Media At Large Brings IN THE BAR OF A TOKYO HOTEL Revival to New World Stages, Now thru 10/28

Media At Large Productions has announced that it will present a unique revival of Tennessee Williams' IN THE BAR OF A TOKYO HOTEL. The play will run off-Broadway at New World Stages (340 West 50th Street) with previews beginning tonight, October 13th and continue until Sunday, October 28th. The production will have it's official opening on Wednesday, October 17th at 8PM. This distinctive revival, co-directed by Shashi Balooja and Maria Torres will be the first to incorporate live streaming video and dance. Maria Torres will also choreograph.

IN THE BAR OF A TOKYO HOTEL is a tale of love, loss, and tremendous pain masked and healed by the artistic beauty of a painting on a "living canvas". Mark, an alcoholic painter and his promiscuous wife Miriam are two Americans trapped in a very troubled marriage and in a Tokyo hotel. A once successful artist, Mark tries desperately to reinvigorate his career but due to the stress of his failing marriage, indulgent lifestyle and the toxicity of being trapped in a room full of paint and turpentine, he finds the goal to be exceedingly difficult. On the verge of a nervous breakdown, he's convinced himself that he is the first artist to discover color - and sinks deeper into his psychosis, spreading his canvases on the floor and spraying paint on them while rolling around in the nude. Mark believes he is creating his ultimate masterpiece. With his obvious diminishing physical and mental capabilities, in addition to Miriam's attempts to have him committed, he races against his own inevitable fate.

Balooja and Torres will approach the play with segments set to movement and music. Dancers will provide interpretive elements of the canvasses, in conjunction with other media including live streaming video, bringing the images of Mark's canvasses to life - as so vividly described in the play.

The full cast of IN THE BAR OF A TOKYO HOTEL is TBA.

Xiao Wang is the Scenic/Projection Designer, Vanessa Leuck is the Costume Designer, Kevin Feustel is the Sound Designer, Zephan Ellenbogen is the Lighting Designer and Spike McCue is the Assoc. Projection Designer. Dreamcatcher Entertainment is the Project Management team.

Performances of IN THE BAR OF A TOKYO HOTEL are Wednesdays – Mondays at 8PM; Sundays at 7:30PM; Matinees are Saturday at 2PM and Sundays at 3PM.

Tickets are $55 and can be purchased through telecharge online at www.telecharge.com, by calling 212.239.6200 or at the New World Stages box office prior to each performance.

Shashi Balooja is an award winning actor, filmmaker and producer. He has worked extensively on stage, television, and film. He produced, co-wrote, co-directed, and starred in the 27-minute short film "Ariana", which won numerous awards including Best Story and Best Screenplay at the Italian Short Film Festival "arrivano i corti". Shortly thereafter, he appeared and starred in 4 feature films including "And Then Came Love", starring Vanessa Williams and Eartha Kitt, which he also co-produced. Shashi is the producer, co-director, and lead actor in the film "Exposed", which was released on this summer, and is a supporting actor in the recently released film "Game Time". His stage credits include "Equus" with Alec Baldwin, "Moby Dick" with Peter Boyle, and the title role in "Julius Caesar". He also co-produced and starred in August Strindberg's "Miss Julie" at The Blue Heron Theater in NYC. For the past 8 years Shashi has performed in several main stage productions at the John Drew Theater at Guild Hall, Easthampton New York, and has been an integral part of the East end Theatre community. Shashi moved to the USA and New York from the island of Antigua 17 years ago. He attended the Lee Strasberg Theatre Institute and subsequently earned a BSc. in business and theater from Marymount Manhattan College. He is currently pursuing an MSc. in humanities & film at NYU.

Maria Torres is an acclaimed Performer, Choreographer and Director with extensive experience in the Theater, Film, Television and Video/Commercial industries and her resume touts diversity from all angles. As a performer, Maria has graced both the Broadway stage, starring in Swing!, and the big screen in "Dance with Me," starring Cheyenne and Vanessa Williams. Maria has worked on projects in the music industry ranging from choreographing the video for Enrique Iglesias hit single Bailamos to hailed Reggaeton artist Don Omar's most recent tour King of Kings, and The International Dance TV show "Quiero Bailar". She recently worked with John Leguizamo, John O'Connell, and trained renowned actors such as Patrick Dempsey and Amy Adams in Disney's "Enchanted", She has choreographed Jennifer Lopez in "El Cantante", and Raven Simone in "College Road Trip". Maria's choreography can also been seen in the upcoming Movie "The Six Wives Henry Le Fay" starring Tim Allen, Andie McDowell, Jenna Elfman, Epatha Merkerson and Paz Vega. On and Off-Broadway, Maria's co-Director, co-Choreographer stage/theatre credits include "Celia: The Life and Music of Celia Cruz" and 8 time billboard winner Don Omar, "Kings of Kings" US Tour. Maria has worked with Diane Paulas (Director) on "The Donkey Show", "Best of Both Worlds", "The Women's Project", "The Drama League Musical Celebration" honoring Betty Comden & Adolph Green, and "Disney's Golden Mickey's". Other Director/Choreographer and Choreographer credits include "Latin Heat" at the Hudson Guild, "Seagrams DJ Live Show" (Clio Award Winner), "Swing" (Specialty Chor.) B'way and National Tour, Lynne Taylor-Corbett Dir., "Swing Time" starring Ann Hampton Calloway of "4 Guys Named Jose" Dir. Susanna Tubert, which was nominated for the Lucille Lortel award for best choreography. She is the co-Founder / co-Director of The Emerging Artist Project, with her husband John O'Connor, and Vanessa Williams.

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