PRESS RELEASE
For immediate release
October 3, 2014
Media Contact
Jane Gendron
(435) 640-3315
jgendron@jgendron.com
Park City Institute Presents
An Evening with the Creators of ‘Witness Uganda’
In Concert: Matt Gould & Griffin Matthews share the sounds and stories
of their award-winning musical
PARK CITY, UT – Matt Gould and Griffin Matthews, co-creators of the award-winning and
Broadway bound musical “Witness Uganda,” open the 2014-2015 Eccles Center season with heartthumping Afro-pop sounds and heart-wrenching stories on November 1. Based on Matthews’
personal experience, the concert –and accompanying tales of triumph and tragedy – tackles the
question: is changing the world even possible? Show starts at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are available by
calling 435-655-3114 or online at EcclesCenter.org.
“Part concert, part storytelling, part call to action… this evening is exactly what Park City Institute is
all about: entertaining, educating and illuminating,” explains Park City Institute executive director
Teri Orr. “It’s a captivating blend of rhythmic, richly melodic – and, often, joyful – music and
thought-provoking accounts of real people and real issues: education, homophobia, race, equality,
HIV and AIDS.”
The performance borrows from the smash musical, “Witness Uganda,” which documents the true
story of Griffin Matthews, a black American who is battling to find his place in a world full of
injustice and inhumanity.
As the Boston Globe puts it, ‘Gould and Matthews don’t play up the pathos — they’re just telling a
true story, honestly and artfully — it’s all the more overwhelming when it catches you unawares.”
The play is set in Uganda in 2005 when Matthews arrives from New York City to volunteer to build
a school (while, simultaneously escaping his church’s probing into his sexuality). He befriends a
group of destitute, orphaned teenagers and sets off on a mission to change his and their lives. Under
the direction of Tony award winner, Diane Paulus, “Witness Uganda” celebrated a sold-out run at
American Repertory Theater, won the 2014 Richard Rodgers Award for Musical Theater and is
headed for Broadway in 2015.
Matthews is a writer, actor, director and philanthropist. Gould’s music has been performed at Jazz at
Lincoln Center, The Saban Theatre, Symphony Space, New World Stages, Huntington Theatre
Company and TEDx Wall Street. Gould and Matthews recently performed sections of “Witness
Uganda” for the TEDx conference in New York City. They are working on a commission for Center
Theater Group in Los Angeles on a new musical, "The Family Project." The philanthropic side of the
equation, Uganda Project, has helped young Ugandans rise above their circumstances and graduate
from high school and college.
TICKETS AND INFORMATION
Park City Institute opens the 2014-2015 Eccles Center Season with An Evening with the Creators of
“Witness Uganda” (concert and stories from the award-winning musical) on Saturday, November
1. The performance takes place at The George S. and Dolores Doré Eccles Center for the
Performing Arts (1750 Kearns Blvd., Park City). Show starts at 7:30 p.m. Tickets range from $20 to
$69* (20-percent discount for seniors, ½ price tickets for children ages 16 and under; $5 seats are
available in the Copper Section for Summit County students (K-12).
Tickets and information are available at The Eccles Center box office, 435-655-3114 or
www.ecclescenter.org.
Upcoming Eccles Center Shows and Events:
An Evening with the Creators of “Witness Uganda” - November 1, 2014
Disney’s Choo Choo Soul “with Genevieve!” - December 6, 2014
Parsons Dance Company - December 20, 2014
Cirque Mechanics Pedal Punk - December 30, 2014
Jane Lynch - New Year’s Eve
Keb’ Mo’ - January 3, 2015
Green River Ordinance - January 10, 2015
Aoife O’Donovan - January 17, 2015
MOMIX “Dreamcatcher” - February 7, 2015
Marcia Ball and Elvin Bishop - February 14, 2015
Lucia Micarelli - February 21, 2015
Sam Bush - February 28, 2015
L.A. Theatre Works “In the Heat of the Night” - March 8, 2015
Suzanne Vega - March 21, 2015
Mummenschanz - April 4, 2015
Hot Sardines - April 11, 2015
An Evening with Neil Gaiman- April 18, 2015
Alonzo King LINES Ballet - April 25, 2015
* Please contact Jane Gendron for interview requests, review tickets and press information,
jgendron@jgendron.com or 435-640-3315.
ENTERTAINING, EDUCATING AND ILLUMINATING SINCE 1998
Park City Institute (formerly Park City Performing Arts Foundation) is a non-profit organization,
dedicated to bringing world-class performances and new ideas to the community. Founded in 1994, PCI
presents internationally renowned and cutting edge musicians, actors, authors, comedians, dancers,
speakers and film at The George S. and Dolores Doré Eccles Center for the Performing Arts (a joint-use
facility with the Park City School District). PCI is dedicated to introducing young people to the arts
through free student outreach workshops, shows and demonstrations. The institute proudly launched the
Mega Genius Supply Store and IQ HQ – a free, after school literacy program and very thinky retail store
- in January 2010. And the organization continues to illuminate with TEDx events, Curiosities evenings
and The Park City Institute / Strategic News Service “Future in Review” Speaker Series. The
organization recently wrapped up its11th season of summer concerts at Deer Valley Resort.
###