
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
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)
Tickets start at $25
Discounts available for groups of 6+
90 minutes with no intermission
Wednesday - Thursday, 7:30pm
Friday, 8:00pm
Saturday, 2:30pm and 8:00pm
Sunday, 2:30pm
For mature audiences
713.527.0123
boxoffice@stagestheatre.com
Groups of 6 or more please contact 713.527.0123 or groups@stagestheatre.com