Fountain to present Athol Fugard’s newest play, ‘The Blue Iris’

Athol Fugard’s newest play, “The Blue Iris,” will have its U.S. premiere at the Fountain Theatre in Hollywood this summer, continuing the Fountain’s 12-year relationship with the South African writer.

The drama, which will run Aug. 24 to Sept. 16, received its world premiere at the National Arts Festival in South Africa in June, the same month as its author’s 80th birthday. It tells the stories of a widowed farmer and his housekeeper, who confront memories and secrets after a devastating fire.

Stephen Sachs, the Fountain’s co-artistic director, will direct the L.A. production, whose cast will include Morlan Higgins and Jacqueline Schultz.

Fugard visited the Fountain in 2000 to attend a performance of his play “The Road to Mecca.” He later invited Sachs to direct the 2004 world premiere of his “Exits and Entrances” at the 78-seat theater, which has since presented the U.S. or West Coast premieres of several Fugard works, all directed by Sachs.

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