MTC’s Ruined

(This is one of the best plays I have seen in a long time. It was so powerful and it made me cringe at how 'ruined' the women were from men who have no souls, IMO. I can't imagine men who could mercilessly rape men, women and children are born with souls. Its hard to figure out whether to be glad Mama Nadi runs her place, or sad about it, because the entire situation is horrific!)

MTC’s Ruined

http://www.broadway.com/MTC-s-Ruined-Extended-Through-April-12/broadway_news/5021194

Manhattan Theatre Club’s production of Lynn Nottage’s Ruined has been extended. The topical thriller started previews on January 21, before opening to rave reviews on February 10, and was originally scheduled to close on March 29. It will now play at New York City Center’s Stage 1 through April 12, directed by Kate Whoriskey.

Ruined features Quincy Tyler Bernstine (The Misanthrope at NYTW), Cherise Boothe (King Hedley II at Signature), Chris Chalk (MTC’s Defiance), Saidah Arrika Ekulona (Well, Nottage’s Fabulation) William Jackson Harper (Queens Boulevard), Chiké Johnson (The Crucible at Steppenwolf), Russell G. Jones (Our Lady of 121st Street), Simon Shabantu Kashama (Ruined at the Goodman), Kevin Mambo (The Guiding Light), Tom Mardirosian (Wonderful Town, HBO’s Oz), Ron McBee (The Colored Museum) and Condola Rashad (Pearl at The Kennedy Center).

Originally presented in Chicago last fall, Ruined is set in a small mining town in Democratic Republic of Congo, and follows Mama Nadi (Ekulona), a shrewd businesswoman whose bar/brothel plies rebel and government soldiers with music, beer and good times, as the land outside is torn apart by civil war. Is she a war profiteer, exploiting the women she shelters? How far will she go to survive?

The creative team for Ruined includes Derek McLane (scenic design), Paul Tazewell (costume design), Peter Kaczorowski (lighting design), Rob Milburn and Michael Bodeen (sound design and music direction), Dominic Kanza (original music), Lynn Nottage (lyrics), Randy Duncan (movement director).