Todd Heywood as Uday Hussein
Peppermint Creek Theatre is tackling a dramatic and important play, Bengal Tiger at the Baghdad Zoo, which begins its two-week run Thursday, Sept. 19. The critically acclaimed play - that once featured Robin Williams as the tiger - centers around a tiger that haunts the streets of present-day Baghdad. As he witnesses the puzzling absurdities of war, the tiger encounters Americans and Iraqis who are searching for friendship, redemption and a toilet seat made of gold.
Peppermint Creek‘s 2014-2015 season is hsoted at the Miller Performing Arts Center at 6015 Curry Lane in Lansing. (Click here for the box office or call 517-927-3016 for tickets. Tickers are $15 general admission, and $10 for students/seniors 65+.)
“What a joy to bring this profound play to life in our region!” said Peppermint Creek guest director Michael Hays. “It has been a gift to work on a play that is surprising, truthful, and timely. I know audiences will leave with a LOT to think about”.
CAST LIST
TIGER - Jeff Boerger
MUSA - Brennan Hattaway
KEV - Andrew Bailiff
TOM - Michael Banghart
UDAY HUSSEIN - Todd Heywood
HADIA/IRAQI GIRL - Sumar Henderson
IRAQI MAN - Ricardo Medrano
WOMAN/LEPER - Cassie Little
SHOW DATES
Curtain time is 8 p.m. for all shows except Sundays when the curtain goes up at 2 p.m.
Thursday, Sept. 18
Friday, Sept. 19
Saturday, Sept. 20
Sunday, Sept. 21
Thursday, Sept. 25
Friday, Sept. 26
Saturday, Sept. 27
Sunday, Sept. 28
A distinguished history
The world premiere of Bengal Tiger at the Baghdad Zoo took place at the Kirk Douglas Theatre in California and ran from May 10, 2009, to June 7, 2009. The play debuted on Broadway in March of 2011, and featured Robin Williams as the tiger in his Broadway debut. The play was nominated for three Outer Critics Circle Awards and six Drama Desk Awards, and three nominations for the 2011 Tony Awards.
The New York Times wrote that the Tiger “isn’t given any silly costuming, thank heavens, but simply wears tattered clothes” and saying that the show is “boldly imagined” and a “worthy finalist for the recent Pulitzer Prize,”
The Los Angeles Times called Bengal Tiger “the most original drama written about the Iraq War….the work will challenge mainstream theatergoers and will leave the more sensitive among them profoundly moved.”
Photo of Todd Heywood by David Michael Cooper.
