New York's OBIE Award-winning Epic Theatre Ensemble (Zak Berkman, Melissa Friedman, Ron Russell, Founding Executive Directors) today announced plans for an ambitious series of events surrounding the highly anticipated New York premiere of Sarah Ruhl's Passion Play, directed by MarK Wing-Davey. The production of Sarah Ruhl's Passion Play is the culmination of a six year conversation between Berkman and Ruhl about how to stage her wildly imaginative and powerful triptych in a way that echoes historic passion pageants in the contemporary context of 21st Century New York City.
Epic is thrilled to be partnering with a coalition of creative thinkers, art makers, academic institutions and Fort Greene community members to create the Passion Play Festival, which will surround this production with fun and fascinating events and activities that range from dance parties, concerts and free food, to family workshops, new play readings and Epic's trademark Forum Series. The Passion Play Festival is an ever expanding and organic community endeavor, so please be sure to check www.epictheatreensemble.org often for up-to-the-minute programming and scheduling information. Reservations for all Passion Play Festival events should be made through emailing passionplaynyc@gmail.com.
The Passion Play Festival will be produced and promoted by an Epic-led Coalition of over 40 artists, arts groups, academic institutions and local community members. The Passion Coalition includes Above The Fold, ART/NY, Brave New World Repertory Theatre, Conni's Avant Garde Restaurant, Culture Project, Flux Theatre Ensemble, Frank's Cocktail Lounge, Gerald W. Lynch Theatre/John Jay College, Cara Greene, Irondale Ensemble Project, Lark Play Development Center, Lincoln Center Theatre, Long Island University, Vernice Miller/Sarah K. Simmons from ALATetc., New Georges, Nora's Playhouse, NYU, Oberlin College Alumni Association, Playwrights Horizons & The Play Company (A Cool Dip in the Barren Saharan Crick), The Public Theatre, Ripe Time, Rising Circle Theatre Collective, SAVE, The Walter Thompson Orchestra, Waterwell, Wingspan Arts, 13P and many more to be announced.
ONE NIGHT ONLY EVENTS:
March 27, 7:00 p.m. @ Irondale Center
Community Event - Passion Action
Produced by Vernice Miller, Sarah K. Simmons and Darci Fulcher of ALATetc., Passion Action tackles the "question of prayer" by bringing together members of the surrounding Fort Greene community with Epic Artists to exchange expressions of devotion (music, dance, theatre, food) and engage in a lively discussion. Includes sneak preview reading of a scene from Passion Play. (FREE)
April 3, 8:00 p.m. @ Irondale Center
Community Event - The Oberlin Obertones
Epic was co-founded by three alums from Oberlin College. Now Oberlin's premiere all-male a cappella group visits with their unique repertoire: from The Beatles to ballads to cartoon theme songs. (FREE)
April 5, 7:30 p.m. @ Irondale Center
Free Play Reading - The Flux ForePlay Series Part #1
Produced by Flux Theatre Ensemble, 16 playwrights re-imagine eight stories from the Old Testament as a precursor to their world premiere of August Schulenburg's Jacob's House.
April 6, 7:30 p.m. @ Irondale Center
Documentary Theatre - Dispatches From (A)mended America
Conceived by Godfrey L. Simmons, Jr. and Brandt Adams of the investigative theatre, Above The Fold, Dispatches is a documentary play-in-development examining race and politics through the prism of the election of President Barack Obama. Based on Godfrey and Brandt's interviews and experiences while traveling throughout the South during the month leading up to Obama's inauguration, Dispatches explores the hopes, misconceptions, fears and good humor of the American South. (FREE)
April 12, 7:00 p.m. @ Irondale Center
Free Play Reading - The Holy Mother of Hadley New York
New Georges presents a revival reading of The Holy Mother of Hadley New York by Barbara Wiechmann, directed by Rachel Dickstein, dramaturgy by Emily Morse. In this richly-imagined and lyrical play, the Holy Mother appears in the kitchen window of Agnes, a grieving young woman, and whispers that she's coming for a visit. The news flies fast through Agnes' upstate town. At the appointed time, the whole of Hadley walks up the hill towards a snowy parking lot, to await the arrival of the Virgin. New Georges (Angela's Mixtape, God's Ear) commissioned Hadley, and their production opened at the Ohio Theatre on September 10, 2001. Those who ventured downtown in the weeks that followed saw a play suddenly expressive of the moment: a play about sorrow and comfort, community and hope. For reservations, email info@newgeorges.org. (FREE)
