Knead

Hertz Stage
Recommended for ages 14 and up.
World Premiere

By and starring Mary Lynn Owen
Directed by David de Vries

In the wee hours, a woman bakes bread, determined that her mother’s incomprehensible recipe will finally work. But something is different about this night. The ingredients of time and memory keep interfering, and the bread-baking process – the kneading, rising, shaping, and baking, all in real time – becomes a journey into the unpredictability of, well, just about everything. What can you do when life doesn’t go according to the recipe? Knead is written and performed by Atlanta favorite and Suzi Bass Award-winner, Mary Lynn Owen. Owen, the granddaughter of Cuban immigrants on her Mother’s side, mixes the ingredients of her life – love, loss, and Cuban food – into a night that rises and falls with loaves that somehow end up in the oven. Just like life – who knows how it will turn out? Originally developed as a project from the 3rd Reiser Atlanta Artists Lab and a semi-finalist for the 2017 O’Neill National Playwright’s Conference. 

Will-call tickets will be available at the box office desk in the Hertz lobby.

  • Knead Production Photos

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Knead Production Trailer

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Hertz Stage

Hertz Stage view during The Whipping Man

The Alliance Theatre's Hertz Stage is a modern, 200-seat Black Box theatre. This versatile facility accommodates a number of distinct stage layouts.

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  • A profoundly affecting experience.
    Wendell Brock, Atlanta Journal Constitution Theatre Critic
  • It’s a play that’s comfortable with its sense of quiet intimacy, with its sense of a shared, lived moment of storytelling.
    Andrew Alexander, ArtsATL Theatre Critic
  • An exceptional show which draws you in from the start.
    Robert Heller, Atlanta Arts Scene Theatre Critic
  • Ms. Owen has the audience in the palm of her hand... you will have an uplifting experience.
    Manning Harris, Atlanta INtown Theatre Critic

Director

David de Vries (Director) returns to the Alliance after directing Pancakes! Pancakes! in the Hertz in 2016. He is a three-time Suzi Award nominee in directing, and a winner for his production of I’m Not Rappaport at Aurora. Other directing credits include Smart People (True Colors) Red, Storefront Church, Sister Mary Ignatius Explains It All For You (Theatrical Outfit), Collected Stories (Jewish Theatre of the South), The Glass Menagerie (Gainesville Theatre Alliance), Of Mice and Men (Theatre in the Square) and Sight Unseen (Alliance Theatre). As a narrator, David recently recorded a series of works by Joseph Campbell, several of the novels of Leon Uris, and a number of military histories, including Pandora’s Box, by Jörn Leonhard. As an actor, he has been seen for the last 5 years as Ebenezer Scrooge in the Alliance’s A Christmas Carol and can be seen again in Sky TV’s hit show Living The Dream as Herman Bloch.

David de Vries
David de Vries
Director

David de Vries (Director) returns to the Alliance after directing Pancakes! Pancakes! in the Hertz in 2016. He is a three-time Suzi Award nominee in directing, and a winner for his production of I’m Not Rappaport at Aurora. Other directing credits include Smart People (True Colors) Red, Storefront Church, Sister Mary Ignatius Explains It All For You (Theatrical Outfit), Collected Stories (Jewish Theatre of the South), The Glass Menagerie (Gainesville Theatre Alliance), Of Mice and Men (Theatre in the Square) and Sight Unseen (Alliance Theatre). As a narrator, David recently recorded a series of works by Joseph Campbell, several of the novels of Leon Uris, and a number of military histories, including Pandora’s Box, by Jörn Leonhard. As an actor, he has been seen for the last 5 years as Ebenezer Scrooge in the Alliance’s A Christmas Carol and can be seen again in Sky TV’s hit show Living The Dream as Herman Bloch.

Cast

Mary Lynn Owen (Herself) is an Atlanta-based theatre artist with a career spanning nearly 40 years. She returns to the Alliance Theatre after last appearing as Bubbie in Crossing Delancey.  Suzi Award winner for Wit (Aurora Theatre) and The Little Foxes (Theatre in the Square). Other theater: The Glass Menagerie (Georgia Shakespeare Festival); Six Degrees of Separation, Kimberly Akimbo (Actor’s Express); Elliot, A Soldier’s Fugue, Medea (Alliance Theatre); Dividing the Estate (Theatrical Outfit); The Clean House, Third (Horizon Theatre); The Last Night of Ballyhoo (Georgia Ensemble Theatre); Revolt. She Said. Revolt Again (Seven Stages), and numerous productions at Theatre Emory where, since 2002 she has been a faculty member of the University’s Theatre Studies Department. Knead, her first play, a recipient of the Alliance Theatre’s Reiser Artists Lab Award, was also selected as a semi-finalist for the 2017 O’Neill National Playwright’s Conference. Mary Lynn’s writing residencies include Cottages at Hedgebrook in Puget Sound, WA, and The Hambidge Center in Rabun Gap, GA. She is married to actor, Rob Cleveland, mom to beautiful twins, Andrew and Eloisa, and a proud member of Actor’s Equity Association. marylynnowen.com

Mary Lynn Owen
Mary Lynn Owen
Herself

Mary Lynn Owen (Herself) is an Atlanta-based theatre artist with a career spanning nearly 40 years. She returns to the Alliance Theatre after last appearing as Bubbie in Crossing Delancey.  Suzi Award winner for Wit (Aurora Theatre) and The Little Foxes (Theatre in the Square). Other theater: The Glass Menagerie (Georgia Shakespeare Festival); Six Degrees of Separation, Kimberly Akimbo (Actor’s Express); Elliot, A Soldier’s Fugue, Medea (Alliance Theatre); Dividing the Estate (Theatrical Outfit); The Clean House, Third (Horizon Theatre); The Last Night of Ballyhoo (Georgia Ensemble Theatre); Revolt. She Said. Revolt Again (Seven Stages), and numerous productions at Theatre Emory where, since 2002 she has been a faculty member of the University’s Theatre Studies Department. Knead, her first play, a recipient of the Alliance Theatre’s Reiser Artists Lab Award, was also selected as a semi-finalist for the 2017 O’Neill National Playwright’s Conference. Mary Lynn’s writing residencies include Cottages at Hedgebrook in Puget Sound, WA, and The Hambidge Center in Rabun Gap, GA. She is married to actor, Rob Cleveland, mom to beautiful twins, Andrew and Eloisa, and a proud member of Actor’s Equity Association. marylynnowen.com

Creative

April Andrew (Costume Designer) is a freelance costume designer and the Assistant Costume Shop Manager at the Alliance Theatre.  She received her M.F.A. in Costume Design/Technology from the University of South Carolina before joining the Alliance staff as a Design Assistant in 2014.  She enjoys freelance costume production and design work around Atlanta with recent local design credits including Slur (Alliance Theatre), A Brief History of Fire, Freedom Over Me (Alliance Theatre Teen Ensemble), Seuss at the Symphony, The Plundering Pirates of Symphony Hall (ASO), Bye Bye Birdie, Macbeth (The Walker School). Upcoming projects include Disaster! (The Walker School), An Octoroon (Actor’s Express), Much Ado About Nothing (Oglethorpe University) and Gimme Please! (Alliance Theatre for The Very Young).

April Andrew Carswell
April Andrew Carswell
Costume Designer

April Andrew (Costume Designer) is a freelance costume designer and the Assistant Costume Shop Manager at the Alliance Theatre.  She received her M.F.A. in Costume Design/Technology from the University of South Carolina before joining the Alliance staff as a Design Assistant in 2014.  She enjoys freelance costume production and design work around Atlanta with recent local design credits including Slur (Alliance Theatre), A Brief History of Fire, Freedom Over Me (Alliance Theatre Teen Ensemble), Seuss at the Symphony, The Plundering Pirates of Symphony Hall (ASO), Bye Bye Birdie, Macbeth (The Walker School). Upcoming projects include Disaster! (The Walker School), An Octoroon (Actor’s Express), Much Ado About Nothing (Oglethorpe University) and Gimme Please! (Alliance Theatre for The Very Young).

Ann Beyersdorfer (Scenic Designer) is a NYC-based visual storyteller. Select set design: Afterglow, My Name's Not Indian Joe (Davenport Theater, Off-Broadway), A Real Boy (59E59, Off-Broadway), Jonah and Otto, Trial Of An American President (Theatre Row, Off-Broadway),The Night Alive (Guild Hall, NY), The Dodgers (Hudson Theater, LA). Select associate set design: Jitney (Broadway, Tony Award nom. for Set Design), Phish Nye Concert ’16/’17 (Madison Square Garden), The Children (Broadway), Anastasia (First National Tour & EU Productions), Samson Et Dalila (The Metropolitan Opera). Ann is a Live Design/LDI 30 Under 30 nominee for working professionals in live production, a New York Innovative Theater Award 2x Nominee for Best Set Design, and a United Solo Festival Award Winner for Best Set Design. Syracuse Alum & proud member of USA 829. www.annbeyersdorfer.com  

Ann Beyersdorfer
Ann Beyersdorfer
Scenic Designer

Ann Beyersdorfer (Scenic Designer) is a NYC-based visual storyteller. Select set design: Afterglow, My Name's Not Indian Joe (Davenport Theater, Off-Broadway), A Real Boy (59E59, Off-Broadway), Jonah and Otto, Trial Of An American President (Theatre Row, Off-Broadway),The Night Alive (Guild Hall, NY), The Dodgers (Hudson Theater, LA). Select associate set design: Jitney (Broadway, Tony Award nom. for Set Design), Phish Nye Concert ’16/’17 (Madison Square Garden), The Children (Broadway), Anastasia (First National Tour & EU Productions), Samson Et Dalila (The Metropolitan Opera). Ann is a Live Design/LDI 30 Under 30 nominee for working professionals in live production, a New York Innovative Theater Award 2x Nominee for Best Set Design, and a United Solo Festival Award Winner for Best Set Design. Syracuse Alum & proud member of USA 829. www.annbeyersdorfer.com  

Joseph A. Futral (Lighting Designer) is excited to once again work with this fantastically talented Alliance team to help bring some amazing work to the stage for your enjoyment. Past shows for the Alliance include lighting for Crossing Delancey, The Magic Negro, and Courtenay’s Cabaret. During his 30 years of lighting and production, credits include lighting for Kenny Leon’s True Colors Theatre, Theatrical Outfit, Aurora Theatre, Moving in the Spirit, Saiah International, Horizon Theatre, Great Lakes Theatre Festival, Jomandi Theatre, Blake Beckham and Lucky Penny, Ballethnic Dance, Lee Harper, Room to Move, Charleston Ballet, Augusta Ballet, Martha Clarke, and events for Amherst College, Yale University, Saab, and Buick. Production manager credits include Gallim Dance, Vail Dance Festival, Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane Dance, Hubbard Street Dance Chicago, American Dance Festival, Pilobolus, Fred Garbo's Inflatable Theatre Company, and Ohio Ballet; lighting supervisor for Jose Limon Dance, and Dance Theatre of Harlem. He serves on the board of directors for Full Radius Dance in Atlanta. 

Joseph A. Futral
Joseph A. Futral
Lighting Designer

Joseph A. Futral (Lighting Designer) is excited to once again work with this fantastically talented Alliance team to help bring some amazing work to the stage for your enjoyment. Past shows for the Alliance include lighting for Crossing Delancey, The Magic Negro, and Courtenay’s Cabaret. During his 30 years of lighting and production, credits include lighting for Kenny Leon’s True Colors Theatre, Theatrical Outfit, Aurora Theatre, Moving in the Spirit, Saiah International, Horizon Theatre, Great Lakes Theatre Festival, Jomandi Theatre, Blake Beckham and Lucky Penny, Ballethnic Dance, Lee Harper, Room to Move, Charleston Ballet, Augusta Ballet, Martha Clarke, and events for Amherst College, Yale University, Saab, and Buick. Production manager credits include Gallim Dance, Vail Dance Festival, Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane Dance, Hubbard Street Dance Chicago, American Dance Festival, Pilobolus, Fred Garbo's Inflatable Theatre Company, and Ohio Ballet; lighting supervisor for Jose Limon Dance, and Dance Theatre of Harlem. He serves on the board of directors for Full Radius Dance in Atlanta. 

lark hackshaw (Stage Manager, Oct 12 – Nov 25) Although lark has celebrated her 28th year of stage managing at the Tony Award-winning Alliance Theatre,  she has worked for many regional theatres across the United States (Indiana Repertory, MetroStage, Cleveland Playhouse, San Jose Rep, Arizona Theatre Co., Maltz Jupiter, Trinity Repertory, Arena Stage, MUNY, North Carolina Black Rep) and has taken out several major tours. Her favorite shows include Broadway’s Stick FlyHoller If Ya Hear Me, Blackberry Daze, Anne & Emmett, Proof, Smart People, Black Nativity (2014 -2017), Kandi Burruss’ A Mother’s Love, Maurice Hines Is Tappin’ Through Life, The Tall Girls, The Geller Girls, ‘da Kink In My Hair, Bring It On: The Musical, Zorro: The Musical, The Nacirema Society, Broke, Sheddin’, Duke Ellington’s Sophisticated Ladies, Topdog/Underdog, Good People and Wit. lark is a long time Line Producer/Executive Assistant for Winston-Salem’s National Black Theatre Festival. 

lark hackshaw
lark hackshaw
Stage Manager

lark hackshaw (Stage Manager, Oct 12 – Nov 25) Although lark has celebrated her 28th year of stage managing at the Tony Award-winning Alliance Theatre,  she has worked for many regional theatres across the United States (Indiana Repertory, MetroStage, Cleveland Playhouse, San Jose Rep, Arizona Theatre Co., Maltz Jupiter, Trinity Repertory, Arena Stage, MUNY, North Carolina Black Rep) and has taken out several major tours. Her favorite shows include Broadway’s Stick FlyHoller If Ya Hear Me, Blackberry Daze, Anne & Emmett, Proof, Smart People, Black Nativity (2014 -2017), Kandi Burruss’ A Mother’s Love, Maurice Hines Is Tappin’ Through Life, The Tall Girls, The Geller Girls, ‘da Kink In My Hair, Bring It On: The Musical, Zorro: The Musical, The Nacirema Society, Broke, Sheddin’, Duke Ellington’s Sophisticated Ladies, Topdog/Underdog, Good People and Wit. lark is a long time Line Producer/Executive Assistant for Winston-Salem’s National Black Theatre Festival. 

Mary Lynn Owen (Playwright) is an Atlanta-based theatre artist with a career spanning nearly 40 years. She returns to the Alliance Theatre after last appearing as Bubbie in Crossing Delancey.  Suzi Award winner for Wit (Aurora Theatre) and The Little Foxes (Theatre in the Square). Other theater: The Glass Menagerie (Georgia Shakespeare Festival); Six Degrees of Separation, Kimberly Akimbo (Actor’s Express); Elliot, A Soldier’s Fugue, Medea (Alliance Theatre); Dividing the Estate (Theatrical Outfit); The Clean House, Third (Horizon Theatre); The Last Night of Ballyhoo (Georgia Ensemble Theatre); Revolt. She Said. Revolt Again (Seven Stages), and numerous productions at Theatre Emory where, since 2002 she has been a faculty member of the University’s Theatre Studies Department. Knead, her first play, a recipient of the Alliance Theatre’s Reiser Artists Lab Award, was also selected as a semi-finalist for the 2017 O’Neill National Playwright’s Conference. Mary Lynn’s writing residencies include Cottages at Hedgebrook in Puget Sound, WA, and The Hambidge Center in Rabun Gap, GA. She is married to actor, Rob Cleveland, mom to beautiful twins, Andrew and Eloisa, and a proud member of Actor’s Equity Association. marylynnowen.com

Mary Lynn Owen
Mary Lynn Owen
Playwright

Mary Lynn Owen (Playwright) is an Atlanta-based theatre artist with a career spanning nearly 40 years. She returns to the Alliance Theatre after last appearing as Bubbie in Crossing Delancey.  Suzi Award winner for Wit (Aurora Theatre) and The Little Foxes (Theatre in the Square). Other theater: The Glass Menagerie (Georgia Shakespeare Festival); Six Degrees of Separation, Kimberly Akimbo (Actor’s Express); Elliot, A Soldier’s Fugue, Medea (Alliance Theatre); Dividing the Estate (Theatrical Outfit); The Clean House, Third (Horizon Theatre); The Last Night of Ballyhoo (Georgia Ensemble Theatre); Revolt. She Said. Revolt Again (Seven Stages), and numerous productions at Theatre Emory where, since 2002 she has been a faculty member of the University’s Theatre Studies Department. Knead, her first play, a recipient of the Alliance Theatre’s Reiser Artists Lab Award, was also selected as a semi-finalist for the 2017 O’Neill National Playwright’s Conference. Mary Lynn’s writing residencies include Cottages at Hedgebrook in Puget Sound, WA, and The Hambidge Center in Rabun Gap, GA. She is married to actor, Rob Cleveland, mom to beautiful twins, Andrew and Eloisa, and a proud member of Actor’s Equity Association. marylynnowen.com

Kendall Simpson (Sound Designer) Regional: Alliance: Sheltered (dir. Kimberly Senior), The Temple Bombing (dir. Jimmy Maize), Steel Magnolias (dir. Judith Ivey), In Love and Warcraft (dir. Laura Kepley), Warrior Class (dir. Eric Ting), The Whipping Man (dir. Alex Greenfild), Bike America  (dir. Moritz von Stuelpnagel), Apples and Oranges –World Premiere (A. Uhry/dir. Lynne Meadow), I Just Stopped By To See The Man (dir. Ron Parson), Broke (dir. Jason Loweth), False Creeds (dir. Wendy Goldberg), Eurydice (dir. R. Garner). Georgia Shakespeare: As You Like It, Hamlet, Much Ado About Nothing, Love’s Labour’s Lost, Metamorphoses, The Tempest, A Winter’s Tale, Romeo and Juliet, Antigone – musical (R. Garner/K. Simpson). Dance: Papillon (Atlanta Symphony Orchestra), Path, Island, We the Living, Inside the Crevice, Carnival Mask (Emory Dance). Film/Video: Zelda (Sesame Street), Under the Boardwalk (Georgia Aquarium), The Promotion, Twin Set, The Voicemaker, The Etiquette Man, The Initiate. Commissions—Southern Progression (Chamber Music America), Within Reach (Dekalb Symphony Orchestra), Island (Vega Quartet). Music Director Dance Department at Emory University.

Kendall Simpson
Kendall Simpson
Sound Designer

Kendall Simpson (Sound Designer) Regional: Alliance: Sheltered (dir. Kimberly Senior), The Temple Bombing (dir. Jimmy Maize), Steel Magnolias (dir. Judith Ivey), In Love and Warcraft (dir. Laura Kepley), Warrior Class (dir. Eric Ting), The Whipping Man (dir. Alex Greenfild), Bike America  (dir. Moritz von Stuelpnagel), Apples and Oranges –World Premiere (A. Uhry/dir. Lynne Meadow), I Just Stopped By To See The Man (dir. Ron Parson), Broke (dir. Jason Loweth), False Creeds (dir. Wendy Goldberg), Eurydice (dir. R. Garner). Georgia Shakespeare: As You Like It, Hamlet, Much Ado About Nothing, Love’s Labour’s Lost, Metamorphoses, The Tempest, A Winter’s Tale, Romeo and Juliet, Antigone – musical (R. Garner/K. Simpson). Dance: Papillon (Atlanta Symphony Orchestra), Path, Island, We the Living, Inside the Crevice, Carnival Mask (Emory Dance). Film/Video: Zelda (Sesame Street), Under the Boardwalk (Georgia Aquarium), The Promotion, Twin Set, The Voicemaker, The Etiquette Man, The Initiate. Commissions—Southern Progression (Chamber Music America), Within Reach (Dekalb Symphony Orchestra), Island (Vega Quartet). Music Director Dance Department at Emory University.

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