We Are Proud to Present... | PlayMakers Repertory Company

Directed by Desdemona Chiang

An Emotionally Charged Journey Into the Past

In the rehearsal room, a performance piece on a little-known episode of early 20th century genocide takes a jolting turn when the actors - three black and three white - tap into personal resentments and ingrained prejudices. Tensions mount as they expose more of themselves than they ever wanted to.

Age Recommendation

This piece is daring and unconventional in its storytelling. It features adult language as well as racially charged language and situations that may make patrons uncomfortable. It is intended for mature audiences. We recommend this play for patrons 16 and older.

“90 minutes of original, enlightening, pulse-pounding theater”
Backstage

“a genuine thunderbolt … devastatingly funny … dangerous and primal”
The Washington Post

“incendiary” “inventive” “impressively navigates the tricky boundaries that separate art and life, the haunted present and the haunting historical past”
The New York Times

Photos

Genesis Oliver and Myles Bullock. Photo by Jon Gardiner.

Myles Bullock and Schuyler Scott Mastain. Photo by Jon Gardiner.

Caroline Strange. Photo by Jon Gardiner.

Nathaniel Kent and Schuyler Scott Mastain. Photo by Jon Gardiner.

Nathaniel Kent, Carey Cox and Myles Bullock. Photo by Jon Gardiner.

Schuyler Scott Mastain. Photo by Jon Gardiner.

Schuyler Scott Mastain, Myles Bullock and Genesis Oliver. Photo by Jon Gardiner.

Schuyler Scott Mastain and Myles Bullock. Photo by Jon Gardiner.

Myles Bullock and Caroline Strange. Photo by Jon Gardiner.

Genesis Oliver and Myles Bullock in foreground. Nathaniel Kent, Schuyler Scott Mastain and Carey Cox in background. Photo by Jon Gardiner.

Myles Bullock and Nathaniel Kent. Photo by Jon Gardiner.

Myles Bullock and the cast of We Are Proud to Present.... Photo by Jon Gardiner.

Carey Cox and Genesis Oliver. Photo by Jon Gardiner.

Carey Cox and Caroline Strange. Photo by Jon Gardiner.

Schuyler Scott Mastain, Genesis Oliver, Myles Bullock and Nathaniel Kent. Photo by Jon Gardiner.

Reviews

At PlayMakers, Shows Ripped From Tomorrow’s Headlines
By Aaron Keck
WCHL/Chapelboro.com
March 5, 2016

PlayMakers Rep’s Stellar Cast and Crew Make ‘We Are Proud to Present…’ a Must See Drama
By Diana McQueen
Triangle Arts & Entertainment
March 2, 2016

PlayMakers delivers thoughtful look at privilege and prejudice
By Roy C. Dicks
The News & Observer
February 29, 2016

PlayMakers’ ‘We Are Proud’ is powerful and necessary
By Morgan Howard
The Daily Tar Heel
February 28, 2016

PlayMakers’ We Are Proud to Present… is Brisk, Nail-biting Theatre
By Jackson Cooper
Classical Voice of North Carolina
February 27, 2016

Theater Director Desdemona Chiang Holds Up a Mirror, Not a Moral, for White America
By Caitlin Wells
INDY Week
March 2, 2016

In We Are Proud to Present…, a Play About African Genocide Forces the Actors to Confront Racism
By Robert W. McDowell
Triangle Arts & Entertainment
February 22, 2016

PlayMakers is Proud to Present “We Are Proud to Present…”
By Aaron Keck
WCHL/chapelboro.com
February 13, 2016

Artists

Schuyler Scott Mastain

Eric Alexander Collins

6 Actors Send a Powerful Message

Audiences have been deeply effected and eager to discuss the emotional power they've felt while experiencing We Are Proud to Present... The "play within a play" also has reviewers admiring what this show delivers in only 90 minutes.

Audiences Love ‘Beautiful & Powerful’ We Are Proud to Present…

The media is abuzz, but they're not the only ones who can't say enough about We Are Proud To Present... Audience members have a lot to say about this "Must-See" show.

Helpful Terms & Conditions to Navigate We Are Proud to Present…

In my program note, I discuss how Jackie Sibblies Drury’s play, We Are Proud to Present…, uses the device of a young company of actors devising work together to uncover how ill-prepared we are as Americans to discuss issues of race and the experiences of and privileges afforded by structural racism.

Bringing Wonder to a ‘Presentation’ Through Lighting

For lighting designer Porsche McGovern, life itself is the biggest inspiration. “I watch my toddler run around and try to think about her sense of wonder. I try to bring that sense of openness and vulnerability to the rehearsal room.” Porsche does research, however prefers looking towards nature itself because it’s difficult to capture real sunlight in photographs.

Some Background on the Herero and German Südwestafrika

Despite its title, this play is not a history lesson about German colonialism at the turn of the 20th century. It is not a chronicle of traditions and culture of the Herero; it does not detail the structural and institutional details of genocidal violence. That said, as Actor 4 observes “everything we’re talking about happened to real people, a whole people, not just one family, thousands of families.” In an effort to honor those people, we offer these resources for your own investigations.

Director Desdemona Chiang on Presenting this Presentation

PlayMakers audiences will remember Desdemona Chiang's direction of last season's beautifully delicate 4000 Miles as well as the fun and fantastical Hairspray for Summer Youth Conservatory. She returns to us now for something else completely different with the wildly provocative and bitingly funny We Are Proud to Present....

Productive Discomfort

When you’re trying to make something, not everyone’s going to be happy during every minute of it. --We Are Proud to Present...

Age Recommendation

Photos

Reviews

Artists

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