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World-Premiere Drama

Roe

  • Credits

    Playwright
    Lisa Loomer

    Directed by
    Bill Rauch

    A co-production with
    Oregon Shakespeare Festival
    and Berkeley Repertory Theatre

"Rousing entertainment ... a big play with big ideas."

- Mail Tribune

The lawyer: a young, brilliant, courageous woman arguing Roe v. Wade before the Supreme Court. The plaintiff: a complex, single woman seeking to end an unwanted pregnancy. The landmark 1973 case legalized abortion, but also began their separate journeys that would come to mirror the polarization in American culture. With shocking turns and surprising humor, Roe illuminates the difficult choices women make and the passion each side has for its cause.

Roe is generously sponsored by Susan and Steven Bralove.

Commissioned by Oregon Shakespeare Festival as part of American Revolutions: the United States History Cycle.

Cast

JIM ABELE

Ron Weddington / Jay Floyd / Flip Benham

SARAH JANE AGNEW

Sarah Weddington

KENYA ALEXANDER

Roxanne

MARK BEDARD

Henry McCluskey / Robert Flowers / Abortion Doctor

ZOE BISHOP

Melissa / Emily

SARA BRUNER

Norma McCorvey

CATHERINE CASTELLANOS

Ofelia / Connie Gonzalez

GINA DANIELS

Aileen / Barbara / Uma / Third Pregnant Woman

PAMELA DUNLAP

Molly / Mary

RICHARD ELMORE

Doctor Kennedy / Henry Wade / Justice Blackmun

SUSAN LYNSKEY

Linda Coffee / Judy / First Pregnant Woman / Peggy

AMY NEWMAN

Helen / Second Pregnant Woman / Ronda

Creative

LISA LOOMER

Playwright

BILL RAUCH

Director

RACHEL HAUCK

Set Designer

RAQUEL BARRETO

Costume Designer

JANE COX

Lighting Designer

PAUL JAMES PRENDERGAST

Original Composition / Sound Designer

WENDALL K. HARRINGTON

Projection Designer

JOY DICKSON

Casting Director

REBECCA CLARK CAREY

Voice and Text Director

TOM BRYANT

Dramaturg

JEREMY EISEN

Stage Manager

MARNE ANDERSON

Assistant Stage Manager

OREGON SHAKESPEARE FESTIVAL

BERKELEY REPERTORY THEATRE

Multimedia

Photo of Sarah Jane Agnew, Mark Bedard and Jim Abele by C. Stanley Photography.
Photo of Sara Bruner and Gina Daniels, with Jim Abele, by C. Stanley Photography.
Photo of Sara Bruner, Gina Daniels, Mark Bedard and Susan Lynskey by C. Stanley Photography.
Photo of Sara Bruner, Sarah Jane Agnew and Susan Lynskey by C. Stanley Photography.
Photo of Sara Bruner and Jim Abele, with Zoe Bishop and Amy Newman, by C. Stanley Photography.
Photo of Sara Bruner and Richard Elmore by C. Stanley Photography.
Photo of Catherine Castellanos and Sara Bruner by Jenny Graham.
Photo of Sarah Jane Agnew, Susan Lynskey, Amy Newman and Pamela Dunlap by C. Stanley Photography.
Photo of Sara Bruner and Zoe Bishop by C. Stanley Photography.
Photo of Sara Bruner and Sarah Jane Agnew by C. Stanley Photography.
Photo of Zoe Bishop, Pamela Dunlap, Sara Bruner and Catherine Castellanos by C. Stanley Photography.

Program PDF

Roe program