Press Release Theater Up Close returns with the South Florida Premiere of Clyde's by Lynn Nottage - November 2-19

Zoetic Stage and the Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts of Miami-Dade County Present

CLYDE’S
By Lynn Nottage
Directed by Stuart Meltzer

South Florida Premiere!

A New York Times Critic’s Pick

Formerly incarcerated workers at a truck stop sandwich shop seek redemption and purpose through building the perfect sandwich in this comedy sensation

Thursday, November 2, 2023 – Preview
Friday, November 3, 2023 – Opening Night
through November 19, 2023
Tickets: $55-$60*
Carnival Studio Theater

Miami, FL – October 12, 2023 – Zoetic Stage (@ZoeticStageMIA) and the Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts of Miami-Dade County (@arshtcenter) are proud to present the South Florida premiere of Lynn Nottage’s comedy hit CLYDE’S, which humorously explores how kitchen workers at a truck stop sandwich shop seek to rebuild their lives and find purpose after incarceration. Written by two-time Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Lynn Nottage (MJ the Musical) and featuring an all-local cast, CLYDE’S kicks off Zoetic Stage’s 14^th season at the Arsht Center.

Tickets to CLYDE’S are $55 and $60*. Tickets may be purchased at the Adrienne Arsht Center box office by calling (305) 949-6722, or online at arshtcenter.org.

Audiences are invited to sample some of the sandwiches featured in the show on Friday, November 3, for an opening night celebration. Local food truck Ms. Cheezious (@mscheezious) will be serving up a customized menu on the Thomson Plaza for the Arts beginning at 6 p.m.

Zoetic Stage will continue their Second Sunday Talkback series immediately following the matinee performance on Sunday, November 12.

The Arsht Center’s THEATER UP CLOSE series gratefully acknowledges the founding support of Adrianne and Jerry L. Cohen.

"We are so thrilled to present Clyde's to the South Florida community,” said Zoetic Stage Artistic Director Stuart Meltzer. “Lynn Nottage wrote a truly funny, insightful and stunning play that I know audiences will be talking about for a while. There is little wonder why Clyde's is one of the most sought-after and produced plays in the country."

In CLYDE’S, a truck-stop sandwich shop offers its formerly incarcerated kitchen staff a shot at redemption. Even as the shop’s callous owner tries to keep them down, the staff members learn to reclaim their lives, find purpose and become inspired to dream by their shared quest to create the perfect sandwich. The Hollywood Reporter called the play “a poignant story about worker solidarity and the meaning of second chances, loaded with laugh-out-loud funny jokes.” CLYDE’S is the second Nottage play to be produced by Zoetic Stage, following the success of Mlima’s Tale last October.

CLYDE’S features an all-local cast of Zoetic Stage veterans: Karen Stephens (American Son), Gabriell Salgado (Frankenstein, GringoLandia), Sydney Presendieu (Mlima’s Tale), Kristian Bikic (#Graced) and Randy Coleman in his Zoetic debut.

The play’s creative team features scenic design by Natalie Taveras and Jodi Dellaventura, properties and costume design by Natasha Hernandez, lighting design by Tony Galaska and sound design by Matt Corey.

CLYDE’S is directed by Zoetic Stage Artistic Director Stuart Meltzer. Stuart is a Miami native and the proud recipient of numerous Carbonell Awards for Best Director. He is also a Carbonell Award winner for Best New Work for his play The Goldberg Variations. Altogether, he has been honored with eighteen Carbonell nominations. 

ABOUT THE PLAYWRIGHT
Lynn Nottage is a playwright and a screenwriter. She is the first, and remains the only, woman to have won the Pulitzer Prize for Drama twice. Her plays have been produced widely in the United States and throughout the world.

For detailed cast and crew bios, click here.

@ArshtCenter               #ArshtCenter

*All programs, artists, ticket prices, availability, dates and times are subject to change without notice. Additional fees may apply. Visit arshtcenter.org for up-to-date information.

The Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts of Miami-Dade County is made possible by the public support of the Miami-Dade County Mayor and the Board of County Commissioners, the Miami-Dade County Department of Cultural Affairs and the Cultural Affairs Council, the Miami-Dade County Tourist Development Council and the City of Miami Omni Community Redevelopment Agency, as well as the State of Florida, Department of State, Division of Arts and Culture and the Florida Council on Arts and Culture. The Adrienne Arsht Center also receives generous support from individuals, corporations and local, state and national foundations.

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AboutUs
Set in the heart of downtown Miami, the Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts of Miami-Dade County is committed to welcoming and connecting ALL people to the arts, to the Arsht Center and to each other. Our stages are alive year-round with artists from around the world, innovative programming from our resident companies and local arts partners, free community events that reflect Miami’s unique identity and arts education experiences for thousands of Miami children each year.

 Since opening in 2006, the Arsht Center, a 501C3 non-profit organization, has been recognized as a catalyst for billions of dollars in new development in the downtown area, a leader in programming that mirrors South Florida’s diversity, a host venue for historic events and Miami’s hub for arts education.

Each year, we serve more than 60,000 young learners and offer more than 100 culturally diverse and inclusive education programs — many enhanced by the Arsht Center’s relationship with Miami-Dade County Public Schools, local teaching artists and Miami-based arts organizations.

The Arsht Center is also a home stage for three resident companies — Florida Grand Opera, Miami City Ballet and New World Symphony — and a launch pad for local artists to make their mark on the international stage. Our 300+ events each year include the Center’s Signature Series of classical, jazz, Broadway, local theater and much more. We present a robust series of touring Broadway musicals direct from New York, the largest jazz series in South Florida, a major annual Flamenco Festival and an award-winning Miami-based theater program. In addition, our Family Fest, Free Gospel Sundays, CommuniTEA LGBTQ+ celebration and Heritage Fest are among dozens of free events that bring together people from all corners of our community. For more information, visit arshtcenter.org.

About Zoetic Stage
Zoetic Stage was founded in 2010 to create fresh, bold interpretations of contemporary plays and musicals, and is dedicated to enhancing South Florida’s national artistic profile by producing regional premieres and developing new works to become part of the American stage repertoire.

In 2020, Zoetic Stage was named the Best Theater Company by the Miami New Times. The theater has been nominated for an impressive 140 Carbonell Awards (of which 15 were for Best Production of the Year) and won 42, including six for Best New Work and four for Best Production of a Play or Musical. Zoetic Stage productions have received 48 Silver Palm Awards for Outstanding Achievement. 

Zoetic Stage is an Associate Member of the National New Play Network, a member of Theatre Communications Group and the South Florida Theater League. 

Visit www.zoeticstage.org for more information.