Katori Hall’s The Mountaintop offers personal, vulnerable portrait of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

OTTAWA, January 9, 2019 – It’s 1968. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. has just delivered a speech that is now known as “I’ve Been to the Mountaintop.”  When he returns to his room at the Lorraine Motel, King is visited by Camae, a mysterious maid whose charm disarms the civil rights leader. He doesn’t know it, but this will be the last night of his life. This is the setup of The Mountaintop. Throughout the play, writer Katori Hall’s witty and intelligent dialogue exposes the man behind the movement.

Hall’s Olivier Award-winning The Mountaintop is a window into King’s thoughts on his penultimate day. Hall tears down the myths surrounding the man and presents him as a human being, flawed and whole.

The Mountaintop is a Black Theatre Workshop and Neptune Theatre production. It runs on the GCTC Mainstage from January 22 – February 10.

“Rarely does theatre achieve such invigorating poignancy.”

— The Stage 

“Flawlessly acted with superb direction and stage design.”

— Halifax Bloggers

“As racism surges throughout the world with a whole new sense of bravado, we can see that the fight against hatred will never end neatly.” says GCTC Artistic Director Eric Coates. “We must remember that no matter how deeply Dr. King impacted the world, he was not magical. He was a human being.”

This production of The Mountaintop received acclaim from critics and audiences during its Montreal and Halifax runs and both of its leads, Tristan D. Lalla and Letitia Brookes, won Montreal English Theatre Awards for their performances. The set design, courtesy of Eo Sharp, faithfully recreates the Lorraine Motel, complete with illuminated signage over the fateful balcony.

CAST

Letitia Brookes: Camae

Tristan D. Lalla: Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

CREATIVE TEAM

Sierra Alarie: Apprentice Stage Manager

Deryl Amenya: Sound Collaborator

Howard Davis: Video Designer

Rob Denton: Composer

Birdie Gregor: Stage Manager

ahdri zhina mandiela: Director

David Perreault Ninacs: Lighting Designer

Eo Sharp: Set & Costume Designer

OPENING NIGHT FOR REVIEWERS

Thursday, January 24, 2019. Curtain is at 8:00pm

PERFORMANCE TIMES

Performances begin at 8:00pm Tuesday–Friday. Saturday performances take place at 4:00pm and 8:30 pm Sunday matinee performances begin at 2:00pm with a pay-what-you-decide performance on Sunday, January 27 at 2:00pm and a post-performance talkback will take place on the main stage on Thursday, January 31.

PROLOGUE
The Prologue Series continues to bring exciting discussions and unique experiences to GCTC that take us into the creative process of the plays on our stage. The Prologue Series entry for The Mountaintop takes place on Wednesday, January 23rd at 6:45pm.

TICKETS

Tickets are on sale now at GCTC’s Box Office at 1233 Wellington West at Holland, 613-236-5196 or GCTC.ca. Regular ticket price range: $42 to $58; Rush Tickets $15 for students; $33 for adults.

Tickets can be purchased in person from the GCTC Box Office after noon on the day of performance. Valid student ID required for Student Rush.

SUBSCRIPTIONS

Subscriptions are still available for GCTC’s 2018-19 season. Prices start at $103 for a 3-Play. For more information on the 2018-19 season, visit GCTC.ca or call the GCTC Box Office at 613-236-5196.

THE FRITZI GALLERY

From January 22 to March 10, 2019, the Great Canadian Theatre Company (GCTC) and The Ottawa School of Art (OSA) will present Under Restoration by Shaila Hanscom at the Lorraine “Fritzi” Yale Gallery. In this exhibition, typical nonrepresentational organic shapes and minimalistic arrangements of Shaila’s ceramic installations draw the viewer into a place of contemplative introspection. A vernissage, with an opportunity to meet the artist, will take place Tuesday, January 22nd from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. GCTC’s partnership with the Ottawa School of Art is supported by Cube Gallery.

ABOUT GCTC

GCTC is celebrating its 44th season in 2018–19. We continue to foster, produce and promote excellent theatre that provokes examination of Canadian life and our place in the world. Now in the last year of a 3-year strategic plan, GCTC aims to increase the diversity on it stages, diversify its audiences and deepen their experience. GCTC also continues to embrace artistic risk and to ensure a wide range of theatrical experiences.