Leaving Eden | PlayMakers Repertory Company

By Mike Wiley
Music & lyrics by Laurelyn Dossett

Directed by Vivienne Benesch

a North Carolina fable

Acclaimed playwright Mike Wiley returns to PlayMakers with singer-songwriter Laurelyn Dossett to lead us on a musical journey across time, unearthing the cycles of history in a small North Carolina town. In this searing new work, where cotton is king in the 1930s and pork processing keeps the town alive in 2016, black and Latino citizens are the town’s economic backbone past and present. So why do they remain its most vulnerable to violence and hatred? As high-stakes elections loom during both time periods, the young, as ever, have a lot to fight for—and a lot to learn.

WORLD PREMIERE PLAYMAKERS COMMISSION

Special Thanks to UNC-TV for this beautiful behind-the-scenes look at the creation of Leaving Eden

A Peek at our Production

Many thanks to our co-producers:

“[Wiley’s] shows are sophisticated blends of narrative and wit.”
American Theatre
“You will find hardly anyone who has the muse sitting with them more than Laurelyn.”
Joe Newberry, NC Dept of Cultural Resources

AGE RECOMMENDATION

Due to the subject matter, racially-motivated violence, and the use of some racial slurs, we recommend this show for ages 13 and up.

Please be advised, this production contains live, simulated gunshots; water-based haze and fog; and the smoking of both vapor and herbal cigarettes on stage.

RUN TIME

2 hours and 30 minutes, including one 15-minute intermission.

Song Listing

1. “Awake”……………………………………………………………………………………………………..Selah, Ensemble
2. “Roy White Jingle”…………………………………………………………………………………………………………..Roy
3. “I Will Sing Until My Weary Voice is Gone”…………………………………………………….Selah, Maria
4. “Berry Pie in Springtime”…………………………………………………………………………………………Maggie
5. “She Feelin’ You”^*…………………………………………………………………………………Javier, Andre, Tuan
6. “Riot of the Bitter Few”……………………………………………………………………………………………….Selah
7. “Run to the River”………………………………………………………………………………Selah, Maria, Maggie
8. “Change the Tide”…………………………………………………………………………………….Selah, Ensemble
9. “There is a Place On the Road”ˆ…………………………………………………………………….Javier, Selah
10. “Moses”˚…………………………………………………………………………………………………Selah, Ensemble
11. “I Will Sing Until My Weary Voice is Gone (Reprise)………………………………….Miguel, Maria
12. “Leaving Eden”………………………………………………………………………………………………………….Selah

All songs by Laurelyn Dossett except:
^*by Carlos Alcala & Mike WIley
ˆ by Mike Wiley
˚ Traditional

TICKETS AND SHOWTIMES

MON	TUE	WED	THU	FRI	SAT	SUN
		APR 4 7:30p ^P	APR 5 7:30p ^P	APR 6 7:30p ^P	APR 7 7:30p^★	APR 8 2:00p
APR 9	APR 10 7:30p^👌	APR 11 7:30p^🗣	APR 12 7:30p	APR 13 7:30p	APR 14 2:00p ^OC 7:30p	APR 15 2:00p^🗣
APR 16	APR 17 7:30p	APR 18 7:30p	APR 19 7:30p	APR 20 7:30p	APR 21 7:30p	APR 22 2:00p ^¿

MON

TUE

WED

THU

FRI

SAT

SUN

APR 4

7:30p ^P

APR 5

7:30p ^P

APR 6

7:30p ^P

APR 7

7:30p^★

APR 8

2:00p

APR 9

APR 10

7:30p^👌

APR 11

7:30p^🗣

APR 12

7:30p

APR 13

7:30p

APR 14

2:00p ^OC
7:30p

APR 15

2:00p^🗣

APR 16

APR 17

APR 18

APR 19

APR 20

APR 21

APR 22

2:00p ^¿

P
Preview Night

★
Opening Night

👌
All Access

🗣
Post-Show Discussion

OC
Open-Captioning

¿
Mindplay

This project is supported in part by an award from the Nation Endowment for the Arts. This project was also supported by the North Carolina Arts Council, a division of the Department of Natural and Cultural Resources.