“There is only one thing I fear in life, my friend… One day the black will swallow the red.”

The Currier welcomes theatre KAPOW back to the museum to present "Red", John Logan’s 2009 play unpacking the artistic approach of artist Mark Rothko.

The performance will be followed by a facilitated conversation and a gallery visit to view Rothko’s painting, Untitled (Red over Brown), which is featured in "Toward the New: A Journey into Abstraction", an exhibition currently on view at the museum through March 31.

In "Red", Mark Rothko accepts a commission to paint a series of murals for New York’s famed Four Seasons Restaurant, offering him both fame and fortune. Across the following two years of work, Rothko explores his beliefs and artistic struggles through discussions with his assistant, Ken.

Portrayed through intense yet insightful conversations, Red paints a portrait of an artist’s internal dialogue as he tries to produce a monumental work that represents his ideals and artistic ambitions.

The play will feature Peter Josephson as Mark Rothko, Glenn Provost as Ken, and will be directed by Carey Cahoon. As part of a return to the Articulate Playreading Series, this is a staged reading, not a full production.

For content transparency, this performance will include mentions of murder, suicide, smoking, drinking, and harsh language.

Red is presented by special arrangement with Broadway Licensing, LLC, servicing the Dramatists Play Service collection (www.dramatists.com).