1122, or at the box office at Arden Theatre Company (40 N. 2nd Street).
Special events and performances for Intimate Apparel include:
Post-Show Talkback| Monday, November 11, 2024 at 7 p.m.
Join a member of Arden’s artist team for post-show talkbacks
Teen Night | Saturday, November 16, 2024 at 7 p.m.
$15 tickets and a post-show talkback for Teens 13 – 18 years old. Click here to purchase tickets.
Young Friends Night! | Thursday, November 21, 2024 at 7 p.m.
Use code: YFARDEN for $30 tickets (Arden Young Friends is designed for audience members 40 and under and includes a pre-show networking event). Click here to purchase tickets.
Post-Show Talkback| Sunday, November 24, 2024 at 2 p.m.
Join a member of Arden’s artist team for post-show talkbacks
Smart Caption Glasses | Starting Wednesday, November 6, 2024
Wearable, customizable Closed Captioning Glasses are available to reserve for performances.
Audio Description & Open Captioning Available | Friday, October 4, 2024 at 7 p.m. & Saturday, October 5, 2024 at 2 p.m. Live verbal descriptions of actions and visual effects are available.
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