Recent Tragic Events

written by Craig Wright director Erik Amblad

Mainstage Production
Dates: February 11, 14, 18, 21 @ 7 pm
February 12. 13, 19, 20 @ 2 pm
Venue: The Usual Place, 100 South Maryland Pkwy., Las Vegas, NV 89101
Ticket price: $40 general admission $35 student, senior, military
Alone in her Minneapolis apartment, Waverly awaits the arrival of Andrew, her blind date and only opportunity to take her mind off of the horrendous situation evolving across the country in New York. Recent Tragic Events is a wildly inventive exploration of fate vs. free will, chance vs. destiny, and the importance of human intimacy in the face of unthinkable tragedy.

Director’s Note (from the program)

Two years ago, I had the pleasure of directing the last show A Public Fit produced here at The Usual Place. When we closed A Steady Rain by Keith Huff on February 23rd, 2020, who could have imagined it would take us this long to get back in this room together to share a common creative experience?

So when Ann-Marie talked to me about directing Recent Tragic Events for APF’s return to The Usual Place, I thought she was asking me to direct a show about trauma. She talked to me about the play in June of 2021, and I think the months and months of collective isolation we all have experienced framed the way I initially read the play. But then, I started working on the play with designers and actors. I got in the room with incredibly creative people. Once I got into the room with these people, I was gobsmacked by the truth we discovered about this play. This is not a play about collective trauma.

This is a play about healing.

This is a play about the magic that happens when we laugh with each other and when we connect with each other – especially, in moments of adversity.

Thank you for being here with us. Just by being here you have acted courageously and audaciously. You have made the bold choice to sit in a room to experience something with others – some strangers, some friends, and maybe some people you haven’t seen in two years.

In this theatre, we have a chance to experience something together. That’s the unique power of theatre, and I find that power uniquely healing.