WTC brings ‘Church & State’ to stage
Kim Krueger, Andrew Matulionis and Joy James in the Whitefish Theatre Company’s production of “Church & State”. (WTC courtesy photo)
The Whitefish Theatre Company presents its second Black Curtain theatre production of the 2022-2023 season with “Church & State” by Jason Odell Williams. Called “surprisingly subtle and sophisticated,” “Church & State” has performances on Nov. 19 and 20 at 7:30 p.m. at the O’Shaughnessy Center in Whitefish.
Three days before his bid for re-election – and in the wake of another school shooting - U.S. Senator Charles Whitmore has a life-altering crisis of faith, triggering an off-the-cuff comment to a Twitter-savvy blogger that sends his entire campaign into a tailspin. The Senator's devout wife and liberal campaign manager try desperately to contain the damage, but in a country where religion influences politics and politics have become a religion, how do you reach the people and stay true to yourself? A timely and fast-paced story that was nominated for Best New Play in 2017, “Church & State” is simultaneously funny, heartbreaking and uplifting.
“The play is disarmingly funny, reminiscent of a great episode of ‘Veep’,” said Director Jake Carr. “It deals with important, complicated issues without being preachy or talking down to its audience or providing simple answers.”
“That said, the play is guaranteed to provoke discussion. I hope viewers return home still digesting this work, spurred to start thoughtful conversations about the heart-sinking honesty that Williams has put into this urgent play,” Carr added.
Cast members include Andrew Matulionis as Senator Charles Whitemore, Joy James as Sara Whitmore, Kim Krueger as Alex Klein, Gil Jordan as characters Tom and Marshall, and JeAnna Wisher and Scott Plotkin as ensemble players. Viewers are reminded that as a Black Curtain production, there will be minimal staging, set and props, and actors will be reading from a script.
Tickets are $12 for adults and $10 for students for all shows. Tickets can be purchased at the Box Office at 1 Central Avenue in Whitefish or by calling 862-5371. Box Office Hours are 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday and one hour before a performance. Individual tickets can also be purchased online at www.whitefishtheatreco.org. This show is sponsored by Steve Lull, Ellie Johnson and Paul Conrad, Lynn and Hal Trost, Linda and David Hunt, and Anonymous.