PRESS RELEASE: Los Otros Premiere Brings New Musical to Everyman Theatre from Tony Award Nominated Creative Team

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Newly Commissioned Reworking Explores Cross-Cultural Connections
Baltimore, MD – Everyman Theatre presents the Baltimore/DC Premiere of Los Otros, a timely new reworking of the musical from Tony Award nominees Michael John LaChiusa (music) and Ellen Fitzhugh (book and lyrics). Los Otros is currently in rehearsal and runs from March 22 through April 23, 2017.
Following its 2012 debut at the Mark Taper Forum, this compelling new reimagining is the result of an Everyman-commissioned workshop this past fall in New York City. Infused with compassionate, cross-cultural understanding, Los Otros bursts to life with an immersive set design, a vibrant score and two affecting lead performances – nearly entirely sung – from Broadway vets Judy McLane (Mamma Mia!) and Philip Hernandez (Kiss of the Spider Woman), backed by a live on-stage instrumental ensemble.
Through a series of beautiful and intimate vignettes, two Californians, Lillian and Carlos, reflect on profound moments from the past in which their individual experiences (as a white woman and Hispanic man) are linked by a collective sense of “otherness.” Juxtaposing such familiar human tensions as past/present, memory/mysticism and cultural/sexual identity, director Noah Himmelstein and musical director Jon Kalbfleisch command a production that is at once quietly perceptive and startlingly relevant in the context of today’s real-world social climate. Inspiring, energetic and emotionally charged, this semi-autobiographical work captures a universal story of interconnectedness, love, risk and revelation through the lens of two people’s lives.
“Ellen and Michael John are two of the most extraordinary thinkers in musical storytelling,” said Himmelstein. “The imaginative structure and near-cinematic breadth of Los Otros has inspired a visual design that echoes the experience of both characters, physically transforming as their stories unfold.”
“Commissioning this new version of Los Otros speaks to Everyman Theatre’s ardent belief in supporting important new work,” said Founding Artistic Director Vincent M. Lancisi. “Los Otros represents a profound investment in Ellen and Michael John’s creation, and the culmination of an intensive, ongoing collaboration between two great artists and this institution.”
los-otros-logoLos Otros is the first production directed by Noah Himmelstein under his new title of Associate Artistic Director at Everyman Theatre. A native of Baltimore, Noah previously directed the critically acclaimed production of An Inspector Calls during Everyman’s 2015/16 season. Mr. Himmelstein’s recent credits also include directing Andrew Lippa’s I Am Anne Hutchinson/I Am Harvey Milk at the Strathmore Center with Kristin Chenoweth, in addition to earlier incarnations of the work at Lincoln Center and in San Francisco and Los Angeles. He also recently directed Jonathan Tolins’ play The Forgotten Woman at Bay Street Theatre, Bleeding Love at the Fredericia Theatre in Denmark and the premiere of Michael Korie’s opera Positions 1956 in Washington, DCHe is a former assistant director to James Lapine and Bartlett Sher and a graduate of Emerson College.
Composer Michael John LaChiusa’s career includes multiple Tony Award nominations. His many scores include The Wild Party, Marie Christine, Hello Again, Giant, First Lady Suite, First Daughter Suite and See What I Wanna See. Lyricist and book writer Ellen Fitzhugh is the lyricist behind Grind on Broadway, several off-Broadway musicals, including Paper Moon, Herringbone, and Don Juan DeMarco and Paradise Found in London
Judy McLane (Lillian), whose Broadway credits include Kiss of the Spider WomanAspects of Love and Chess, co-stars as Lillian in Los Otros, her first Everyman Theatre production. After starring as Tanya in Mamma Mia! for nearly eight years, Ms. McLane stepped into the lead in the long-running ABBA tuner as Donna Sheridan in 2012, a role she played until the show’s run on Broadway ended in 2015. She received critical acclaim for her performance as Vienna in Johnny Guitar off-Broadway (Drama Desk Nomination and a Drama League Award for Distinguished Performance in the Theater). Most recently, she starred as Diana in Next to Normal at the Pioneer Theater.
Philip Hernandez (Carlos), who first appeared on Broadway in the original cast of the Tony Award-winning musical Kiss of the Spider Woman, co-stars as Carlos in Los Otros, his Everyman Theatre debut. He is the only man in Broadway history to play both Jean Valjean and Inspector Javert in Les Miserables. Mr. Hernandez played opposite Marc Anthony and Ruben Blades in the original Broadway cast of Paul Simon’s The Capeman. His career goes beyond Broadway, having sung with symphony orchestras throughout the U.S. and recorded a Latin jazz album with a big band.
McLane and Hernandez have previously appeared together in Kiss of the Spider Woman on Broadway and in Man of LaMancha at Paper Mill Playhouse.
Tickets for Los Otros are now on sale online (www.everymantheatre.org), by phone (410.752.2208), or at the Everyman Theatre Box Office (315 W. Fayette Street, Baltimore, MD 21201). Two-play subscription packages are also available, and include the upcoming Resident Company production of Noises Off (May 17 through June 18, 2017).

Event Listings

Pay-What-You-Can Performance
March 19, 2017 at 7:00 PM
March 21, 2017 at 7:30 PM
TNT: Theatre Night for Teens
March 21, 2017 at 6:00 PM
Students in grades 9-12 can enjoy dinner by Two Boots Pizza, an artist meet-and-greet, the play, and post-show discussion and dessert. Tickets: $10 each.
Salon Series: Women’s Voices: The Language Archive
March 27, 2017 (Cocktails at 6:00 PM; Performance at 7:00 PM)
A reading of Julia Cho’s The Language Archive, a heartfelt comedy exploring the power of words and the capacity of language to fail or save us. Tickets: $15 each ($5 for students).
Taste of Everyman: California Bounty
April 6, 2017 at 6:00 PM
Mix and mingle with other theatre lovers during a pre-show social, this month featuring California wines paired with hors d’oeuvres by The French Kitchen. Tickets: $60 each for show and event.
World of the Play
April 8, 2017 at 5:00 PM
Take part in an in-depth panel discussion on the themes and topics of the show, hosted by Marc Steiner (WEAA’s The Marc Steiner Show). Tickets: $5 each (free for subscribers).
Cast Conversations
April 13, 2017 at 9:30 PM
Talk about the play with the members of the cast after the show. Free.
About Everyman Theatre
Everyman Theatre is a professional Equity theatre company celebrating the actor, with a Resident Company of artists from the Baltimore/DC area. Founded in 1990 by Vincent M. Lancisi, the theatre is dedicated to engaging the audience through a shared experience between actor and audience seeking connection and emotional truth in performance. Everyman is committed to presenting high quality plays that are affordable and accessible to everyone. The theatre strives to engage, inspire and transform artists, audiences and community through theatre of the highest artistic standards and is committed to embodying the promise of its name, Everyman Theatre.
Los Otros is executive produced by Susan W. Flanigan. Additional support is provided by Producers’ Circle donors: Beth Goldsmith, Gina & Dan Hirschhorn, George Roche, Shen Family Foundation, The Stockman Family Foundation, and Lawrence Yumkas & Miriam Fisher. The 16/17 Season is generously sponsored by LifeBridge Health and Neil & Ellen Meltzer. Everyman Theatre’s Pay-What-You-Can nights are supported by Dr. E. Lee & Bea Robbins. Everyman Theatre is proud to have The Baltimore Sun Media Group and WYPR Season Media Sponsors. MSAC provides financial support and technical assistance to non-profit organizations, units of government, colleges and universities for arts activities. Funding for the Maryland State Arts Council is also provided by the National Endowment for the Arts, a federal agency.
Everyman Theatre is a proud member of the Bromo Tower Arts and Entertainment District and the Greater Baltimore Cultural Alliance.
Vincent M. Lancisi is the Founding Artistic Director of Everyman Theatre; Jonathan K. Waller is the Managing Director. For information about Everyman Theatre, visit www.everymantheatre.org or call 410.752.2208.