LA JOLLA–La Jolla Playhouse presents the Pulitzer Prize-winning play Ruined by Lynn Nottage (“Intimate Apparel, Crumbs from the Table of Joy“) and directed by South Africa native Liesl Tommy, in the Mandell Weiss Theatre through December 19
In a small town in the war-torn Democratic Republic of Congo, Mama Nadi runs a cozy brothel where a soldier can put down his weapon and spend the evening in the company of beautiful women – for a price. Mama Nadi both protects and profits from the young women who work for her, and she is determined to keep the war at bay and the money flowing at any cost. But it’s the hope of these courageous women that ultimately prevails. Expertly navigating relationships and politics, Ruined is rich with humor and music, celebrating the triumph of the human spirit.
Ruined is a co-production with Berkeley Repertory Theatre and the Huntington Theatre Company.
The cast features Oberon K.A. Adjepong as “Christian,” Pascale Armand (Playhouse’s The Love of Three Oranges) as “Salima,” Jason Bowen as “Fortune,” Carla Duran as “Sophie,” Wendell Franklin as “Jerome,” Zainab Jah as “Josephine,” Joseph Kamal (Playhouse’s Culture Clash’s Zorro in Hell) as “Mr. Harari,” Adesoji Odukogbe as “Musician 2,” Kola Ogundiran as “Laurent,” Okieriete Onaodowan as “Simon,” Tonye Patano as “Mama Nadi,” Adrian Roberts as “Commander Osembenga” and Alvin Terry as “Musician 1.”
Winner of the 2009 Pulitzer Prize for Drama, Ruined was extended multiple times off-Broadway and has earned numerous awards, including the Obie Award for Best New American Play and the Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Play.
Tickets are $31 – $66 and are available at the Playhouse Box Office: (858) 550-1010 or online at LaJollaPlayhouse.org.