Part One Millennium Approches by Tony Kushner
Directed by Drew Barr
Angels in America: Part I – Millennium Approaches is a powerful play by Tony Kushner that explores the intersecting lives of several characters during the AIDS crisis in 1980s America. Set in New York City, the story follows Prior Walter, who is diagnosed with AIDS, and his partner Louis, who struggles to cope. Meanwhile, closeted Mormon lawyer Joe Pitt wrestles with his identity as his wife Harper deals with her own mental health issues. The story also features the controversial lawyer Roy Cohn, who denies his diagnosis of AIDS and is haunted by his past. The play blends political commentary, personal drama, and magical realism to tackle themes of identity, love, and justice.
Part I won the 1993 Pulitzer Prize for Drama and Tony Award for Best Play, among many other accolades.
Part I will be presented in June, and Part II – Perestroika – will follow in October.
the cast and crew
Director, Drew Barr
Keifer Adkins as Joe Pitt
Our team of talented performers will leave you amazed with their breathtaking performances. From dance routines to acrobatics, we have it all!
Keifer Adkins as Joe Pitt
Keifer Adkins as Joe Pitt
Keifer currently serves as the Director of Development & Outreach at Woodford Theatre. He has over twenty years of performance experience and is thrilled/honored to tell Joe’s story onstage! Some of Keifer’s most memorable acting roles have been Rosencrantz in Rosencrantz & Guildenstern are Dead (Flashback Theatre), Merrick in The Elephant Man (Fountain Square Players), and Harry Roat in Wait Until Dark (Public Theatre of Kentucky). Keifer would like to dedicate these performances to his friends Bailey, Thomas, and Martha.
Shayne Brakefield as Roy Cohn
Passionate about performing arts? We're always looking for fresh talent to join our team. Check out our job openings and become a part of our vibrant community!
Daniel Ellis as Prior Walter
Daniel Ellis is the Executive Artistic Director of Woodford Theatre. He has performed in various productions across the region. He is honored to speak these words in this place, at this time. He offers all of his love to his partner - Casey, and his puppy - Ollie. He hopes you enjoy the show.
Jenny Fitzpatrick as Angel
Catherine Gaffney as Hannah Pitt, Rabbi, Henry, and Ethel
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Catherine Gaffney as Hannah Pitt, Rabbi, Henry, and Ethel
Catherine Gaffney as Hannah Pitt, Rabbi, Henry, and Ethel
Catherine is honored to make her ActOut debut with such a phenomenally talented cast and creative team. Originally from the SF Bay Area, Catherine holds a BA in Theatre Arts and an MFA in Acting/Directing. Here in the Bluegrass, some favorite moments on stage have been in The Cake and The Importance of Being Earnest at AthensWest, Holes at Lexington Children’s Theatre, and The Sound of Music & Fiddler on the Roof at The Lexington Theatre Company. Catherine is also an audiobook narrator and acting teacher. She is eternally grateful to her incredible husband, Sean, for putting up with every dialect she tries and supporting her in telling stories to make the world a better place. @cathgaff
Evander Hodges Sanders as Harper Pitt
Evender Hodges Sanders (Harper Pitt) is an actor, director, playwright, fight choreographer, and the founder/owner of Ingénueity Unlimited. (FB: @IngenueityUnlimited, IG: @ingenueityunlimited.) Her recent acting credits include “The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe” (White Witch) and “Blithe Spirit” (Elvira) with Woodford Theatre, “The Spooky Soirée” (Unquiet Grave & Elizabeth Lavenza) with Ingénueity Unlimited, “The Three Musketeers” (Milady) with Leeds Center for the Arts, “And I Love You Richard” (Kathy) with Message Theatre, “Animals Switching Into Servants” (Fairy Godmother) with Studio Players 10-Minute Play Festival, “Sweet & Deadly” (Connie Bee Rebel) with Bluegrass Mystery Theatre, “Conversation One Night” (Steph) with SmokeyDog Entertainment, and “Blocked” (Anita) with She Dreams Content Development and Production. She also holds certification in various stage combat disciplines with the Society of American Fight Directors. Much love to her husband Mike and daughters Olivia and Audrey for their endless encouragement, and many thanks to YOU for supporting the arts.
Nick Porter as Belize
Join us for our workshops and masterclasses where you'll learn new techniques and skills from our expert performers. Whether you're a seasoned performer or just starting out, we have something for everyone!
Mead Ryder as Louis Ironson
Mead Ryder as Louis Ironson
Mead is honored to be part of this production. He graduated from The New School for Drama in 2017 with a BFA in dramatic arts, focusing on directing. In 2021, he directed and performed in “What am I Supposed to do Knowing You’re in the World,” the winner of the SOOP to Nuts short play fest in Pelham, New York. Recently, he performed as Felix Unger in The Odd Couple and Manolo Costazuela in The Odd Couple(Female Version) at Woodford Theater. He’d like to thank his mom for her support.
Upcoming Performances
Upcoming Performances
Mead Ryder as Louis Ironson
Stay up-to-date with our latest performances and events. Don't miss out on the opportunity to experience the magic of Actoutlex!
Join Our Community
Upcoming Performances
Join Our Community
Join our community of performers and artists who share a passion for creativity and performance. We're always looking for new talent to join our team!
COMING SOON!
COMING TO THE LEXINGTON PAM MILLER DOWNTOWN ARTS CENTER-BLACK BOX THEATRE OCTOBER 3-12, 2025
SHOW TIMES: OCT 3-4 AND 10-11 DOOR AT 7:00PM SHOWTIME 7:30PM
SUNDAY, OCT 12TH DOOR AT 1:30PM SHOWTIME 2:00PM
"Angels in America: Perestroika" is the second part of Tony Kushner's acclaimed play, "Angels in America: A Gay Fantasia on National Themes." Continuing the narrative from "Millennium Approaches," this installment delves deeper into the lives of its characters against the backdrop of 1980s America, exploring themes of identity, politics, and the AIDS crisis.
Synopsis:
The play opens with Aleksii Antedilluvianovich Prelapsarianov, the world's oldest living Bolshevik, delivering a monologue in Moscow, criticizing the notion of progress without political theory. In New York, Prior Walter, now hospitalized due to AIDS-related complications, confides in his friend Belize about his encounter with an angel, who has proclaimed him a prophet. The angel reveals that Heaven resembles a deteriorating San Francisco, abandoned by God since the 1906 earthquake, and insists that humanity must cease moving to restore balance.
Roy Cohn, a powerful lawyer in denial about his AIDS diagnosis, finds himself under the care of Belize. Using his influence, Roy secures a private stash of the experimental drug AZT, depriving other patients of potential treatment. As his condition worsens, he is haunted by the ghost of Ethel Rosenberg, whom he helped convict and execute years earlier.
Joe Pitt, a closeted gay Mormon lawyer, begins a relationship with Louis Ironson, Prior's former partner. However, tensions arise when Louis discovers Joe's conservative legal decisions, leading to a violent confrontation that ends their affair. Meanwhile, Joe's wife, Harper, struggles with her own hallucinations and the realization of her husband's sexuality, ultimately deciding to leave New York for San Francisco in search of a new beginning.
Prior wrestles with the angel, demanding the right to continue living and evolving despite the pain and uncertainty. He ascends to Heaven, confronts the council of angels, and rejects their message to halt human progress, emphasizing the necessity of change and movement for survival. Upon returning to Earth, Prior's health begins to improve, symbolizing hope and resilience.
The play concludes in 1990, five years later, with Prior, Louis, Belize, and Hannah Pitt (Joe's mother) gathering at the Bethesda Fountain in Central Park. They reflect on the past, the ongoing challenges of the AIDS epidemic, and the enduring human spirit, reaffirming the importance of community, love, and the relentless pursuit of progress.
"Perestroika" intricately weaves personal stories with broader societal issues, offering a poignant commentary on the complexities of change, faith, and the human condition during a pivotal era in American history.
Featuring
In alphabetical order
Keifer Adkins as JOE PITT
Shayne Brakefield as ROY COHN
Daniel Ellis as PRIOR WALTER
Jenny Fitzpatrick as ANGEL
Catherine Gaffney as HANNAH PITT
Evender Hodges Sanders as HARPER PITT
Nick Porter as BELIZE
Mead Ryder as LOUIS IRONSON