Sex on Sunday

Trustus Theatre brings Sex on Sunday by Chisa Hutchison to the Cohn Side Door Theatre under the direction of Eric Bulltman. this July. Showing from July 7 – July 15, 2017,Sex on Sunday is a socially probing comedy about a dominatrix that is trying to fit in with her extremely conservative uptown neighbors. Tickets may be purchased at www.trustus.org, or by calling the Trustus Box Office at (803) 254-9732. This play is suggested for mature audiences only.
Sex on Sunday explores how we deal with our desires, fetishes, taboos, and the world around us that may not understand. When Laila moves into a new place uptown, surrounded by conservative, nosey, and catty neighbors, she has to work a little harder than most to fit in. Laila is trying her best to make new connections while keeping her business private – which becomes increasingly difficult when she starts dating a submissive, and her neighbors start looking closer into her career. Laila’s life becomes even more difficult when the husband of one of those neighbors becomes obsessed with Laila and blackmails her into offering him her service. Sex on Sunday masterfully challenges taboos on sex, race, relationships, and gender bias leaving everyone involved begging for more.

Chisa Hutchinson’s work will make its South Carolina premiere with Trustus’ production of Sex on Sunday. Chisa has been receiving a lot of attention in the NYC theatre scene. This summer her most recent play, Somebody’s Daughter, premiered and received an extended run at Off-Broadway’s Second Stage Theatre; the theatre that was responsible for 2017 Tony Award Winner for Best Musical Dear Evan Hansen. As a four-year member of the New Dramatists, Chisa has received many awards for her writing including the Lanford Wilson award.

Trustus Artistic Director Chad Henderson was excited to bring this work by Chisa Hutchison to the Cohn Side Door Theatre. “Sex on Sunday is incredibly funny, and devilishly enticing as a piece of theatre,” said Henderson. “Chisa Hutchinson is a new voice in the American Theatre, and she is getting a lot of attention these days. Trustus continually strives to bring exciting contemporary works to the Capital City so that our patrons can see it here first. Sex on Sunday delves into social expectations, the masks we wear in the public, and the lives we live in private – all rather universal explorations that audiences can relate to. In a time when we’re extremely connected and willing to share our lives and experiences through social media and other platforms, this play is interesting to me because it examines an aspect of the human experience that society often expects us to keep private or locked away: our sexuality. Through the journey of these characters, we get to see how our private lives can become complicated once privacy begins to thin and our true selves are laid bare – no pun intended. This will be an incredibly fun piece for audiences this summer, and an especially tantalizing date night.”

Sex on Sunday will run from July 7 – July 15, 2017 and tickets are on sale now. Tickets can be purchased by calling the Trustus Theatre Box Office at (803) 254-9732 or online at trustus.org. Opening night is Friday, July 7, at 8pm. The performances following are on Saturday, July 8, at 8pm; Sunday, July 9, at 3pm; Wednesday, July 12, at 7:30pm; Thursday, July 13, at 7:30pm; Friday, July 14, at 8pm; Saturday, July 15, at 8pm.

Photos by Singing Fox Creative

Rock of Ages

Trustus Theatre brings the hit musical Rock of Ages by Chris D’Arienzo to the Thigpen Main Stage this summer. Showing from June 2 – July 1, 2017, this show brings chart-topping 1980s hair-band tunes together for a musical where the audience will be singing along all evening. Tickets may be purchased at www.trustus.org, or by calling the Trustus Box Office at (803) 254-9732.

By the end of the 1980s,Hollywood’s legendary Sunset Strip has definitely seen it’s better days. The sex, drugs and rock and roll scene has been raging hard but the fairytale is about to be shattered, as those at the storied Bourbon Room venue are well aware. German developers have come to town and they’re not leaving until they have thrown out the wild party venues and implemented a more “clean living” atmosphere along the Strip. Drew, resident toilet cleaner, is waiting for his chance to take the stage at the Bourbon Room while he chases after Sherrie, a small-town girl who has just moved to Hollywood with stars in her eyes. Will Drew get his big break on stage? Will he get the girl? Will all chaos break loose in an effort to save the Strip? Travel back to the 1980s with Rock of Ages to see if Drew, Sherrie and the gang can save the Strip – and themselves – before it’s too late.

The book was written by Chris D’Arienzo and the musical is directed by Trustus Company Member Dewey Scott-Wiley (Rent, Hair, Reefer Madness The Musical). Music direction is by Trustus Company Member Christopher Cockrell (The Rocky Horror Show, American Idiot) and and Columbia dance artist Monessa Salley of TO Dance Inc. makes her choreographic debut with this production. Rock of Ages features music by Journey, Styx, REO Speedwago, Pat Benetar, Poison, Foreigner, Twisted Sister, Night Ranger, and many more.

Trustus Theatre’s Artistic Director and Rock of Ages cast member, Chad Henderson, had this to say about the show: “There are so many out there who are nostalgic for the 80s, and the songs from that decade continue to burn holes in our heads. Rock of Ages is a self-aware musical comedy that pokes fun at the rock personalities and pop culture of the time. It’s a show about dreamers and dreams. It’s a show about how art can serve us more than shopping malls and other capitalist fare. It’s a show about standing up for what you believe in. When you wrap all of those things into one production, you have a very positive evening in the theatre that will put a smile on your face. Trust us – it’s just plain fun.”

Rock of Ages will run from June 2 – July 1, 2017 and tickets are on sale now. Tickets can be purchased by calling the Trustus Theatre Box Office at (803) 254-9732 or online at trustus.org. Opening night is Friday, June 2, at 8pm. The performances following are on Saturday, June 3, at 8pm; Thursday, June 8, at 7:30pm; Friday, June 9, at 8pm; Saturday, June 10, at 8pm; Sunday, June 11, at 3pm; Thursday, June 15, at 7:30pm; Friday, June 16, at 8pm; Saturday, June 17, at 8pm; Sunday, June 18, at 3pm; Thursday, June 22, at 7:30pm; Friday, June 23, at 8pm; Saturday, June 24, at 8pm; Sunday, June 25, at 3pm; Thursday, June 29, at 7:30pm; Friday, June 30, at 8pm; Saturday, July 1, at 8pm.

Rock of Ages is sponsored by FOX 102.3 and ROCK 99.7.