Feb 22, 2024 (Milwaukee, Wis) – Renaissance Theaterworks (RTW) concludes its 31st mainstage season with L’APPARTEMENT by Joanna Murray-Smith, March 24th – April 14th with preview performances on March 22nd and 23rd, at the Theater on 255 S Water Street in Milwaukee’s Harbor District. Tickets are available at r-t-w.com 24 hours-a-day, by phone at 414-278-0765 or in person at the box office, 255 S. Water St., from 12:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. Mon-Sat and 2 hours before performances (Open performance Sundays from 12:00 p.m. to 3 p.m.) Full list of performance dates, times and special shows below.
Play Synopsis
Meg and Rooster are on their dream vacation –a decadent Paris getaway in a swanky Airbnb with no twin toddlers in sight. All is well until they pick up the keys from their French hosts. Serge and Lea are achingly cool and superbly chic. Their apartment is perfect. Their lives are perfect. This brief encounter with their departing hosts sparks a week-long series of hilarious, wine-fueled arguments as Meg and Rooster examine their middle class lives against the too-good-to-be-true backdrop of Serge & Lea’s L’APPARTEMENT. A Side-Splitting Comedy, In The Spirit Of White Lotus, L’APPARTEMENT is fast, clever and too real to be comfortable.
A North American Premiere Produced with Special Permission
Murray-Smith’s L’APPARTEMENT has only been produced in her native Australia, to rave reviews. Having never been published, RTW produces it with special permission from the playwright. Murray-Smith’s name will likely sound familiar to Milwaukee Theatergoers, as RTW produced HONOUR in 2012 and The Rep produced BOMBSHELLS in 2010.
Cast
MEG…………………………………………………….. Emil
ROOSTER……………………………….…………….. Ni
SERGE………………………………….……………… Jona
LEA……………………………………………………… Car
Production Team
DIRECTOR…………………………………………..… Ma
PRODUCTION & STAGE MANAGER.……………… Bailey Wegner*
ASSISTANT STAGE MANAGER………………….… Beck Trumbull
TECHNICAL DIRECTOR…………………………..… Tony Lyons
SCENIC & LIGHTING DESIGN……………………… Jason Fassl**
SOUND DESIGN……………………………………… Sarah Ramos
COSTUME DESIGN…………………………..……… Kim Instenes
PROP DESIGN………………………………………… Bianc
DIALECT COACH………………………………..…… Raeleen McMillio
ASST. DIALECT COACH……………………………. Mason Shefchik
INTIMACY DIRECTOR…………………………….… Christop
SHOW MASCOT……………………………………… Remy T Wood
*Member of Actors’ Equity Association
** Member of the United Scenic Artists of America
Playwright/Director/Cast Biographies
Joanna Murray-Smith PLAYWRIGHT
Joanna Murray-Smith’s many plays have been performed around the world. They include THE FEMALE OF THE SPECIES, which ran in the West End, BOMBSHELLS, NINETY (all produced at Melbourne Theatre Company), RAPTURE, NIGHTFALL, REDEMPTION, LOVE CHILD, ATLANTA (all at the Playbox Theatre Company), FLAME, and RIDGE’S LOVERS. HONOUR was produced on the West End in 2006 starring Diana Rigg and was previously directed at the Royal National Theatre in London by Roger Michell to rave reviews. Previously HONOUR had a public reading in New York in 1996 with Meryl Streep and Sam Waterston and went on to have a Broadway production in 1998. The play has had productions in Brazil, Portugal, Malaysia, New Zealand, San Francisco, Canada, and Tokyo. Many of Joanna’s plays have been adapted for radio, including Australian, BBC, American and Swedish radio. Her plays have been nominated for many awards and HONOUR won the Victorian Premier’s Literary Award in 1996. Joanna’s first opera (libretto), LOVE IN THE AGE OF THERAPY, was produced by Opera Australia at the Melbourne International Festival (composed by Paul Grabowsky) in October 2002 and was seen at the Sydney Opera House in early 2003 as part of the Opera Australia season and the Sydney Festival. Joanna is the author of three published novels, “Sunnyside” (Penguin 2005), “Truce” (Penguin 1994), and “Judgment Rock” (Penguin, 2002). Her play BOMBSHELLS was nominated for the Outstanding Touring Production Award at the twenty-sixth Annual DORA Mavor Moore Awards in Toronto, Canada.
Mallory Metoxen DIRECTOR
Mallory is an Artistic Director at Seven Devils New Play Foundry and was formerly Renaissance Theaterworks’ Artistic Associate and Director of New Play Development. Select directing credits: BEST OF BR!NK BR!EFS, SEX WITH STRANGERS, THE DROWNING GIRLS, THE UNDERSTUDY (Renaissance Theaterworks); ALL OF THE EVERYTHING, LUCKY NUMBERS (Samuel French OOB); ANNE OF GREEN GABLES (Constellation Stage & Screen); THE EFFECT OF GAMMA RAYS… (Splinter Group); FEFU AND HER FRIENDS, THE THANKSGIVING PLAY, RING ROUND THE MOON, NEIGHBORHOOD 3: REQUISITION OF DOOM, THE HOW AND THE WHY (The Theatre School); THESE SHINING LIVES (Umbrella Group); and new works at the arc theatre, Forward Theater, Milwaukee Chamber Theater, Milwaukee Metropolitan Voices, Renaissance Theaterworks, Seven Devils New Play Foundry, and Third Avenue PlayWorks. MFA in Directing from The Theatre School at DePaul University. MalloryMetoxen.com
Jonathan Bangs SERGE
Jonathan Bangs holds a BFA degree from California Institute of the Arts. Closing in on a decade of professional practice he has been a part of numerous regional productions throughout the country (Hippodrome Theatre, Baltimore Center Stage, Kennedy Center, Philadelphia Theatre Company, Portland Center Stage, Eugene O’Neill Center, Boston Court, Boise Contemporary Theater, A.C.T), award winning short films, feature films, immersive installations and a multitude of voice over projects. Jonathan starred alongside Helen Hunt and Alan Cumming in “Solar,” a sci-fi podcast that was #1 in the country for a few months and voted best of the year by Samsung and Amazon. This is Jonathan’s first time working at the Renaissance Theaterworks as well as in the beautiful state of Wisconsin. He couldn’t be more ecstatic.
Cara Johnston LEA
Cara Johnston is delighted to return to Renaissance Theaterworks following THE VIOLET HOUR. Born and raised in Dallas, Texas, Cara now proudly calls Milwaukee her home. In August, Cara performed her original one-person play, THE MADWOMAN, at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe in Scotland, where she received five stars and an Offies nomination. Cara extends her heartfelt thanks to her supportive husband and their beloved pet rabbit!
Nick Narcisi ROOSTER
Nick Narcisi is thrilled to be back at Renaissance Theaterworks and ecstatic to be working on a play again. During the pandemic, Nick stepped away from theater and joined the world of cancer research (he is as surprised with that career pivot as you are). He last worked with Renaissance as Watson in PHOTOGRAPH 51. Some of his favorite credits include: Ethan in SEX WITH STRANGERS, Stanley in A STREETCAR NAMED DESIRE, Romeo in ROMEO AND JULIET, and Mr. Darcy in PRIDE AND PREJUDICE. Nick is also a Moth Storyslam winner. Nick would like to give a special thank you to his fiancé and Parisian travel guide, Laure.
Emily Vitrano* MEG
Emily is thrilled to be back at RTW for L’APPARTEMENT! She holds a BFA in Acting from The University of North Carolina at Greensboro and an MFA in Acting from Northern Illinois University (NIU). She is a certified yoga instructor at the 200-hour level, and recently became certified in Mental Health First Aid. Emily has worked regionally on many stages, including: Milwaukee Repertory Theater, Milwaukee Chamber Theatre, Next Act Theatre, Renaissance Theaterworks, and Allentown Shakespeare in the Park. Emily has also appeared on television in a national commercial for Batteries/Bulbs Plus, and regional commercials for Mills Fleet Farm, Sanford Brown University, and Walgreens. Emily is a proud member of Actors’ Equity Association and is represented by Talent X in Chicago. When not onstage, Emily is an Instructor of acting, voice, and movement at NIU, where she also co-directed SoTD productions THE LANGUAGE ARCHIVE and In A WORD.
Performance Schedule & Special Events
Week 1
Friday, March 22 7:30 p.m. Preview & Pay-what-you-choose
Saturday, March 23 4:00 p.m. Preview & Open Captioning
Sunday, March 24 5:00 p.m. Opening Night & Reception
Week 2
Wednesday, March 27 7:30 p.m. Wine Wednesday
Thursday, March 28 7:30 p.m. SheLeads, Women in Business Networking Night
Friday, March 29 7:30 p.m. PRIDE Night & Talkback
Saturday, March 30 4:00 p.m. Open Captioning
Sunday, March 31 2:00 p.m. Play Club
Week 3
Wednesday, April 3 1:30 p.m. Matinee & Talkback
Wednesday, April 3 7:30 p.m. Wine Wednesday
Thursday, April 4 7:30 p.m. Open Captioning
Friday, April 5 7:30 p.m. Pre-show talk @ 6:45
Saturday, April 6 4:00 p.m.
Sunday, April 7 2:00 p.m. ASL Interpreted
Week 4
Wednesday, April 10 1:30 p.m. Sensory Friendly Performance
Wednesday, April 10 7:30 p.m. Wine Wednesday
Thursday, April 11 7:30 p.m. Open Captioning
Friday, April 12 7:30 p.m. Audio Described
Saturday, April 13 4:00 p.m.
Sunday, April 14 2:00 p.m. Closing
Season Sponsors: Laura & Mike Arnow, Jan Serr & John Shannon, Sandra Zingler, Herzfeld Foundation, Shubert Foundation, Bert L. & Patricia S. Steigleder Charitable Trust, CAMPAC, City of Milwaukee Arts Board, UPAF, Wisconsin Arts Board, The Greater Milwaukee Foundation
Show Sponsors: The Phillips Ristau Group at Baird and Judges Jean & John DiMotto
