Leaving Eden
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.
RUN TIME
2 hours and 30 minutes, including one 15-minute intermission.
Song Listing
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
| APR 4
7:30p P |
APR 5
7:30p P |
APR 6
7:30p P |
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| APR 9 | APR 10 | APR 11 | APR 12 | APR 13 | APR 14 | APR 15 |
| APR 16 | APR 17 | APR 18 | APR 19 | APR 20 | APR 21 | APR 22
2:00p ¿ |
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.
Photos
Reviews
REVIEWS
In Leaving Eden, an Early Twentieth Century Cotton Mill and a Modern Pork Plant are the Axles of Racially Violent Cycles
By Byron Woods
INDY Week
April 11, 2018
PlayMakers Rep’s Riveting Leaving Eden is Fast-Paced, Entertaining, and Thought-Provoking
By Pamela Vesper and Kurt Benrud
Triangle Arts & Entertainment
April 9, 2018
NEWS
Our country’s history is complicated. This playwright explores the gray areas in 2 theatrical premieres.
By David Menconi
The News & Observer
April 10, 2018
Leaving Eden at PlayMakers Rep Exposes a Small N.C. Town’s Racist Past
By Robert W. McDowell
Triangle Arts & Entertainment
April 5, 2018
Lessons Unlearned in Mike Wiley’s Leaving Eden, a Tale of Immigrant Rights, Racial Strife, and Small-Town N.C. Politics
By Byron Woods
INDY Week
April 4, 2018
“Step Into Those Shoes”
Carolina Alumni Review
March 8, 2018
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