Pollard Theatre Company opens 27th season with Passing Strange

The Pollard Theatre Company opens it’s 27th season “Our Voices” with the return of the widely acclaimed musical, PASSING STRANGE. Universally applauded for its originality, deep emotional resonance and powerful score, PASSING STRANGE, featuring W. Jerome Stevenson, opens August 9.

From the mind of singer-songwriter and performance artist Stew, comes PASSING STRANGE, the semi-autobiographical story of a young black man who leaves behind his middle-class, church-ruled upbringing in mid-1970s Los Angeles to travel to Europe in search of his artistic and personal identity, or what he calls “the real.” In the end, he discovers that cultural complexity—and hypocrisy—are not limited to middle-class American life, and that only love is truly real.

In addition to Stevenson as ‘Narrator’, PASSING STRANGE features the reprisal of it’s extraordinarily talented ensemble cast, including Rhianna Mack, DeLanie Brewer, Jennifer Teel, Rory Littleton, Matthew Alvin Brown, and Gerrin Mitchell as the story’s central character, ‘Youth.’

Stevenson, who also serves as the Pollard’s Artistic Director, spoke passionately about the revival of the ground breaking musical. “The first time was pure lightning in a bottle. The writing is brilliant; we had this phenomenal cast of actors and musicians, the gifted crew, all coming together before the most extraordinary audiences. It was a once in a lifetime experience. I’m so very blessed with the opportunity to revisit this piece with new life experience, with a new hunger to tell this story . . . I am beyond thrilled to be a part of it all.”

Intended for a mature audience, PASSING STRANGE breaks theatrical convention and is best described, by creator Stew, as a play that is a cross between a rock concert and a musical.

Audience raves from the 2011 Pollard production: “Oklahoma is in desperate need of this production and more like it” . . . “This show is an inspiration for those who think differently. Even people who do not normally like musicals will love this show. It breaks rules and never apologizes. The songs speak to your soul . . . nothing is wasted and I dare you to leave unchanged. If it had been more REAL, it would have been fiction.” . . . “It’s amazing, show-stopping, and a 100% must see. This show is not to be missed.” . . . “THANK YOU for bringing this show to Oklahoma.”

PASSING STRANGE runs August 9 through August 17, 2013, at the Pollard Theater, 120 W. Harrison Ave., Guthrie, OK. Thursday, Friday and Saturday performances are at 8 pm, with a 2 pm matinee on Sunday. Tickets are $15 to $25, and can be purchased online at www.thepollard.org or by calling 405.282.2800. Student Rush tickets are on sale at the box office, beginning one hour before showtime, for $10, cash only, with a student I.D. Rush tickets are subject to availability.

The Pollard Theatre Company is produced by the Guthrie Arts & Humanities Council, with assistance from the Oklahoma Arts Council and the National Endowment for the Arts.