KIND NESS

1986–1993
Theater

About the Production

KIND NESS is a poignant but surreal coming of age comedy that follows the friendships of six characters from their elementary school days through their college years in the 1950's. Ordinary enough—except that one of the six is a gorilla named Buzz. In this work which mixes projections, theater, music and movement, the word “kindness” takes on two meanings: compassion and sympathy as well as likeness and commonality.


Production Team And Cast

Conceived and Written by

Ping Chong, in collaboration with the cast

Directed by

Ping Chong

Lighting Design

Blu

Sound Design

Brian Hallas and Phil Lee

Costume Design

Mel Carpenter

Projection Design

Jan Hartley

Set Design

Anguss Moss

Stage Manager

David Kronick

Cast

Roger Babb, John Fleming, Brian Hallas, Jeannie Hutchins, Lenard Petit, Louise Smith and Louise Sunshine

Performance History

Workshop

Northeastern University, Boston, MA (April 1986)

Premiere

La MaMa E.T.C., New York, NY (May 1986)

Tours

Central Park Summer Stage, New York, NY (August 1988)

Milwaukee Repertory Theatre, Milwaukee, WI (November 1989)

Lafayette College, Easton, PA (February 1989)

Kirby Theatre, Amherst College, Amherst, MA (February 1989)

Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY (February 1989)

Painted Bride Art Center (January 1990)

Trinity College, Hartford, CT (January 1990)

Lied Center for Performing Arts, University of Nebraska, Lincoln, NE (March 1991)

Dance Place by District Curators, Inc. Washington, D.C. (May 1991)

Theatre 95, Cergy-Pontoise, France (April 1992)

Illusion Theatre, Minneapolis, MN (April 1992)

Seattle Group Theater, Seattle, WA (April-May 1993)


Press

Kind Ness, The Chicago Reader, April 30, 1992

Kind Ness, Chopin Theatre, April 1992

'Kindness' Exhibit Creates Primal Environment, The Heights, September 16, 1985

Print

The Script was published in "New Plays IV" by Theater Communication Group

Awards

1987 USA Playwrights' Award

Home Box Office, Inc. and Theater Communications Group’s 1988 Playwrights USE Award


Partners

The Massachusetts Arts Council

The National Endowment for the Arts

The New York State Council on the Arts

The Dalglish Foundation