WORLD PREMIERE

Balls

October 11 - 29, 2017

by Kevin Armento and Byrony Lavery

It’s 1973, and Houston’s Astrodome is playing host to one of the biggest pop cultural events of all time as Billie Jean King and Bobby Riggs face-off in 'The Battle of the Sexes' tennis match! Created in conjunction with New York‘s acclaimed One Year Lease Theater Company, Balls is a spectacular new work that bounces one of the most memorable tennis events of all-time off the cultural debates it ignited. Co-written by Tony Award nominee Bryony Lavery and Edinburgh Stage Award winner Kevin Armento, Balls embraces OYL’s high-intensity physical groove and features a shot-by-shot re-imagining of the entire match, in a carnival-like atmosphere! This World Premiere is must-see theatre from one of the nation’s most promising new companies.

PRODUCERS

Richard L. Danforth
Cynthia and Ben Guill
Jane and Dick Schmitt

EDUCATION SPONSOR

Victoria and Alex Lazar

Made possible in part through the City of Houston

Photos

Production photos

Rehearsal shots

Artists

Directors
Ianthe Demos
Nick Flint

Movement Director
Natalie Lomonte

Cast
Danny Bernardy    
Donald Corren    
Alex Gould        
Danté Jeanfelix    
Zakiya Markland    
Olivia McGiff        
Elisha Mudly        
Cristina Pitter        
Richard Saudek    
Ellen Tamaki    

Sound Designer
Brendan Aanes

Properties Designer
Jodi Bobrovsky

Costumes Designer
Kenisha Kelly

Lighting Designer
Mike Riggs

Scenic Designer
Kristen Robinson

Dramaturg
Jessica Applebaum

Production Stage Manager
Kate Shelton

Assistant Stage Manager
Stephanie Britton

Video

Get a sneak peek at Balls! (10/13/17)

Check out this great interview with Billie Jean King on Late Night with Seth Meyers! (9/20/17)

Press

"Balls is a grand slam...One Year Lease, known for its physically complex and highly choreographed theater, doesn’t disappoint."
- Houston Press

"the physicality of the performance is staggering...a captivating, visceral spectacle from end to end"
- Houstonia Magazine (review)

"a meticulous show...deliberate and muscular. Balls  approaches King's fascinating biography with glee and perspective and a tone that's both light-hearted and cutting"
- Houston Chronicle (review)

"audacity, daring and a dash of recklessness...it reminds us what theater can do."
- CutureMap (review)

"We thought all of a sudden: This is a Houston-born historic event that more people than watched the Super Bowl that year witnessed..."
- Houstonia Magazine (feature)
 

"We wanted to explore pulling back the skin of the match and look underneath," Flint says. "The play doesn't make any judgments, but I think it does raise all the questions and puts them under the microscope. What has changed? What was achieved?"
- Houston Chronicle (feature)