KALAMAZOO—Face Off Theatre Company opens their third season with Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Suzan Lori Park’s In the Blood.

In this modern take on Nathaniel Hawthorne’s The Scarlet Letter, Hester La Negrita, a homeless mother of five, lives with her kids on the tough streets of the inner city. Her eldest child is teaching her how to read and write, but the letter “A” is, so far, the only letter she knows. While Hester’s kids fill her life with joy,  adults with whom she comes into contact only hold her back.

The cast for this Kalamazoo production consists of actors from the community, graduates of Western’s theater program, as well as current students: Marisa Rodriguez, Avery Kenyatta, Cameron Nickola, Jordan Mosely, Marissa Harrington, and Justin Montgomery.

Directing this season opener is founding company member, Tanisha Pyron.  Ms. Pyron is a Chicago actress and graduate of Western Michigan University’s theater program.  She also received her MFA in acting at University of Illinois.  Tanisha is a visual artist and content contributor for Afropunk & 50 Shades of Black. Her recent credits and professional accomplishments include a successful run of Midsummer Nights Dream as Titania and an extended run as Shawnta Iyun with Curious Theatre Companies production of Marcus or the Secret of Sweet.

The production will take place at the Epic Center’s Judy K. Joliffe Theatre at 359 S. Kalamazoo Mall Suite 202 in Kalamazoo. Tickets prices range from $10.00 to $20.00 and are available at faceofftheatre.com and blackartskalamazoo.org.

*Warning:  This production contains explicit language, adult themes, and sexual content.  Not appropriate for youth under 15 years old.

The production will coincide with the 2017 Black Arts Festival.