THE OLD GLOBE Announces the Cast and Creative Team for
the WEST COAST PREMIERE of NIA VARDALOS’s
TINY BEAUTIFUL THINGS,
Based on the Best-Selling Book by CHERYL STRAYED,
Adapted for the Stage by NIA VARDALOS, Co-Conceived by MARSHALL HEYMAN, THOMAS KAIL, and NIA VARDALOS,
Directed by JAMES VÁSQUEZ

Performances Will Run February 9 – March 10, 2019

PHOTO EDITORS: Advance photos for Tiny Beautiful Things are available by clicking here.

SAN DIEGO (January 15, 2019)—The Old Globe today announced the cast and creative team for the West Coast premiere of Tiny Beautiful Things, based on the best-selling book by Cheryl Strayed (Torch, Brave Enough, Wild, “Dear Sugar”), adapted for the stage by Academy Award nominee Nia Vardalos (My Big Fat Greek Wedding, Instant Mom). Co-conceived by Marshall Heyman (“Dietland”), Thomas Kail (Hamilton, Fox’s Grease Live!), and Vardalos, and directed by Globe favorite James Vásquez (American Mariachi, Dr. Seuss’s How the Grinch Stole Christmas!), Tiny Beautiful Things will run February 9 – March 10, 2019 in the Sheryl and Harvey White Theatre, Conrad Prebys Theatre Center, opening on Thursday, February 14. Tickets are on sale now starting at $30.00 and can be purchased online at www.TheOldGlobe.org, by phone at (619) 23-GLOBE, or by visiting the Box Office at 1363 Old Globe Way in Balboa Park.

Tiny Beautiful Things follows the relationships between an anonymous advice columnist named Sugar and the many real-life readers who pour out their hearts to her. Nia Vardalos adapts Cheryl Strayed’s book into an enrapturing and uplifting play that surges with emotion and is called by Variety “a theatrical hug in turbulent times.” Tiny Beautiful Things is about reaching when you’re stuck, recovering when you’re broken, and finding the courage to ask the questions that are hardest to answer. Tissues recommended. Contains strong language and adult content.

The cast includes Opal Alladin as Sugar (the Globe’s Hamlet, Broadway’s The Lifespan of a Fact and Tony Award–nominated Travesties, United 93), Keith Powell as Letter Writer #1 (“30 Rock,” Icebergs at Geffen Playhouse, Romeo and Juliet), Avi Roque as Letter Writer #3 (Hir at Cygnet Theatre Company, “Chicago Fire”), and Dorcas Sowunmi as Letter Writer #2 (Off Broadway’s Nollywood Dreams, regional A Raisin in the Sun).

The creative team includes Wilson Chin (Scenic Design), Shirley Pierson (Costume Design), Amanda Zieve (Lighting Design), Melanie Chen Cole (Sound Design), Caparelliotis Casting (Casting), and Chandra R.M. Anthenill (Production Stage Manager).

“Tiny Beautiful Things is a moving and gentle play that demonstrates the theatre’s special superpower: empathy,” said Erna Finci Viterbi Artistic Director Barry Edelstein. “Cheryl Strayed and her famous ‘Dear Sugar’ advice column showed that all of our unique stories ultimately bind us to each other and to the shared story of the extraordinary adventure of being human. Through love, loss, laughter, through family and friendship, we all yearn for connection and for kindness. This remarkable piece of theatre is by turns funny, sweet, and sad and is a highlight of the Globe’s season, and in James Vásquez’s beautiful production it embodies what the Globe values most: art that offers us a glimpse of grace and compassion. I am so pleased to bring it to San Diego.”

Cheryl Strayed (Original Book) is the author of Tiny Beautiful Things, Torch, Brave Enough, and the No. 1 New York Times best seller Wild. Her books have been translated into more than 40 languages around the world. The Academy Award–nominated film adaptation of Wild was released in 2014. Ms. Strayed’s essays and stories have appeared in The Best American Essays, Vogue, The New York Times, The Washington Post, and elsewhere. She is the co-host of The New York Times’s “Dear Sugar Radio” podcast, which originated with her popular “Dear Sugar” column.

Nia Vardalos (Adaptor, Co-Conceiver) is an alumna of Chicago’s The Second City and a Joseph Jefferson Award winner whose most recent theatre credits include Sugar in Tiny Beautiful Things directed by Thomas Kail in two consecutive seasons (The Public Theater) and Jennie in Company directed by Gary Griffin (Theatre 20). Her writing/acting credits for film include My Big Fat Greek Wedding and its sequel(Academy Award and Golden Globe Award nominations, Independent Spirit and People’s Choice Awards), Connie and Carla, and I Hate Valentine’s Day. Her film and television acting credits include My Life in Ruins; For a Good Time, Call…; “Graves”; and “Jane the Virgin.” Ms. Vardalos’s memoir Instant Mom was a New York Times best seller, and all proceeds are donated to adoption groups.

Marshall Heyman (Co-Conceiver) has written for The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, The New Yorker, Vanity Fair, Vogue, InStyle, W, Harper’s Bazaar, New York, and many others. He recently wrote for the AMC show “Dietland.”

Thomas Kail (Co-Conceiver) directed the Broadway productions of Hamilton (Tony Award), In the Heights (Tony nomination), Lombardi,and Magic/Bird. His selected credits include the world premieres of Hamilton, Dry Powder, Tiny Beautiful Things,and Kings (The Public Theater), the world premiere of In the Heights, Broke-ology, and the world premiere of When I Come to Die (Lincoln Center Theater), and the world premiere of Daphne’s Dive (Signature Theatre Company). He is the co-creator and director of the hip-hop improv group Freestyle Love Supreme. Mr. Kail’s television credits include “Fosse/Verdon” (upcoming), Grease Live! (two Emmy Awards),“2 Broke Girls,”and The Oprah Winfrey Oscar Special.

James Vásquez (Director) recently directed the world premiere of American Mariachi at The Old Globe. Previously with the Globe, he directed Dr. Seuss’s How the Grinch Stole Christmas!, Rich Girl, and Richard O’Brien’s The Rocky Horror Show; served as associate director for Dr. Seuss’s The Lorax; andprovided musical staging for The Comedy of Errors, Boeing-Boeing,and A Midsummer Night’s Dream, among others. With The Old Globe and University of San Diego Shiley Graduate Theatre Program, he has directed Clybourne Park and the world premiere of Acquainted with the Night. He received the Craig Noel Award for Outstanding Direction of a Musical in 2018 for In the Heights (Moonlight Stage Productions) and in 2010 for Sweeney Todd (Cygnet Theatre Company). His other recent directing/choreography credits include American Mariachi (Denver Center for the Performing Arts Theatre Company), The Lorax (Children’s Theatre Company), The Addams Family and Chicago (Moonlight Stage Productions), West Side Story and Cats (San Diego Musical Theatre),the West Coast premiere of [title of show], Pippin,and Next Fall (Diversionary Theatre), and Hedwig and the Angry Inch and Pageant (Cygnet Theatre Company), as well as developmental workshops at La Jolla Playhouse and Goodspeed Musicals. Mr. Vásquez is a graduate of The Juilliard School.

Tiny Beautiful Things at The Old Globe is supported in part through gifts from Production Sponsors Sheila and Jeffrey Lipinsky and Theatre Forward. Financial support for The Old Globe is provided by The City of San Diego.

Additional events taking place during the run of Tiny Beautiful Things include:

VICKI AND CARL ZEIGER INSIGHTS SEMINAR: Tuesday, February 12, 2019 at 5:30 p.m.
This series provides an opportunity to closely connect with productions both onstage and backstage. A panel selected from the artistic company of each show (playwrights, actors, directors, designers, and/or technicians) engages patrons in an informal and illuminating presentation of ideas and insights to enhance the theatregoing experience. Reception at 5:00 p.m. FREE; no reservations necessary.

POST-SHOW FORUMS: Tuesdays, February 19 and 26, and Wednesday, March 6, 2019.
Join us after the show for an informal and enlightening question-and-answer session with cast, crew, and/or Globe staff members. Get the inside story on creating a character and putting together a professional production. FREE for ticket holders of each evening’s performance.

SUBJECT MATTERS: Saturday, February 16, 2019 following the matinee performance.
Explore the ideas and issues raised by a production through brief, illuminating post-show discussions with local experts, such as scientists, artists, historians and scholars. Subject Matters will ignite discussion, bring the play's concerns into sharp focus, and encourage you to think beyond the stage! FREE; no reservations necessary.

AXIS EVENT: I Love Africa: Saturday, February 9, 11:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
Enjoy Zimbabwe-born musician and vocalist Piwai in concert. She will also teach an African-dance workshop, followed by a drumming workshop with Nana Obrafo Yaw Asiedu. There will be games, face painting, and the opportunity to create a traditional African mask craft with the support of a Globe Teaching Artist. Part of the Globe’s AXIS performing art series for the whole family. FREE.

Tickets to Tiny Beautiful Things start at $30.00 and are on sale now. Tickets can be purchased online at www.TheOldGlobe.org, by phone at (619) 23-GLOBE [234-5623], or by visiting the Box Office at 1363 Old Globe Way in Balboa Park. Discounts are available for full-time students, patrons 29 years of age and under, seniors, military members, and groups of 10 or more.

Performances begin on February 9 and continue through March 10, 2019 in the Sheryl and Harvey White Theatre, Conrad Prebys Theatre Center. Preview performances run February 9–13. Opening night is Thursday, February 14 at 8:00 p.m. Regular performances: Tuesday and Wednesday evenings at 7:00 p.m., Thursday and Friday evenings at 8:00 p.m., Saturdays at 2:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m., and Sundays at 2:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. There will be an additional matinee performance on Wednesday, February 27 and no matinee performance on Saturday, March 2.

LOCATION and PARKING INFORMATION: The Old Globe is located in San Diego’s Balboa Park at 1363 Old Globe Way. Through a special arrangement with the San Diego Zoo, Old Globe evening ticket-holders have the opportunity to pre-purchase valet parking in the Zoo’s employee parking structure. With a drop-off point just a short walk to the Globe, theatregoers may purchase fast, easy, convenient valet parking for just $14 per vehicle per evening. Pre-paid only, available only by phone through the Old Globe Box Office. Call (619) 234-5623 or visit www.theoldglobe.org/plan-your-visit/directions--parking/valet-parking. The Balboa Park valet is also available during weekend performances, located in front of the Japanese Friendship Garden. For additional parking information visit www.BalboaPark.org.

There are numerous free parking lots available throughout the park. Guests may also be dropped off in front of the Mingei International Museum. There is a 10-minute zone at The Old Globe, used only for daytime deliveries, ticket purchases, and handicapped access dropoff. For directions and up-to-date information, please visit www.theoldglobe.org/plan-your-visit/directions--parking/detailed-directions.

PLEASE NOTE: To look up online or GPS directions to The Old Globe, please do not use the Delivery Address above. For GPS users, please click here for the map coordinates, and here for written directions to The Old Globe and nearby parking in Balboa Park.

CALENDAR: Powers New Voices Festival (1/18–20), Classical Directing Fellowship (1/22–26), Familiar (1/26–3/3), Tiny Beautiful Things (2/9–3/10), AXIS: I Love Africa with Piwai in concert (2/9), Globe Guilders’s Celebrating Couture Fashion Show (3/22), Life After (3/22–4/28), They Promised Her the Moon (4/6–5/5), AXIS: Happy Birthday, Mr. Shakespeare! (4/20), AXIS: Manila Disco Fever in Concert (5/9), Ken Ludwig’s The Gods of Comedy (5/11–6/16), What You Are (5/30–6/30), AXIS: San Diego’s Gods of Comedy (6/15), As You Like It (6/16–7/21), AXIS: Make Music San Diego (6/21), The Tale of Despereaux (7/6–8/11), Steve Martin’s The Underpants (7/27–8/25), Romeo and Juliet (8/11–9/15), AXIS: Mexican Independence Day Celebration (9/14), 2019 Globe Gala (9/21), AXIS: Day of the Dead (11/3).

PHOTO EDITORS: Digital images of The Old Globe’s productions are available at www.theoldglobe.org/press-room.

The Tony Award-winning Old Globe is one of the country’s leading professional regional theatres and has stood as San Diego’s flagship arts institution for over 80 years. Under the leadership of Erna Finci Viterbi Artistic Director Barry Edelstein and Managing Director Timothy J. Shields, The Old Globe produces a year-round season of 15 productions of classic, contemporary, and new works on its three Balboa Park stages: the Donald and Darlene Shiley Stage in the 600-seat Old Globe Theatre and the 250-seat Sheryl and Harvey White Theatre, both part of The Old Globe’s Conrad Prebys Theatre Center, and the 605-seat outdoor Lowell Davies Festival Theatre, home of its internationally renowned Shakespeare Festival. More than 250,000 people attend Globe productions annually and participate in the theatre’s artistic and arts engagement programs. Numerous world premieres such as the 2014 Tony Award winner for Best Musical, A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder, Meteor Shower, Bright Star, Allegiance, The Full Monty, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels,and the annual holiday musical Dr. Seuss’s How the Grinch Stole Christmas! have been developed at The Old Globe and have gone on to enjoy highly successful runs on Broadway and at regional theatres across the country.

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CAST AND CREATIVE TEAM BIOGRAPHIES

Opal Alladin (Sugar) made her Globe debut in Hamlet in 2017. Her Broadway and Off Broadway productions include The Lifespan of a Fact, Travesties (2018 Tony Award nomination for Best Revival of a Play), Hedda Gabler, On Golden Pond, Close Up Space, What Once We Felt, Romeo and Juliet, A Midsummer Night’s Dream,and The Two Noble Kinsmen. Her regional theatre credits include My Wonderful Day; In the Next Room, or the vibrator play; The Violet Hour; Breath, Boom; Wit; Twelfth Night; The Trojan Women; As You Like It; Antony and Cleopatra; and Henry VI. Ms. Alladin’s film and television credits include the Academy Award–nominated United 93, Before/During/After, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the Shadows, November Criminals, Brown Sugar, Jellysmoke, “The Blacklist: Redemption,” “Elementary,” “The Affair,” “Madam Secretary,” “The Good Wife,” “The Michael J. Fox Show,” “Person of Interest,” “Unforgettable,” “Rescue Me,” “Law & Order,” and “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit.” Ms. Alladin is a graduate of The Juilliard School. She is delighted to be back at the Globe.

Keith Powell (Letter Writer #1) has appeared onstage in Icebergs (Geffen Playhouse;NAACP Theatre Award), Romeo and Juliet (Shakespeare Theatre Company), Lobby Hero (Portland Stage), Macbeth (Pittsburgh Public Theater), As Bees in Honey Drown (Hangar Theatre), The Nerd (Delaware Theatre Company), and The Island (Contemporary Stage Company), among others. He was a series regular on “30 Rock” (Screen Actors Guild Award); recurred on “The Newsroom” and “About a Boy”; and guest starred on “Deadbeat,” “Law & Order,” “Law & Order: Criminal Intent,” “Reno 911!,” and “NCIS: Los Angeles.” He has upcoming appearances on “Lucifer” and “Better Things.”Mr. Powell’s film credits include Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian, Syrup, Lying and Stealing,and My Name Is David (also writer and producer). He was the Producing Artistic Director of Contemporary Stage Company in Wilmington, Delaware, producing and directing plays starring Lynn Redgrave, Keith David, and Jasmine Guy, and in 2018 he directed an episode of the NBC series “Superstore.” Mr. Powell is a graduate of New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts.

Avi Roque (Letter Writer #3) (they/them) is a multidisciplinary artist and a Latinx Trans/Non-Binary individual. They grew up in San Francisco, California and received their B.A. in Theatre from California State University, Fullerton. They most recently appeared as Max in Taylor Mac’s Hir (Cygnet Theatre Company). Roque’s other regional theatre credits include Everybody (California Shakespeare Theater), The Crucible (Steppenwolf Theatre Company), Mother Road (Goodman Theatre), and Men on Boats and We’re Going to Be Okay (American Theater Company). Their television, film, and web series credits include “Chicago Fire,” Landline, To Be with You, Brujos,and Chapstick. Roque is represented by Gray Talent Group. aviroque.com.

Dorcas Sowunmi (Letter Writer #2) is a native Texan who lives in New York City. This marks her Old Globe debut. Her credits include Nollywood Dreams (Cherry Lane Theatre), A Raisin in the Sun (Indiana Repertory Theatre, Syracuse Stage), Romeo and Juliet (Classical Theatre of Harlem), Lines in the Dust (Luna Stage), Mary Stuart and Measure for Measure (Stratford Shakespeare Festival), Short Shakespeare! Macbeth (Chicago Shakespeare Theater), Trust (Lookingglass Theatre Company), I, Barbara Jordan (Alley Theatre), and The Miracle Worker (Indiana Repertory Theatre). Her television credits include “Happy!,” “Modern Love,” “Search Party,” and “The Chicago Code.” Ms. Sowunmi received her M.F.A. in Acting from The University of Texas at Austin. She has also trained at the Birmingham Conservatory for Classical Theatre at Stratford Shakespeare Festival, The School at Steppenwolf, and Stella Adler Studio of Acting. She is represented by Kreindler/Super Management.

Wilson Chin (Scenic Design) returns to The Old Globe after designing Ken Ludwig’s Baskerville: A Sherlock Holmes Mystery, Rich Girl, Othello, The Winter’s Tale,and Anna Christie (Craig Noel Award nomination). His designs for world premiere productions include Next Fall (Broadway), Pulitzer Prize winner Cost of Living (Manhattan Theatre Club, Williamstown Theatre Festival), Pass Over (Lincoln Center Theater, Steppenwolf Theatre Company), The Thanksgiving Play (Playwrights Horizons), Wild Goose Dreams (The Public Theater, La Jolla Playhouse), Teenage Dick (Ma-Yi Theater Company/The Public Theater), My Mañana Comes (The Playwrights Realm), By the Water (Manhattan Theatre Club), Aubergine (Berkeley Repertory Theatre), The Great Leap (Seattle Repertory Theatre), Too Much Too Much Too Many (Roundabout Theatre Company), Len, Asleep in Vinyl (Second Stage Theater), and Tiger Style! (Alliance Theatre, Huntington Theatre Company). His opera designs include Lucia di Lammermoor (Lyric Opera of Chicago), Eine Florentinische Tragödie and Gianni Schicchi (Canadian Opera Company; Dora Mavor Moore Award), and I Am Harvey Milk (Avery Fisher Hall). Mr. Chin is a graduate of Yale School of Drama. @wilsonchindesign.

Shirley Pierson (Costume Design), a San Diego–based, award-winning costume designer, is pleased to return to The Old Globe to design costumes for Tiny Beautiful Things. Previously at the Globe she designed Ken Ludwig’s Baskerville: A Sherlock Holmes Mystery and Rich Girl, and for The Old Globe and University of San Diego Shiley Graduate Theatre Program, she designed Richard III. Her other regional theatre credits include The Fantasticks (Pasadena Playhouse), Hir and Shockheaded Peter (Craig Noel Award for Outstanding Costume Design), The Wind and the Breeze, Pageant, The Importance of Being Earnest (Craig Noel Award nomination), Travesties, Assassins, A Christmas Carol, Parade (Craig Noel Award for Outstanding Costume Design), Spring Awakening, Mistakes Were Made, The Glass Menagerie, Little Shop of Horrors, Our Town, Cabaret, Sweeney Todd, Private Lives, It’s a Wonderful Life, and The History Boys (Cygnet Theatre Company), The Moors, The Boy Who Danced on Air, Now or Later, Marry Me a Little, The Further Adventures of Hedda Gabbler, When Last We Flew, Pippin, Next Fall, and Harmony, Kansas (Diversionary Theatre), and Seascape and Into the Woods (New Village Arts). Ms. Pierson has also designed costumes and puppets for Kaiser Permanente’s Educational Theatre Program, which focuses on issues of literacy, nutrition, and conflict management in schools throughout Southern California. Ms. Pierson received her M.F.A. in Theatrical Design from San Diego State University. shirleypiersondesigns.com.

Amanda Zieve (Lighting Design) is delighted to be back at The Old Globe, having previously designed Barefoot in the Park, Native Gardens, The Wanderers, and Rich Girl. She recently designed Sweeney Todd and Roof of the World (Kansas City Repertory Theatre) and Billy Elliot: The Musical and Titanic (Signature Theatre Company). Her associate credits include The Heart of Rock & Roll, Bright Star, and Allegiance (The Old Globe) and Escape to Margaritaville, Hollywood, The Hunchback of Notre Dame, and Chasing the Song (La Jolla Playhouse). She enjoys a career in both San Diego and New York City, where she had the privilege of working on her 17th Broadway production this spring. One of her most rewarding experiences has been assisting on Hamilton. She received her B.A. in Theatre from California State University, Northridge. amandazieve.com.

Melanie Chen Cole (Sound Design) is delighted to be returning to The Old Globe after designing The Imaginary Invalid in 2017.Sheis a San Diego–based sound designer who has worked all over the country. Her recent regional credits include the 2019 POP Tour Light Years Away, At the Old Place, and the 2017 POP Tour #SuperShinySara (La Jolla Playhouse), Aubergine, Actually, and Vietgone (San Diego Repertory Theatre), Steel Magnolias (Dallas Theater Center), Sherwood: The Adventures of Robin Hood (PlayMakers Repertory Company), Mrs. Warren’s Profession (A Noise Within), Moon Over Buffalo, The Father, and This Random World (North Coast Repertory Theatre), Miss Bennet: Christmas at Pemberley, Avenue Q, and Men on Boats (New Village Arts), and Smokefall and Bachelorette (Backyard Renaissance Theatre Company). She holds an M.F.A. in Sound Design for Theatre & Dance from UC San Diego. melaniesound.com.

Caparelliotis Casting (Casting) has cast for The Old Globe for the past five seasons, including Familiar, Barefoot in the Park, Native Gardens, The Wanderers, The Importance of Being Earnest, Picasso at the Lapin Agile, and Skeleton Crew. Their Broadway casting credits include The Waverly Gallery, The Boys in the Band, Three Tall Women, Saint Joan, Junk, Meteor Shower, A Doll’s House Part 2, The Front Page, Les Liaisons Dangereuses, The Glass Menagerie, Jitney, The Little Foxes, The Father, Blackbird, An Act of God, Airline Highway, Fish in the Dark, It’s Only a Play, Disgraced, Holler If Ya Hear Me, Casa Valentina, The Snow Geese, Orphans, The Trip to Bountiful, Grace, Dead Accounts, The Other Place, Seminar, The Columnist, Stick Fly, Good People, Bengal Tiger at the Baghdad Zoo, The House of Blue Leaves, Fences, Lend Me a Tenor, and The Royal Family. They also cast for Manhattan Theatre Club, Atlantic Theater Company, Signature Theatre Company, LCT3, Ars Nova, Goodman Theatre, Steppenwolf Theatre Company, McCarter Theatre Center, and Arena Stage, among others. Their film and television credits include HairBrained with Brendan Fraser, “New Amsterdam” (NBC), “American Odyssey” (NBC), “How to Get Away with Murder” (ABC pilot), “Ironside” (NBC), and Steel Magnolias (Sony for Lifetime).

Chandra R.M. Anthenill (Production Stage Manager) has worked on the Globe productions of A Midsummer Night’s Dream and Twelfth Night (Globe for All), Dr. Seuss’s The Lorax, A Thousand Splendid Suns, Guys and Dolls, Camp David, and The Comedy of Errors. Her credits as production stage manager include Fun Home, Beachtown, Roz & Ray, Into the Beautiful North, R. Buckminster Fuller: THE HISTORY (and Mystery) OF THE UNIVERSE, Outside Mullingar, The Oldest Boy, Everybody’s Talkin’: The Music of Harry Nilsson, Oedipus El Rey, and Honky (San Diego Repertory Theatre), The Last Wife, Bad Jews, Sons of the Prophet, True West, Fool for Love, Spring Awakening, Assassins, and Company (Cygnet Theatre Company), and Pippin (Diversionary Theatre). Her credits as assistant stage manager include Junk: The Golden Age of Debt (La Jolla Playhouse), In the Next Room or the vibrator play, The Who’s Tommy, Walter Cronkite Is Dead, Tortilla Curtain, and Zoot Suit (San Diego Repertory Theatre), and Dirty Blonde (Cygnet Theatre Company). Ms. Anthenill is a proud member of Actors’ Equity Association.