By the Way, Meet Vera Stark
Tickets and Information
SHOW INFORMATION
CURRENTLY CLOSED
Opened May 9, 2011
Closed Jun 12, 2011
Opened May 9, 2011
Closed Jun 12, 2011
Directions & Map
Visit the By the Way, Meet Vera Stark website:
http://www.2ST.com
TICKETS TO THIS SHOW
BUY TICKETS
CHECK FOR DISCOUNTS
WHAT IS IT ABOUT?
Saana Lathan and Stephanie J. Block star in the world premiere comedy, By the way, Meet Vera Stark, a new play by Lynn Nottage, directed by Jo Bonney.
A seventy-year journey into the life of Vera Stark (Lathan), a headstrong African-American maid and budding actress, and her tangled relationship with her boss (Block), a white Hollywood star desperately grasping to hold onto her career. When circumstances collide and both women land roles in the same Southern epic, the story behind the cameras leaves Vera with a controversial legacy scholars will debate for years to come.
The cast also features Daniel Breaker, David Garrison, Kimberly Hebert Gregory, Kevin Isola, and Karen Olivo.
WHAT ARE CRITICS SAYING?
What are other members saying?
Meet Vera For Act 1
A great departure from Lynn Nottages award winning "Ruined", Vera Stark has many redeaming qualities and does point a finger at racial biases in Hollywood. Act 1 is a brilliant satire, while Act 2 is a rather mordent account of how the Hollywood system sometimes breaks down true talent with its stereotyping and prejudiceracial,ethnic, and sexual. Good cast with Sanaa Lathan a standout in the title role.
Reviewed by gabbym
on Tuesday, May 10th, 2011
Lynn Nottage is a Genius!
I loved this play and I am in awe of Lynn Nottage! This amazing playwright coupled a traditional stage narrative with multimedia presentations to pull off a highly polished and creative production. The actors turned in stellar performances, but my eyes were glued to Kimberly Hebert Gregory and Daniel Breaker. The diversity of these actors is remarkable. I especially loved the unique tonal shift that occurs between Act 1 and Act II. The staging during Act II was brilliant. Kudos to this ingenious playwright! Much talk was generated by this change in gears, however. It seems as if some audience members wanted to see a traditional narrative and assumed theyd see a linear chronology of Vera Starks life in Act II as was previewed in Act I. And perhaps thats the point of this piece. What happened to so many African American actors like Vera Stark? Why arent they depicted on the screen? If this white-washing screen practice were not still prevalent, we might know the ending of the narrative. This piece entertains, educates and elevates consciousness. True art from a truly gifted artist!
Reviewed by pathouser
on Tuesday, May 3rd, 2011
NEWSLETTER SIGN UP
MOST POPULAR
SHARED ON FACEBOOK
By providing information about entertainment and cultural events on this site, TheaterMania.com shall not be deemed to endorse,
recommend, approve and/or guarantee such events, or any facts, views, advice and/or information contained therein.
©1999-2012 TheaterMania.com, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Terms of Use & Privacy Policy
recommend, approve and/or guarantee such events, or any facts, views, advice and/or information contained therein.
©1999-2012 TheaterMania.com, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Terms of Use & Privacy Policy
The first act of Lynn Nottage's world premiere comedy, By the Way, Meet Vera Stark, now at Second Stage Theatre, is a brilliantly realized satire about racial stereotypes in Hollywood. Unfortunately, the second act, which attempts to deconstruct the legacy of early African-American film icons, is less satisfying.
The action begins in 1933, as the show's title character, delightfully played by Sanaa Lathan, is working as a maid for film star Gloria Mitchell (Stephanie J. Block). Gloria is up for a part in a new film by renowned director Maximilian Von Oster (Kevin Isola). Vera -- who is an aspiring actress herself -- has a particular interest in this new project, as it has a rather sizable [...]