Between riverside and crazy
Written by Stephen Adly Guirgis
A nuanced, dark comedy about character and an incisive indictment of the systems that act upon us.
Directed by Jeff Nahan
City Hall is demanding more than his signature, the Landlord wants him out, the liquor store is closed — and the Church won’t leave him alone. For ex-cop & recent widower Walter “Pops” Washington and his recently paroled son Junior, when the struggle to hold on to one of the last great rent controlled apartments on Riverside Drive collides with old wounds, sketchy new houseguests, and a final ultimatum, it seems the Old Days are dead and gone — after a lifetime living between Riverside and Crazy. Winner of the 2015 Pulitzer Prize for Drama.
May 17 - July 7, 2024
Curtain Times:
Please note new evening curtain times!
Fridays | 8 P.M.
Saturdays | 3 P.M. & 8 P.M.
Sundays | 3 P.M.
The Theatre always opens one hour before curtain time. Please arrive early as we have General Seating. The Rep is famous for starting exactly on time. The Theatre has an expanded menu in the kitchen. The kitchen and bar are open one hour before curtain. Please arrive early and enjoy our food and drink.
*Please note, due to the intimacy of the theatre, latecomers will not be seated.
*Please also note, Between Riverside and Crazy contains mature language and content.
The Playwright
Stephen Adly Guirgis is a longtime member of NYC's LAByrinth Theater Company. His plays have been produced on five continents and throughout the United States. They include: the extended, sold-out run of THE LAST DAYS OF JUDAS ISCARIOT, OUR LADY OF 121st STREET (named one of the ten best plays of 2003; Lucille Lortel, Drama Desk, Outer Critics Circle Best Play Nominations), JESUS HOPPED THE A TRAIN (Edinburgh Fringe First Award, Olivier Nomination as London's Best New Play, Barrymore Award, "Detroit Free Press" Best Play Award), and IN ARABIA WE'D ALL BE KINGS (Ten Best of '99, "TimeOut New York," critics pick, "TimeOut London"). All four plays were originally produced by LAByrinth, directed by Philip Seymour Hoffman, and are published through Dramatists Play Service and by Faber & Faber. Stephen was awarded a 2004 TCG fellowship, attended the 2004 Sundance Screenwriter's Lab, was named one of the 25 New Faces of Independent Film by "Filmaker Magazine," and appeared in "Entertainment Weekly’s" 2005 Summer Must List. He has received new play commissions from Manhattan Theater Club and South Coast Rep, is a member of New Dramatists and the MCC Playwright’s Coalition, and has contributed to "ESOPUS" magazine. Television writing credits include “NYPD Blue,” “The Sopranos,” David Milch’s CBS drama “Big Apple,” and Shane Salerno's NBC drama “UC: Undercover.” As an actor, he has appeared in Brett C. Leonard’s GUINEA PIG SOLO, produced at the Public Theatre in New York, and played leading roles inTodd Solondz's "Palindromes," and Brett C. Leonard's award-winning "Jailbait," opposite Michael Pitt. Currently, he is developing a project with Mos Def and HBO, and is writing his first feature film for Scott Rudin Productions, to be directed by George C. Wolfe. He lives in New York City.
The Company
Jeff Nahan (Director) Hailing from West Philly, Jeff Nahan came to Detroit in 1971, where his new mentor, Wallace F. Smith introduced him to the Detroit Repertory Theatre. From those early shows, The Hairy Ape and Amadee, or How To Get Rid of It, the founders of the REP had a profound influence on his professional theatre career. Now, 52 years later, after directing and producing over 100 productions throughout Michigan, Jeff is back home directing. A strong union member of EQUITY, SAG/AFTRA and SSDC.
David Westley Skillman
Walter “Pops” Washington
David is grateful to return to the DRT stage as Walter “Pops” Washington. He appeared in the Rep’s 66th season production Gem of the Ocean as Solly Two Kings. David has been a professional actor for over 35 years and performed on many stages around San Francisco, CA before moving to Michigan in 2019. Some of his favorite productions include The Trojan Women, Othello, Topdog Underdog, The America Play, and From Okra to Greens. In addition to his vast experience, David has been featured on various films and television series as well as studied with many different companies and coaches, including the American Conservatory Theater and the Screen Actors Conservatory. David is a member of AEA and lives to spread peace, light, and love through sharing and telling stories. He thanks his wife and family for their continued and unconditional support.
Will Street
Oswaldo
Will is a Detroit-based theatre artist. He has been seen twice on The Rep stage as Chris in Sweat and Booth in Topdog/Underdog. He has also starred as Elijah in his semi-biographical one-act Round Midnight//I Got It Bad at Planet Ant Theatre. Most recently he played Miles Davis in Larry Muhammad's Last Night at Mikkel's at the Bunbury Theatre in Louisville, Kentucky. He wants to thank his friends, family, and exes for giving him the deep creative and emotional well to pull from on stage. Enjoy!
John Wolff
Junior
John is a voice actor, dancer, and video game designer. He studied at Boston University and Kansai University in Osaka, Japan. He is fluent in Japanese and co-hosted the Japanese radio show, TeenagePeeps. He is an avid hip-hop, salsa, and bachata dancer. He has performed off-broadway in New York City. He is excited to make his Detroit Rep debut with Between Riverside and Crazy!
Shavonne Coleman
Lulu
Shavonne is an actor, fabulist, playwright, and educator from Detroit, MI. Her most recent roles include Batty Ruth in Akeelah and the Bee and Wendy in Olive and the Bitter Herb. Not just limited to theater, Shavonne has brought her love for acting to short films, poetry, and spinning fables. Beyond traditional productions, she's deeply committed to Applied Theatre projects, using her craft toward organizing and culture change through devising, performance, and storytelling. Shavonne's love for theatre since 12 years old has fostered a diverse artistic journey, currently also working on two commissions as a playwright with Seattle Children's Theatre and a partnership between Spinning Dot Theatre and Eastern Michigan University. Unbelievably, this is this Detroiters debut at the Detroit Repertory Theatre, and she is overjoyed to be part of this production.
Matt Hollerbach
Lieutenant Caro
Matt has been a professional actor for 15 years and is a member of AEA and SAG-AFTRA, in addition to working as the Detroit Rep’s Fiscal Associate. He studied Drama at the University of Michigan, apprenticed with the Purple Rose Theatre in Chelsea, MI and the Barrow Group in New York, and also studied with Labyrinth Theatre and T. Schreiber Studios in New York. He’s performed on many stages around Southeast Michigan and in New York, and his last production at the Detroit Rep was in Devil Dog Six. In addition to his theatre work, Matt works with 313 Care Collective and Detroit Will Breathe as an organizer for street movements combating police brutality, US imperialism, and rising fascism.
Sara Cathryn Wolf
Detective O’Connor
Sara is excited to be a part of Between Riverside and Crazy. She has worked professionally on various southeast Michigan stages for 24 years. Sara is the Artistic Director for Shakespeare Royal Oak, and has also performed there as Beatrice in Much Ado and Ophelia in Hamlet. But, she is no stranger to the Detroit Rep, having also performed in Capital and The House on Poe Street. She is a lecturer at Oakland University in the Department of Music, Theater and Dance and is also a licensed hair stylist.
Kate McClaine
Church Lady
Kate has been a professional actor for 37 years and is a member of SAG-AFTRA, AEA, and UBCP/ACTRA unions. She has an extensive background in acting that includes stage, film, television, and commercials. Kate has degrees in Acting, Arts Administration, Directing, and Women’s Studies from St. Edwards University, College of Santa Fe, and the University of Michigan. You may have seen her perform recently with the Dearborn Players and Detroit Actors Theatre. She married her college sweetheart shortly after they met playing opposite each other as Romeo and Juliet. She has 3 amazing children, but her favorite work ever is playing grandma to her 3 magnificent grandchildren.
