Sacramento, California – March 22, 2021 Capital Stage offers its fourth Virtual Performances production with SMART PEOPLE by Lydia R. Diamond. This docu-dramedy that follows four of Harvard's brightest as they search for love, success, and identity, first premiered at the Huntington Theatre in Boston in 2014. Capital Stage's Virtual Performances production will be available on demand for FREE from April 20-25, 2021. Judith Moreland returns to direct this "modern-day comedy of manners" after having directed AN OCTOROON in 2017 and BETWEEN RIVERSIDE AND CRAZY in 2019 at Capital Stage. Tickets for this Virtual Performance are FREE (registration required) and currently available on our website at capstage.org.

TICKETS: FREE (Registration Required)

It is the eve of Obama's first election. Four of Harvard University's brightest; a surgeon, an actress, a psychologist, and a neuro-psychiatrist, are all interested in different aspects of the brain, particularly how it responds to race. But like all smart people, they are also searching for love, success, and identity in their own lives. Lydia R. Diamond brings these characters together in this sharp, witty play about social and sexual politics.

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Lydia R. Diamond's award-winning plays include: Smart People, Stick Fly, Voyeurs de Venus, The Bluest Eye, The Gift Horse, Harriet Jacobs, The Inside and Stage Black. Theatres include: Arena Stage, Cort Theatre (Broadway), Chicago Dramatists, Company One, Congo Square, Goodman, Hartford Stage, Huntington, Jubilee, Kansas City Rep, Long Wharf, Lorraine Hansberry, McCarter, Mo’Olelo, MPAACT, New Vic, Playmakers Rep, Plowshares, Second Stage, Steppenwolf, and TrueColors. Commissions include: Arena Stage, Steppenwolf (4), McCarter, Huntington, Center Stage, Victory Gardens and The Roundabout. A recipient of many playwriting awards, Lydia was also an ’05/’06 W.E.B. Du Bois Institute non-resident Fellow, a 2007 TCG/NEA Playwright in Residence at Steppenwolf, an 06/07 Huntington Playwright Fellow and a 2012 Sundance Institute Playwright Lab Creative Advisor. She is a Board Member at Chicago Dramatists and a 2012/2013 Radcliffe Institute Fellow. Lydia is a Northwestern University graduate (’91), has an Honorary Doctorate of Arts from Pine Manor College and is 2013-14 Playwright in Residence at Arena Stage.

Judith Moreland directed BETWEEN RIVERSIDE AND CRAZY in 2019, and AN OCTOROON at Capital Stage in 2017. She’s also directed at The Road Theatre (North Hollywood), The Blank Theatre (Hollywood) and at the UCLA School of Theater, Film and Television where she teaches acting. As an actor her film and television credits include Aftermath, Dark Skies, Blackish, Grey's Anatomy, NCIS, Parks and Recreation, and recurring roles on Bosch and Animal Kingdom. She’s worked with many theater companies including the New York Shakespeare Festival, Playwrights Horizons, Ensemble Studio Theater/LA, Shakespeare Center of Los Angeles and was a company member of San Francisco’s American Conservatory Theater for many years.

Rinabeth is happy to return via interweb to Cap Stage after appearing virtually in THE GREAT LEAP and onstage in VIETGONE last season. Offstage, she has kept busy with the world premiere of DISBELIEF (PlayGround), THE HEADLANDS (American Conservatory Theatre), PLAY LIKE A GIRL (Two River Theatre), workshopping several new plays, motion capture on several video games and lending her voice to various commercials and audiobooks. Proud member of AEA, SAG-AFTRA and Ferocious Lotus. www.rinabeth.com

James is a natural born entertainer. Since the age of 4 he knew that by performing he could touch lives and inspire. James has done plays, stand up comedy, improv, and local films all over southern and northern California. James is excited to be apart of this virtual production of SMART PEOPLE!

Jason is a member of the B Street Theatre’s Acting Company. He has performed in over 50 productions there, including THE BIG BANG, THE 39 STEPS, THE NIBROC TRILOGY, WHO’S AFRAID OF VIRGINIA WOOLF, THE LAST MATCH and many more. Favorite regional credits include A LONG DAYS JOURNEY INTO NIGHT (Edmund) and the world premiere of Lanford Wilson’s translation of Henrick Ibsen’s GHOSTS (Oswald) with Arizona Theatre Company, OF MICE AND MEN (Lenny) and THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING EARNEST (Ernest) with Sacramento Theatre Company, THE ELEPHANT MAN (Treves), THE COUNTRY HOUSE (Michael), and AROUND THE WORLD IN 80 DAYS (Phileas Fogg) with TheatreWorks, CAT ON A HOT TIN ROOF (Brick) with St. Louis Rep, Cincinnati Playhouse, and Pheonix Theatre, and LES LIASONS DANGEROUS (Valmont), IDEATION (Brock), and STUPD F#%*ING BIRD at Capital Stage. Mr. Kuykendall also produces, directs, and edits for the camera. Visit NKMedia.biz for his feature film, documentary, commercial work and more.

Tiffanie is a former Capstage apprentice and is very excited to be back performing with this theatre company again. Her most recent roles at Capstage include #11 in THE WOLVES and Grace in AN OCTOROON.

Director: Judith Moreland

Production Manager: Katie Cannon

Stage Manager: Melissa Jernigan*

Video Editor: Misty McDowell

Sound Editor/Designer: Ed Lee

Sound Assistant: Mari Carson

Producing Artistic Director: Michael Stevenson

“Smart People” is presented by arrangement with Concord Theatricals on behalf of Samuel French, Inc. www.concordtheatricals.com